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.
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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!
D. Ray Davis
Apr 224 min read
Entrusting Mission Ministry to Lay Leaders
When considering the Great Commission, is it prudent to entrust mission efforts to lay leaders? The missionary task is best accomplished whe
Mark Zwemer
Jan 294 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...
Christian Townson
Jan 94 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 15 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...
Chris Howles
Nov 6, 20235 min read
Defining Terms: The Great Commission
Once while I was living in Uganda, I watched my Bible college students destroy an old termite mound. It looked to me just like a pile of...
Matthew Hirt
May 8, 20235 min read
Worldview Discovery as an Evangelistic Tool
We all possess a unique worldview that shapes how we perceive and understand the world around us. Scripture challenges all of our...
Matthew Hirt
Mar 20, 20234 min read
Teaching Others to Engage in the Missionary Task
In a recent conversation, a friend described me as a “middle person”—someone who had been discipled and is now making disciples. My...
Matthew Bennett
Feb 16, 20234 min read
Three Reasons to Make Disciples in Local Languages
Here are three reasons that we must be committed to language learning and disciple-making in the language of the heart.
Mike Easton
Nov 10, 20223 min read
Training Sent Ones for Multiplicative Discipleship
We should teach our future missionaries the principles of multiplicative discipleship no matter which church model they encounter.
Bradley Bell
Nov 3, 20225 min read
So You Wanna Be a Missionary—Who Are You Discipling?
I love the enthusiasm I encounter among aspiring missionaries. It drips from them like water from your hands when there are no paper...
Jonah Fox
Oct 20, 20226 min read
Getting Members Involved in Local Partnerships
Mobilizing the Body for the Community: Micro vs Macro When I first stepped into the role of Missions Pastor, I often lived in my head in...
Bradley Bell
Sep 5, 20224 min read
Toward a Better Definition of Missions
A few months ago, I had a conversation with the editorial director of one of today’s most highly trafficked Christian websites. I thanked...
Bradley Bell
Aug 22, 20224 min read
Why Every Church Member Needs Glasses: Fostering a Missional Lens
I started wearing glasses in the fourth grade. The optometrist whispered to my mom, “He’s nearsighted in one eye, farsighted in the...
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...
Meredith Cook
Nov 4, 20214 min read
"God Can Use Me Right Where I Am." Encouragement or Excuse?
The phrase “God can use me right where I am” is a reminder to steward our time well and make disciples of all nations wherever we are.
Mike Easton
Sep 30, 20213 min read
The Sending Pipeline Part 6: From Committed Goers to Sent
Here are some questions to ask to develop programs in this transition phase from Committed Goers to Sent, as members actually hit the field.
Mike Easton
Sep 27, 20217 min read
The Sending Pipeline Part 5: From US Senders or Potential Goers to Committed Goers
Committed Goers are those that have been assessed by your church and the sending agency and are cleared to be sent overseas.
Mike Easton
Sep 20, 20214 min read
The Sending Pipeline Part 3: From Globally Aware to Global Christians
Global Christians understand that they have to orient their life around God’s mission of bringing the Gospel to those who have not heard it.
Mike Easton
Sep 13, 20215 min read
The Sending Pipeline Part 1: Overview of the Sending Pipeline
The goal of a sending pipeline is to mobilize church members towards the missions vision and strategy that you have set before them.
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