In a time of change for the church and its mission effort, important and useful questions are being asked about the cross-cultural mission movement. This article looks at challenges within and outside of the mission movement, and makes helpful critiques of the Christendom basis of Protestant mission. Areas where the movement could experience realignment are explored, such as globalisation, inter-cultural community, discipleship, and contextualisation. Cross-cultural mission is reaffirmed at the same time as difficult questions are asked.

Mission is shaped by the life and experience of the church, both past and present, and this in turn is the function of both the work of the Spirit of God and the interaction of the people of God with their contexts. In line with this position, we examine the impact of Covid-19, highlighting some elements of the global context of mission, trends in world Christianity and mission. We then explore how global mission is in a process of realignment that (...) has the potential to be enhanced through embracing the conditions Covid-19 has imposed on us. Finally, we consider the need for deep reflection on our identity if we are to take the opportunity to bear faithful witness in this moment. (shrink)