top of page
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!
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
Apr 19, 20213 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 17: Influencing Other Churches
As God works through your church, how might He be wanting your church to help other churches become sending churches?
Mike Easton
Apr 12, 20212 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 15: Receiving Sent Ones During Reentry
Consider how you can serve and love the Sent-Ones from your church as they make this difficult re-entry for a short time or permanently.
Mike Easton
Apr 8, 20213 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 14: Inviting Sent Ones' Influence
By Inviting Sent-Ones’ Influence the church is able to see its blind spots and adjust its practices to align more to the heart of Scripture.
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.
Mike Easton
Mar 29, 20212 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 11: Getting Sent Ones Established
Beyond flourishing personally, it is also important to help Sent-Ones live out the right rhythms for ministry from the start.
Mike Easton
Mar 18, 20213 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 8: Assessing Sent Ones
The stakes are too high in global missions for the church to not take seriously their role in assessing potential Sent-Ones.
Mike Easton
Mar 11, 20213 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 6: Evaluating Sending Models & Partners
A sending model in its simplest form is the mode in which the Sent-One will enter the country.
Mike Easton
Mar 8, 20213 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 5: Involving the Entire Church
Finding ways to help your entire church be involved in global missions will will make a real impact on the field for the sake of the gospel.
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.
Mike Easton
Mar 1, 20213 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 3: Developing a Vision
Developing a vision gives importance to defining a clear, simple and compelling statement that draws your church members into God’s mission.
Mike Easton
Feb 25, 20213 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 2: Establishing Missions Convictions
The process of establishing missions convictions begins with a church leadership team coming together and searching the Scriptures.
Mike Easton
Feb 17, 20214 min read
Overview of Sending Element 1: Cultivating Missions Awareness
Missions awareness starts with you. You can begin creating awareness by helping those close to you understand God’s heart for the nations.
Matt Clark
Jun 29, 20205 min read
Empower the Saints for the Work of Missionary Care
We as missions pastors/leaders have the opportunity to equip lay members of our congregations to meet the needs of missionary care.
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.
Derick Sherfey
Apr 13, 20204 min read
Maintaining Your Church’s Sending Culture in a Pandemic
Here are 4 ways our little church is seeking to continue cultivating a sending culture in this difficult season.
Matthew Bennett
Jan 27, 20206 min read
When Business Supports Missions: 4 Ways BAM Contributes to Missions Endeavors
Many traditional missions teams can benefit from adding a BAM component to their strategy.
Christy Thornton
Jan 13, 20205 min read
How the Doctrine of the Trinity Shapes Our Understanding of God’s Mission
Our understanding of the Trinity—God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—gives proper shape to our view of his mission.
Nathan Sloan
Dec 16, 20193 min read
Multisite Missions Leadership
Often multisite churches have the personnel, resources, and influence to make significant impact in gospel advancement.
bottom of page