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UPSTREAM BLOG
The Upstream Blog is published two times a week and contains content from missions leaders, pastors, missiologists, and the Upstream team on a wide variety of topics pertaining to being a sending church. Leave us some comments or questions!
The Upstream Collective
Sep 10, 20211 min read
Resource of the Week: Sending Church Online Training
September's sending church online training will focus on Creating a Sending Pipeline for your church.
Larry McCrary
Sep 7, 20213 min read
Building the Foundation for Healthy Sending
While it can be said there are no perfect Sending Churches, we do see some common practices of healthy Sending Churches.
The Upstream Collective
Aug 6, 20211 min read
Resource of the Week: Security Tips for Your Short-Term Teams
While it's never fun to consider how to respond to crises, it's important to learn how to equip your short-term teams for such occasions.
Mike Easton
Jul 14, 20214 min read
How Much Should Our Church Give to Each Missions Partner?
How much should your church give to each of its mission partners? Consider these principles.
The Upstream Collective
Jul 9, 20211 min read
Resource of the Week: Sending Church Online Training Recording- Developing a Missions Budget
We are bringing back one of our most popular Sending Church Online trainings- Developing a Missions Budget.
Kyle Brosseau
May 31, 20214 min read
Heart Medium: The Precedent for Digital Media in Missions
As missionaries utilize digital media to reach people in their heart language and heart medium, they are marching in lockstep with history.
Mike Easton
May 6, 20213 min read
Four Types of Sending Churches: Shotgun Sending Church
Rather than thinking proactively or strategically, the Shotgun Sending Church is involved in whatever comes their way.
Mike Easton
May 3, 20213 min read
Four Types of Sending Churches: Missionary Care Sending Church
A Missionary Care Sending Church desires to make those they send feel loved, cared for, and accountable to what they are sent to accomplish.
Mike Easton
Apr 29, 20214 min read
Four Types of Sending Churches: Strategic Sending Church
Strategic Sending Churches are great at partnering with existing team leaders on the field and members that are not from their church.
Mike Easton
Apr 26, 20215 min read
Four Types of Sending Churches: Team Sending Church
The Team Sending Church sends a group of people to one or more areas as a church-based team to accomplish a specific missionary task.
Mike Easton
Apr 22, 20215 min read
Introduction to the Four Types of Sending Churches
In this series of articles, I want to help your church, become the type of sending church God wants you to be.
Mike Easton
Mar 4, 20213 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 4: Building a Strategy
Strategy brings guidance to our church's culture and narrows its focus towards sending people and resources to make real field impact.
Doug Hess
Jun 22, 20204 min read
Merits of a Business as Mission Strategy and How to Overcome Its Challenges
The 21st century will likely need more—not less—BAM workers in order to continue to effectively engage the lost world with the gospel.
The Upstream Collective
Jun 4, 20202 min read
Helpful Resources for Becoming a Sending Church
There is a lot involved with becoming a sending church. Here are some resources to help you.
Larry McCrary
Jun 1, 20204 min read
Sent Identity, Part 3: Your Church’s Sending Journey
Intentionally invest in ongoing, reciprocal relationships with your missionary candidates, missionaries, and returning sent ones.
Larry McCrary
May 28, 20203 min read
Sent Identity, Part 2: What Do Sending Churches Do Differently?
I noticed some common components about strong sending churches that enabled them to have such an identity.
Lisa Hoff
May 21, 20206 min read
The Keys to Conducting Ethnographic Research: Part 2
Ethnographic research is a tremendous way to better understand how God is at work in the life of a person or a community.
Lisa Hoff
May 18, 20204 min read
The Keys to Conducting Ethnographic Research: Part 1
Ethnographic research can be done by anyone and can lead to a more effective and efficient ministry.
Eric King
May 14, 20206 min read
The “Finish the Task” Perspective on Missions: Some Questions to Consider
We should embrace missions as a grace-given role of joining God as his ambassadors in the mission he both initiated and will complete.
jamie5785
Apr 23, 20203 min read
Book Review: “Small Town Mission: A Guide for Mission-Driven Communities” by Aaron Morro
There is a need for resources, focus, and energy spent on ministry in small towns. Enter "Small Town Mission" by Aaron Morrow.
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