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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!
Ashlyn Portero
Apr 8, 20245 min read
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...
Jenny Marcelene
Apr 1, 20245 min read
Resources for Cultivating Missions Awareness in Kids
My family has an obsession—the Sacramento Kings basketball team. Despite fifteen years of marriage to a hardcore fan, I didn't cross the...
Brian McClure
Mar 25, 20244 min read
Field Perspective on Advocacy Team Care
Human beings all have needs, and those who live cross-culturally are no exception. We can meet each other’s needs in many ways. I have...
Bradley Bell
Mar 18, 20243 min read
Leading the Advocates
I once had a turtle named Fred. Fred liked to eat watermelon. But I went on vacation and forgot to leave Fred any watermelon. When I came...
Mike Easton
Mar 12, 20243 min read
Microskills for Advocates
When you have a struggle in life, who do you go to? Is it a friend? A pastor? An older man or woman? A counselor? When someone in your...
Christian Townson
Mar 4, 20244 min read
The What and Why of Advocacy Teams: Nurturing and Supporting Sent Ones
The role of advocacy teams has become increasingly vital to global missions and church planting as a means of caring for missionaries as...
Mike Easton
Feb 26, 20244 min read
Beyond Reverse Culture Shock Introduction
I’m a World War II history nerd. I have watched almost every documentary out there on this time period. As the largest conflict in...
Megan Norton
Feb 19, 20245 min read
Helping Older TCKs Transition to College
Many third-culture kids (TCKs) return to their passport country to pursue higher education. Some do so due to language, some due to...
Ryan Martin
Feb 12, 20246 min read
Ways to Invite Missionary Influence in the Church
I get most energized by being on the field with missionaries, but a close second is hearing from them while they are stateside. Walking...
Kelsey Jarjour
Feb 5, 20245 min read
Four Practical Ways to Care for Missionaries on Furlough
If you have ever served in long-term missions or known someone who has, then you know that following the missionary call God often...
Mark Zwemer
Jan 29, 20244 min read
Confessions of a “Fix-It Father”
What would you do if one of your children decided to become a cross-cultural missionary? The kind that wants to move to dangerous places...
Erica Beiler
Jan 22, 20244 min read
A Church Re-Entry Example
Below is an example of how churches can debrief short-term teams during re-entry. As you take your team through this activity, give them...
Bruce Mewbourne
Jan 15, 20244 min read
Where to Now? Helping Short-Term Teams Return Well
Getting excited about sending out short-term teams is easy. A short-term mission experience is, perhaps, one of the most effective ways...
Christian Townson
Jan 9, 20244 min read
Developing Leaders and Missionaries through Short-Term Trips
Most churches channel their efforts into cross-cultural missions through short-term trips, enabling church members to experience the...
Greg Mathias
Jan 1, 20245 min read
Debriefing Short-Term Trips
Spending nine weeks in the Middle East during the summer of 1994 challenged my worldview, shaped my identity, and redirected my life’s...
Abigail Newport
Dec 25, 20234 min read
Questions to Ask TCKs
One of the best ways to show love to the third culture kids (TCKs) in your church and missionary body is to ask them questions, but it...
Angela Bredeman
Dec 21, 20235 min read
Schooling Options for TCKs
Making the decision to move overseas is a big one, especially when considering moving as a family. But that big decision is followed by...
Megan Norton
Dec 18, 20236 min read
Helping TCKs through Re-Entry
Reverse culture shock (also called re-entry stress) can occur when you return to your “home” country after spending time in another...
Abigail Newport
Dec 11, 20236 min read
Helping TCKs Acclimate during Furloughs
Furloughs are a unique time that many people never get to experience, but to a third culture kid (or TCK—a child who has grown up in at...
Megan Norton
Dec 4, 20234 min read
Defining Key Terms: TCKs
For any Third Culture Kid (TCK), it can be a challenge to answer the question “Where are you from?” since it could potentially mean any...
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