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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!
Leaning into Your Giftings as a Missions Leader
Missions leaders are multi-faceted, and being one requires a diverse set of skills that reflects the diversity of the ministry of global...
Ashlyn Portero
Apr 8, 20245 min read
Year-End Evaluation & Reflection Resources
As we come to the end of the year, it’s a valuable time to reflect on the work God has done in 2023 and look forward to the work he will...
Mike Easton
Nov 27, 20232 min read
Incomplete Responses to Short-Term Missions in Developing Nations
As a missions leader in my church, my first priority in organizing and executing short-term trips is to come alongside our missions...
David McWhite
Jan 31, 20237 min read
Reflecting as a Missions Leader
The rhythms of the calendar are a gift from a good God who understands the heart and rhythms of his children. Each day provides the...
Mike Easton
Dec 22, 20227 min read
Year-End Reviews with Sent Ones
As a missions leader, you likely are having regular calls with your Sent Ones. These times are super valuable for catching up on their...
Mike Easton
Dec 19, 20223 min read
Annual Evaluations With Sent Ones: What They Should and Shouldn’t Be
I can do real damage with something as simple as a screwdriver. Just a couple of weeks ago, I managed to get a screw jammed halfway into...
Ellen Livingood
Dec 15, 20225 min read
Letting Go of Partners
In our previous blog post, “Year-End Partner Evaluations,” we gave a template for evaluating partners. What do you do if the evaluation...
Mike Easton
Dec 12, 20223 min read
Year-End Partner Evaluations
In October, our theme was partnerships. What agency we partner with, what local field workers we partner with, who we partner with to...
Mike Easton
Dec 5, 20224 min read
How Can We Make Our Local Partnerships More Effective?
Sally is a member of your church. She also tutors kids at a faith-based non-profit in your city. These four “characters”–Sally, the kids,...
Scott Harris
Dec 13, 20215 min read
New Years Resolutions for Missions Leaders
Each new year brings the opportunity to practice one of the most loved and hated R words in the English language: resolutions. Forty-one...
Mike Easton
Dec 6, 20214 min read
Recapturing Our First Love as Missionaries
God has called us all to remember our first love. Missionaries are no different in order to be effective for the message of the Gospel
Greg Mathias
Dec 2, 20214 min read
Eight Dangers of Becoming a Sending Church
I love the sending church. That’s why I’ve devoted my life to it. So why would I want to talk about the dangers of it? First, because it...
Nathan Sloan
Oct 30, 20215 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 13: Maintaining Strategic Focus
The Sending Church can provide unique insight and encouragement to help the Sent-One live out the vision and strategy that is before them.
Mike Easton
Apr 5, 20213 min read
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