For millions of believers around the world, this imaginary place is an everyday reality. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ, their faith is strong and true and they worship the same God that we do. Theirs is a secret church, underground, hidden from the eyes of earthly authorities. But they are growing--often thriving--among those who would kill followers of Jesus Christ if given the opportunity.

What If Being a Christ-Follower Wasn't Designed to Be Easy?
In America we often hear some version of the following: "Your life will be much better as a Christian. You'll have fewer problems, a happier outlook and be more blessed with the comforts of life you need."

What if this wasn't true? In fact, what if being a Christ-follower meant persecution? What if it meant being outcast from friends and family, living in fear of personal harm, or losing the comforts of life? The Bible confirms throughout the New Testament that the life of a Christ-follower will often not be one of happiness, but suffering.

It might be tough to hear, but sometimes it is in our suffering that God is really glorified. Think about it--if life is really tough, and we still acknowledge God and our faith grows in the midst of difficult times, then He gets the glory for our actions. After all, it's easy to say, "God is faithful" when things are going great. It's harder to believe when things are not. If you want to know more about honoring God through suffering, read the book of Job.

More on the "Theology of Suffering"
Much has been written on the suffering of Christians in the world. Here's what some other prominent theologians have said:

Christ's Holy Sufferings by Martin Luther
Luther’s Theology of the Cross by Carl R. Trueman
The School Of Suffering by John Newton
The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
Against the Theology of Glory by R. Scott Clark
Affliction Sanctified by Richard Sibbes
Why Christ Suffered Max A Forsythe
Consider Jesus Thoughts for Daily Duty, Service, and Suffering by Octavius Winslow
The Problem of a Suffering Christian by A.W. Pink
The Problem of Pain by Iain D. Campbell
Why Does God Allow Some of His Servants To Suffer? by George McGuinness
Suffering for the Sake of the Body:The Pursuit of People Through Pain by John Piper
Aint It Hard: Suffering & Hope in the Blues by William Edgar
A Pastoral Biblical-Theological Study of Suffering from Hebrews by C. R. Biggs
Singing The Blues with Jesus by Michael Horton
The Doctrine of Suffering By J. Hampton Keathley, III , Th.M.
Why Is There Suffering? By Sid Litke , Th.M.
Suffering is the Christian’s Path to Glory by Wil Pounds
Religious Principles of the Scottish Martyrs by Dr. Andrew Symington
Making Sense Out Of Suffering Dr. Peter Kreeft

SOLD OUT! Secret Church Tickets are sold out!
Secret Church tickets for November 7 are no longer available. The "Exploring the Holy Spirit" DVD and study guide will be made available December 7.

Secret Church Mysteriously Returns November 7
On November 7, from 6:00 p.m. until Midnight at Brook Hills we will come together for a powerful night of Bible study unlike anything you have experienced. Dr. David Platt will lead an intense, 6-hour study on “The Mystery of the Holy Spirit”.

God will use this focused time of study to enrich our knowledge of His Word as we gain understanding of the state of His Church and our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. Secret Church is not for the faint of heart. The objective is for you to pass along what you learn to others, so that you can make disciples of Christ--both locally and globally.