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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!
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
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
How to Do Missions in the Global South
Christianity continues to blossom in the Global South.[1] Our missions strategies and methodologies, while remaining unyieldingly planted...
Anna Daub
Nov 21, 20226 min read
Why and How to Do Missions to the Global South
As we come alongside brothers and sisters around the world to engage in the missionary task, we need new terms and categories to describe...
Matthew Hirt
Nov 14, 20225 min read
Together on Mission with God: A Definition for Partnership
Cross-cultural missional partnership is a kingdom-oriented relationship of culturally diverse groups of believers who share common values.
Joshua Bowman
Oct 6, 20224 min read
Practicing What You Preach in Evangelism
After spending two years interning with Campus Crusade for Christ, and then joining the staff at a fast-growing, multi-site church, I...
Mike Schuetz
Mar 24, 20225 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
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
What’s Happening in the Global Church
The news lately has been bleak. A global pandemic, racial tensions, political division, environmental issues, hatred . . . the list goes...
Anna Daub
Nov 22, 20214 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
Unlocked, Part 2: Walk as Strangers and Exiles
At a time when your lives may seem chaotic and in absolute upheaval, here are three truths to cling to for encouragement and comfort.
Anonymous
Jul 20, 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.
Doug Hess
Jun 22, 20204 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.
Larry McCrary
May 14, 20206 min read
Questions Leaders Should Consider While Preparing for the New Normal
Here are a few questions to consider that might help us navigate, process, and prepare in crises.
Alex Hawke
May 4, 20204 min read
Four Phases of Unexpected Culture Shock in Our Current Crisis
The COVID-19 crisis has shifted our norms so fast that we struggle to keep up. Perhaps our entire society is going through culture shock.
Matthew Hirt
Apr 6, 20205 min read
National Ministry Partners: are they just co-workers or friends?
By Content & Operations Manager, Dan Bush My mission team leader loved Nepalis. Even if we were in a meeting, he would drop everything...
Dan Bush
Apr 29, 20193 min read
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