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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!
Navigating Missions Leadership When You Haven't Been a Sent One
The leadership of those who have “been there, done that” often goes unquestioned, even in ministry settings. When you hear of someone who...
Christian Townson
Apr 15, 20244 min read
Leaning into Your Giftings as a Missions Leader
Missions leaders are multi-faceted, and being one requires a diverse set of skills that reflects the diversity of the ministry of global...
Ashlyn Portero
Apr 8, 20245 min read
A Church Re-Entry Example
Below is an example of how churches can debrief short-term teams during re-entry. As you take your team through this activity, give them...
Erica Beiler
Jan 22, 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...
Bruce Mewbourne
Jan 15, 20244 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...
Christian Townson
Jan 9, 20244 min read
Sending BAM Individuals from Your Church
How do you know if you are qualified and ready to practice business as mission (BAM)? Many members of our churches already have...
Hatley Hambrice
Aug 21, 20233 min read
The Importance of Creating a Mobilization Team
Most churches have a champion of missions—a missions pastor, a director of missions, a lay leader. Every church needs one of these people...
Christian Townson
Apr 10, 20234 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
Mar 27, 20235 min read
Foundations to Healthy Missions Leadership
As a mission pastor in a local church, there is much that is required, but I have found three actions that need to be prioritized. I have...
Scott Ward
Mar 13, 20234 min read
The Benefits of Going to the Same Place Year after Year
We have been involved in global missions for over twenty-two years now. For most of those years, we have served in Europe, though the...
Larry McCrary
Jan 23, 20235 min read
Evaluation Tools & Personality Tests for Potential Sent Ones
As we begin this month’s focus on Missions Mobilization, we wanted to provide some helpful tools for you to use in evaluating those who...
Mike Easton
Apr 4, 20226 min read
The Missions Pastor Sabbatical
From mid-December 2021 to mid-February 2022, I had the opportunity to take a Sabbatical. Historically, my church has not implemented...
Mike Easton
Mar 31, 20229 min read
When Missions Dreams Get Crushed
If you’re a missions leader, then you’ve been stirred by the vision of Revelation 7:9: to see every tribe, tongue, and nation worshiping...
Mike Easton
Mar 28, 20225 min read
Reminders of Great Leadership Principles
Gleaning insights from popular leadership books and then applying them in the worlds of church and missions is no novel idea. Books on...
Kyle Brosseau
Mar 21, 20224 min read
Productivity for Missions Leaders
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” -...
Mike Easton
Mar 7, 20226 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 7: Identifying Sent Ones
Churches that actively identify sent ones are actively developing the leadership potential of their members.
Mike Easton
Mar 17, 20213 min read
Questions Leaders Should Consider While Preparing for the New Normal
Here are a few questions to consider that might help us navigate, process, and prepare in crises.
Alex Hawke
May 4, 20204 min read
Multisite Missions Leadership
Often multisite churches have the personnel, resources, and influence to make significant impact in gospel advancement.
Nathan Sloan
Dec 16, 20193 min read
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