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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!
Defining Key Terms: Culture Shock
Upon arriving in South Asia, I began to embrace the challenging task of driving on a different side of the road with exponentially more...
Joshua Bowman
Nov 13, 20235 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.
Matthew Bennett
Feb 16, 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.
Matthew Bennett
Feb 9, 20234 min read
Reaching Oral Learners with the Gospel
If you stepped into my office, you could make two observations about me—I love to travel, and I love to read. I have collected many...
Ryan Martin
Feb 24, 20225 min read
How to Care for Sent-Ones Learning a Second Foreign Language
The missionary task requires understandable communication of the gospel. Depending on the context and the complexity of the language...
Matthew Hirt
Feb 14, 20225 min read
Learning a Foreign Language in a City that Speaks English
During my first missionary term in South Asia, I relished the opportunity to dive deep into the culture and begin learning the local...
Kyle Brosseau
Feb 10, 20224 min read
How to Hit the Ground Running in Language Learning, Part 2
In part 1, we went through some mistakes missionaries often make with language learning. Now let’s look at the missionaries who succeed...
Andrea W.
Feb 7, 20225 min read
How to Hit the Ground Running in Language Learning, Part 1
Many missionaries start out motivated to learn and engage in the new language and culture around them. Unfortunately, those aspirations...
Andrea W.
Feb 3, 20224 min read
Ways a Sending Church Can Financially Support Marketplace Workers
There are several areas for which a sending church can provide financial resources for their marketplace worker.
Larry McCrary
Jul 26, 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.
Kyle Brosseau
May 31, 20214 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 29, 20212 min read
Coming to the Mission Field During COVID-19
We were not prepared for a pandemic to shake the foundations of our host country and the world. But God knew and he knew what we needed.
Anonymous
Jul 6, 20205 min read
When Business Replaces Mission: 3 Limitations of a Business as Mission Strategy
Many who have been excited about Business as Missions as the ‘strategy of a new era’ are finding it fraught with new challenges.
Matthew Bennett
Jan 20, 20205 min read
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