Dr. Robert Patton, a medical doctor and veteran missionary with Baptist World Mission, has been burdened for three groups: (1) those who have never heard (2) those who are untaught, and (3) those who are being persecuted.

Those who have not heard are unreached with the gospel. Those who are untaught need the Words of God in their own mother tongue. Those who suffer persecution are located primarily in Muslim or communist countries.

In Volume 1A of Issues in Missiology, Dr. Patton addresses the challenge of persecution Christians are suffering in the third wave of persecution in the history of the church. The missionary needs to understand the nature and cause of persecution and the proper Christian response. All Christians are part of the body of Christ. When one part suffers, the entire body suffers. "Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them, and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." (Hebrews 13:3) We must pray for our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ and do what we can to support them not only with our prayers but providing for their needs when we can do so.

God uses persecution to mature us individually and as a part of His body to witness to a lost and dying world.