Suzanne Rhodes: Turning A New Chapter In The Italian Mission Field

My assignment for the week read, “Suzanne Rhodes: Moving to Italy.” As a college student, the idea of packing up the dorm and leaving for Italy sounded thrilling. Just thinking of the food, architecture and sun would be enough to send me searching for plane tickets. After a little indulgence in my own dreams of moving to Rome, I snapped back into reality and read the tagline of my assignment.

“Suzanne is about to graduate from seminary and is moving to Rome to be a missionary.”

I was slightly taken aback. A missionary in Rome? I had not heard of many people going to that area of the world to be missionaries. Usually I would hear about people reaching groups with little-to-no knowledge of the gospel. These trips were focused around painting schools or making water more accessible. Italy’s schools were already painted, and I am fairly certain they have plenty of access to water. Why would missionaries choose to go there? After reading this single tagline on the article pitch, I decided to learn more.

The missionary in question was Suzanne Rhodes. Rhodes is a Union alumna and former editor-in-chief of Cardinal & Cream who now works in Union University’s Office of Communications as a content development specialist and social media coordinator. She is currently pursuing a Master of Art degree in Christian Studies at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and has plans to graduate in May 2023.

While she always felt called to the mission field, Rhodes explained that she faced problems discovering exactly where the Lord was leading her once she completed her undergraduate degree.

“When I was a junior here at Union, the Lord first opened my eyes to the possibility of working in missions, and so what I thought it would look like was me going straight to the mission field after I graduated,” Rhodes said. “The Lord kept me in Jackson for the next two years, so I have been working at Union. I was really kind of waiting to see what the Lord was waiting for and why he was keeping me here. Last May, he was just like, ‘it’s time.’”

Rhodes explained how the process was not as carefree and enjoyable as one might imagine. She applied to five different organizations, but sensed that none of them were the right path for her. In a turn of events, her pastor at the church she attended, Fellowship Bible Church, emailed about a church plant partner in Italy. 

“We hopped on a Zoom call with the missionaries in Italy, and it was just like the peace that surpasses all understanding,” Rhodes said. “Up until that point, the whole idea of me moving overseas had just felt so overwhelming, and I was just filled with such anxiety. I felt like that was his confirmation.”

Rhodes was quick to assess that her vision took time to become aligned with God’s. Most Christians would agree that God’s will is an aspect of the faith that takes immense trust. Throughout her journey, Rhodes discovered the direction God was leading her.

“If I would have left right after graduation, like I planned on, I think I would have gone on a selfish adventure,” Rhodes said. “I want to do something cool that no one else is doing. And so I see the Lord keeping me here as a way of really preparing my heart for the real reason behind missions.”

Rhodes was calm and explained with ease how her plans were shifted. This was someone who had seen the Lord say “wait,” and responded with obedience.

That can be the hardest lesson to learn as Christians look to make a difference in the mission field. Even if the motivations are right and the timing seems okay, the Lord’s will is the factor needed to reach others. In retrospect, Rhodes acknowledged that this factor not only gave her peace about her final decision, but ultimately set up the location for her eventual move. 

“I’m in seminary right now; I’m graduating in May. My thesis has been studying the Roman Catholic Church in Italy,” Rhodes said, her eyes lighting up as she described her subject of interest. “And I think through that for the past two years of me doing this degree, the Lord has been showing me the real spiritual darkness of Italy.”

Although Rhodes found Italian culture fascinating on its own, she could not help but be drawn to the dynamics between the culture and religion.

She continued to explain. “In Italy, the Roman Catholic Church has been the national religion for thousands of years,” She said. “So only 1% of the population are evangelical, which means that they proclaim Christ is the only salvation, and the other 99% say, ‘I’m Roman Catholic because I’m Italian, and because of that, I’m saved.’ That’s a vast majority of the population.”

The idea of using culture to define your spiritual stance can be a dangerous way to believe. Rhodes emphasized this as she continued to explain that the hardest thing to do is encourage those in Italy to open the scriptures. From a cultural standpoint, it is the Pope who is to present the scripture to the people.

“When you try to tell people ‘I’m doing my quiet time’ or ‘I’m doing my personal Bible study,’ that is very radical to them,” Rhodes said. “Because to them, they believe that no one is able to read the Holy Scripture except for the priest.”

Julie Bradfield, Senior Director for University Ministries and Director for Student Mobilization at Union, would agree. Having been a missionary and taken multiple trips to Germany herself, Bradfield was well acquainted with the idea of evangelizing to a people group defined by their history of organized religion.

“We often would say it was easier to reach the atheist,” Bradfield said. “People who had come from or had some religious experience almost came in with the idea of, ‘I’ve already checked that box.’ And so you’re spending so much time undoing that in order to build on truth.”

By listening to both Rhodes and Bradfield speak on the trials that come along with evangelizing to a first world country, it became apparent that it was not simply an excuse for a vacation. There was intense work ahead for these missionaries. I was humbled and excited for Rhodes. Given that her education was coming to a close, her new life in Italy would be turning a page toward the next chapter with its own joys and struggles.

“Every context, no matter where, no matter what, is going to have its own challenges,” Bradfield said. “And I don’t think we have to be, like, we have to have a level ten challenge in order to be obedient or to be faithful but more like following what steps the Lord is putting in front of us.”

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Rhodes studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary instead of The Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.