Last week we introduced you to a sister-city relationship between Fort Bragg, Calif., and Otsuchi, Japan, that has lasted through disaster. In fact, it’s grown through it. This video tells more of the story, and illustrates something God has communicated since the Garden of Eden–He moves through relationships. Life teaches us relationships don’t happen overnight, but take time, and must be cultivated over the long haul.

Many churches in America may be unsure as to how to tangibly connect with what God is doing globally. One way is to seriously consider leveraging a local sister-city relationship that may be right in front of you.

If a such a partnership already exists in your area, come along aside and serve it–don’t hijack it. Learn from, pray for and love on the internationals in your sister city, according to how God leads.

If your local municipality doesn’t have an international sister city, then you get to be on the ground floor of helping create one–all for the purpose of putting the needs and interests of those in another city ahead of your own.

Another is an art teacher. He comes home after a long day of work to find his students at his door, still wanting to interact and have his full attention.

Watch these videos and meet the hands and feet of Binghamton, one of Memphis’ toughest neighborhoods. Observe their conscious decisions to join God at work in the heart of hurt, and see the beauty of how God combines people of multiple backgrounds and cultures to give Him glory.

These probably aren’t the first words that come to mind when thinking about church planting. Yet they are for believers in Bulgaria.

Recently nationals participated in farming seminars in two Bulgarian cities where they learned valuable agricultural practices. The followers of Christ who put on the events discovered more about how they can connect with the people of this culture for the sake of developing relationships that lead to making disciples.

Yes, even a farmer can be used in an international context to point people to Jesus.

What is your occupation? What jobs do the people of your churches hold? Dream big about how God could use these professions to proclaim His honor and glory in places where the Gospel needs to be told around the world.

What other examples of using business as mission have you heard of or seen?

Years ago a Japanese man invited the mayor of Fort Bragg, Calif., to visit his city of Otsuchi, Japan. That sparked an ongoing cultural exchange relationship that saw its 10th birthday last year. This sister-city partnership also has given some Californians an opportunity to serve and assist the people of Otsuchi, which is still picking up the pieces after experiencing a devastating earthquake less than a year ago.

Watch this video to get a taste of this sister-city partnership we’ll be exploring over the next couple of weeks.

What can we learn from these cities about the Kingdom, global engagement and the practice of giving ourselves away?

If you are an American, consider internationals may think the same thoughts about you. One expat writes about experiencing Spanish work culture firsthand while pursing business as mission in Spain. The author observes how the shocking aspects of that workplace society are so normal–and likely beneficial–for nationals.

Similar to how Americans may experience culture shock when jumping across the pond, internationals potentially face awkward situations when coming to America. This article written to internationals in the United States sheds light on how Americans view friendship, and gives tips on developing relationships with them. If you are an American, reading it may open your eyes to how you, probably unconsciously, relate to people, and how this may be uncomfortable or odd to people from other parts of the world.

What are some awkward cross-cultural encounters you have experienced, at home or abroad, due to cultural differences? How would you recommend overcoming these relational blunders?

“We want to engage the local church in reaching the unreached.”

What role does the local church play in global missions? Watch this video from Pioneers to hear their take on it.

Go around the country and you see very few churches making long-term, fruitful, global impact. Some churches give financially into a large pool, but have no hands-on contact with global engagement. Many churches say they are too small. Some say they don’t have the resources. Others say they desperately want to be as globally connected as many large churches, but don’t know how. How can we get the 99 percent effectively engaged globally?

No doubt, we need a varied approach, but one strategy is to use a natural rhythm right in front of us. Many of our U.S. cities have Sister Cities through local governments. These Sister Cities are set up to do exactly what we long for–develop long-term relationships through the multiple domains of two cities. These domains can include education, art, humanitarian work, law, business and history. What an opportunity! Artists in Nashville passionate about reproducing disciples for Jesus can connect with, walk with and speak the language of art with artists in Madrid. The same goes for our disciple-making elementary school teachers, business leaders, etc.

Put practical feet on this great concept by finding those in your city who are passionate about a laser-focused, long-term global partnership with a city for the Kingdom’s sake. This might start with people in your church family, but does not need to be restricted to them; this is about the church of your city advancing the Kingdom in a global city.

Next, focus on living out Phil. 2:3-4 as you learn, pray and love.

1. How can your cooperation of local churches in the United States LEARN from the other global city about transforming a city/region for Jesus?
2. How can you PRAY for the other city and never expect anything in return?
3. How can you LOVE on the global city, on their terms?

Your cooperative would be living out what it means to simply put the needs and interests of others ahead of yourselves.

The natural question people will continue to bring up in your church and city is, “What is in this for us?” The beauty of Christ’s Kingdom and this approach is how it’s so unnatural. Partner with your Sister City and expect nothing in return. Lavish love on them to see “on earth as it is in heaven” in their city. What greater reward can there be?

Written by Billy Mitchell. Billy is a church-planting strategist in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Stoica joined a group of believers and traveled to a foreign country to share Christ with other Romani. Their Gypsy lifestyle and dark skin helps distinct them from country natives. As a result, Roma are typically despised. Stoica and other Romani believers hope to show their people their value and worth in Christ.

In addition, American missionaries to countries in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and South America–where many Roma live–are striving to train believers like Stoica to share the Gospel with their own people. Read about these missionaries, Stoica and how they are reaching Roma for Christ.

• Cities
• Mutuality
• Partnering
• Investing in Leaders
• Combining good news and good deeds
• Focus
• Financial Accountability
• Business as Mission
• Technology

What are your thoughts on these “game-changers?” Would you agree to the list or change a few of the topics?

5. Jet Set Webinar with Michael Frost

4. From Here to There

3. Pick a School, Any School

2. Bent on His Purpose

1. Join the Jet Set Conversation

Which of the top 10 is your favorite post from 2011? Tell us why, below.

Happy New Year from The Upstream Collective!