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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

Christian Townson

Apr 154 min read

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...

Leaning into Your Giftings as a Missions Leader

Ashlyn Portero

Apr 85 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...

Erica Beiler

Jan 224 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...

Where to Now? Helping Short-Term Teams Return Well

Bruce Mewbourne

Jan 154 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...

Developing Leaders and Missionaries through Short-Term Trips

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...

Sending BAM Individuals from Your Church

Hatley Hambrice

Aug 21, 20233 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...

The Importance of Creating a Mobilization Team

Christian Townson

Apr 10, 20234 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...

Working with Your Elder Team in Global Missions

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...

Foundations to Healthy Missions Leadership

Scott Ward

Mar 13, 20234 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...

The Benefits of Going to the Same Place Year after Year

Larry McCrary

Jan 23, 20235 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...

Evaluation Tools & Personality Tests for Potential Sent Ones

Mike Easton

Apr 4, 20226 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

Mar 31, 20229 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 28, 20225 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...

Reminders of Great Leadership Principles

Kyle Brosseau

Mar 21, 20224 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...

Mike Easton

Mar 7, 20226 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.” -...

Overview of Sending Church Element 7: Identifying Sent Ones

Mike Easton

Mar 17, 20213 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.

Questions Leaders Should Consider While Preparing for the New Normal

Alex Hawke

May 4, 20204 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.

Nathan Sloan

Dec 16, 20193 min read

Multisite Missions Leadership

Often multisite churches have the personnel, resources, and influence to make significant impact in gospel advancement.