Over several posts, I have named the most critical challenges I see facing Christian mission in the world today. The list is decidedly subjective, shaped by what I have seen and experienced over my past five years of extensive international travel and work. Many of these realities have, in my view, been overlooked or underreported. Below is the entire list, ranked in order of importance, with links to the original posts.

#1 Containing the viruses infecting Christianity. In too many countries today, the blood of nationalism, hierarchy, individual enrichment, and polarization runs stronger than the waters of baptism. Are we capable of forming Christians who can see and contain the viruses?

#2 Dividing Jesus. Evangelicals don’t think they need ecumenicals and vice versa. That’s dangerous.

#3 Global Christian nonprofits are the powerful new face of U.S. world missions. From World Vision to Habitat for Humanity to International Justice Mission, this is bringing both gifts and challenges. And these agencies defy the story of declining Christian influence from the U.S.

#4 Marginalized minorities. People of color are acutely underrepresented in U.S. faith-based international organizations and mission agencies.

#5 Not their parent’s missionary generation. Many young adult U.S. Christians prefer justice to the uniqueness of Jesus.

#6 Shift toward short-term U.S. Christian mission. Cross-cultural change is diminishing, and denominations are no longer in charge.

#7 The challenge of individual enrichment. The decline of the South Korean church success story is a warning sign to the entire church.

#8 Missional vitality from the global south and east. Christian influence from South Korea and China is spreading throughout Asia and Africa and represents a new face of missions.

#9 The new global reach and power of China. The U.S. is no longer the only superpower, and China’s influence will pose serious new challenges to the church.

Chris Rice is director of the Mennonite Central Committee United Nations Office in New York City. He is co-author of More Than Equals and Reconciling All Things and was founding co-director of the Duke Divinity School Center for Reconciliation.