13-Maintaining Strategic Focus

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

Mike Easton

Nov 27, 20232 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

Dec 19, 20223 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...

Annual Evaluations With Sent Ones: What They Should and Shouldn’t Be

Ellen Livingood

Dec 15, 20225 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...

Anna Daub

Nov 21, 20226 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...

Why and How to Do Missions to the Global South

Matthew Hirt

Nov 14, 20225 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...

Together on Mission with God: A Definition for Partnership

Joshua Bowman

Oct 6, 20224 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.

Practicing What You Preach in Evangelism

Mike Schuetz

Mar 24, 20225 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...

How Can We Make Our Local Partnerships More Effective?

Scott Harris

Dec 13, 20215 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,...

Recapturing Our First Love as Missionaries

Greg Mathias

Dec 2, 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

Anna Daub

Nov 22, 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...

Overview of Sending Church Element 13: Maintaining Strategic Focus

Mike Easton

Apr 5, 20213 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.

Unlocked, Part 2: Walk as Strangers and Exiles

Anonymous

Jul 20, 20204 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.

Merits of a Business as Mission Strategy and How to Overcome Its Challenges

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 “Finish the Task” Perspective on Missions: Some Questions to Consider

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.

Questions Leaders Should Consider While Preparing for the New Normal

Alex Hawke

May 4, 20204 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.

Four Phases of Unexpected Culture Shock in Our Current Crisis

Matthew Hirt

Apr 6, 20205 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.

National Ministry Partners: are they just co-workers or friends?

Dan Bush

Apr 29, 20193 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...