Brad and Susan Rhoads are missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship serving through Learning Technologies at the MAF headquarters in Nampa, Idaho. David (9) and Sarah (3) keep their lives busy and full of joy. The rest of their family includes their two Marine sons, Anthony (25) and Joseph (24), who came into their family during their ministry time with Open Door For Teens.

Brad was born in Naperville, IL, and has lived his entire life in the Wheaton, IL area. He had wonderful Christian parents who, none too reluctantly, sent him to Boys’ Brigade Camp when he was nine. He remembers walking across the dark cabin to pray with his counselor, and being teased along the way. From that first moment of accepting Christ as his Savior, being a Christian has seldom been easy.

The road from that youth camp to service with MAF has included missions, education, and industry. He's been on a number of short-term mission trips, starting in high school. Until recently, he thought his call into missions was for church planting on an Indian reserve in Ontario, Canada. But God used a health condition to redirect him to MAF. Brad fell down a hill while on a short-term trip to the reserve in July 2006. Through the injuries sustained, God revealed he had a serious problem with his heart. After surgery in August 2006, he has been given a clean bill of health, but advised by his doctors to remain in the States, close to university level health care. This redirection was painful physically and emotionally but he “considers it pure joy.” (James 1:2)

Brad's academic career started with a B.A. in Computer Information Science (Judson College, Elgin, IL), followed by graduate studies in Instructional Technology (Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL), Computer Science (DePaul University, Chicago, IL), and Intercultural Studies (Moody Graduate School, Chicago, IL).

Before joining MAF, Brad spent 17 years in industry as a computer programmer/analyst and project manager, including 10 years of running his own computer consulting company. This background makes him a perfect fit for MAF’s Learning Technologies!

Susan was born in Mendota, IL, and moved to nearby Princeton, as a young child. Her parents, Richard and Nancy Kinnmaon, lived out their faith everyday with their five children, and Susan accepted that faith as her own at the age of 8.

Susan earned her B.A. in Chemistry at Judson College, where she and Brad met her freshman year. She continued her study of chemistry (Northwestern University, Evanston, IL) and earned an Illinois teaching certificate (Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL) before teaching at Wheaton Academy. Now she homeschools her own children. Through this season of life with young children, Susan finds encouragement in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.”

MAF has always been about taking the Gospel and resources to “the remotest of the remote.” Learning Technologies is about taking Theological Education there, too. Often when national church leaders leave their home areas to seek theological training, they fail to return. LT desires to multiply church leadership by equipping pastors where they work and live. Brad is excited to be able to serve these leaders by helping to create unique solutions to deliver the training and resources they need.

To fund the worldwide ministry of MAF, God is faithful in providing generous ministry support from His caring people. He has called the men and women of MAF to serve Him in a unique way.

He is also calling people like you to have a special role in the ministry of MAF around the world. You are invited to partner with Brad and Susan in this strategic ministry. Please prayerfully consider involvement with them through prayer and/or financial support.