Matt Rhodes, No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2022), 270 pp.
The mandate to proclaim the gospel to the nations is clearly set forth in Scripture. A plethora of mission boards and organizations have been launched in an effort to obey the Great Commission. Matt Rhodes’ book, No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions provides an excellent overview of world missions, including critiques of some prevailing strategies. But the greater thrust of the book is to provide a path forward that will enable missionaries to faithfully execute their charge to carry out the Great Commission.
The two organizations that are under the microscope in Rhodes’ book are Disciple Making Movement (DMM) and Church Planting Movement (CPM). The author provides a thorough evaluation of these organizations, citing both strengths and weaknesses. Readers unfamiliar with these movements will be encouraged to see how the gospel has progressed but will receive a fair warning about some of the questionable strategies that are being employed on the field.
The overall thrust of the book is positive and reminds readers that missions take much time, effort, prayer, discipline, strategy, education, and persistence.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Veritas et Lux 