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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!
Mike Easton
Jul 27, 20234 min read
How to Communicate Missions Giving to Your Church Members
When you communicate and celebrate missions giving you communicate vision and priorities to your people.
Ashlyn Portero
Jul 24, 20235 min read
How to Inform the Church on the Impact of Their Giving
We as church leaders want to see our people practice radical generosity. We want our churches to be intentional and wise in directing...
Jared Burwell
Jul 10, 20235 min read
Staying Connected While Far Away
I have the privilege of knowing and working with people around the world. Many of these people are expats serving in humanitarian,...
Matthew Bennett
Apr 24, 20234 min read
How the Sent Send the Senders: Three Ways Missionaries Can Catalyze Mission at Home
As the term is commonly used, missionaries are those who are sent to make disciples in places that are usually geographically and...
Ashlyn Portero
Mar 27, 20235 min read
Working with Your Elder Team in Global Missions
When developing a global missions strategy and leading a local church in sending efforts, it is critical that a ministry staff and elder...
Ashlyn Portero
Feb 13, 20235 min read
Caring for Sent Ones in the First Year
When I served as an advocate for sent ones in my home church, there was a story I recalled often (and still do) that captured who I hoped...
Matthew Bennett
Feb 9, 20234 min read
Language Learning beyond Babel: The Biblical Redemption of Local Languages
I hope that we never let go of the strategic value of learning language as missionaries seeking to demonstrate that the gospel is for all.
Joshua Bowman
Oct 10, 20224 min read
Together on Mission with God: Principles and Practices of Healthy Partnerships
Cross-cultural partnerships happen because they mutually submit to King Jesus. Here are principles and practices of healthy partnerships.
Matthew Hirt
May 23, 20225 min read
Cultural Sensitivity in the US Context
A large movie poster of Shah Rukh Khan was not what my wife and I expected to see as we walked into the movie theater in southern...
Anna Daub
Jan 31, 20224 min read
Troubled Waters: Reasons International Partnerships Go Awry
In today’s connected world, churches, missions organizations, and missionaries work with partners from nations around the globe. Some of...
Mike Easton
Sep 16, 20214 min read
The Sending Pipeline Part 2: Moving Church Members from "New to Missions" to "Globally Aware"
These are three questions we need to answer when helping church members move from being new to missions to globally aware.
Greg Mathias
Aug 4, 20215 min read
The Sign Says Closed: Communicating With Our Sent Ones
While closed countries and security can make communication daunting, do not let it stop you from staying in contact with sent ones.
Mike Easton
Jul 23, 20216 min read
How to Get Good Video Coverage Overseas on a Budget
How can I do video and interviews on a budget, without having to pay one of my communications staff to come overseas?
Kyle Brosseau
May 31, 20214 min read
Heart Medium: The Precedent for Digital Media in Missions
As missionaries utilize digital media to reach people in their heart language and heart medium, they are marching in lockstep with history.
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