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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!
Jerry Rankin
Dec 9, 20244 min read
How the Evil One Blinds Us to the Mission, Pt. II
I have many lingering impressions from forty years of missionary service and the privilege of leading the largest missionary-sending...
Jerry Rankin
Dec 2, 20245 min read
How the Evil One Blinds Us to the Mission, Pt. I
After twenty-three years of missionary work in Southeast Asia, I had a great deal of experience and insight into mission strategy, but...
Allison Young
Nov 25, 20245 min read
TCKs & Pre-Field Training
Training is a vital part of every child’s life. From household chores to academic testing, there are multiple ways we train boys and...
Abigail Newport
Nov 4, 20245 min read
Preparing TCKs for a Cross-Cultural Move
Setting children up to thrive during a cross-cultural move
Josh Duncan
Oct 28, 20245 min read
Vetting National Partners
See our previous articles on the why and how of funding national partners or organizations and on how to find them . Vetting indigenous...
Josh Duncan
Oct 7, 20245 min read
Funding Nationals or National Organizations: The How
In our previous blog post , we delved into why funding national work is a powerful strategy for advancing God’s mission among the...
Josh Duncan
Sep 30, 20245 min read
Funding Nationals or National Organizations: The Why
In late April and early May of 2015, the country of Nepal was struck by two devastating earthquakes, measuring 7.8 and 7.3 in magnitude....
Matthew Hirt
Sep 9, 20244 min read
The Benefits of Pre-Field Cross-Cultural Training with an Organization
Stepping into a new cultural context for the first time can be overwhelming. The excitement of going to the mission field can quickly...
Chris Howles
Sep 2, 20244 min read
The Importance of Pre-Field Cross-Cultural Training
“The task is too urgent … forget about training, let’s just get going!” “These training schemes are not biblical … you don’t see Paul...
Ryan Martin
Aug 12, 20248 min read
How to Say “No” or “Not Yet” to Missionary Candidates
Typically, when I’ve moved to a new town, I like to take some time to explore various routes from point A to point B. I’m always looking...
Adam M.
Jun 10, 20245 min read
The New Roman Road: Engaging in Disciple-Making Virtually
Despite present barriers to entry in countries around the world, the internet provides access to people in the most unreached places.
Stuart P.
Jun 3, 20245 min read
The Opportunity of Digital Engagement in Modern Missions
Over 5 billion people, or more than 66 percent of the world’s population, use the internet, with almost the same levels using social...
Greg Mathias
May 6, 20245 min read
The Nations in Our Own Back Yard
Our world is closer and more interconnected in ways that require us to think and act like a missionary in our communities. When we look for
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...
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...
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...
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 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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