missions leaders | Upstream Collective

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!

An Example of Starting a Missions Network in Your City

Dave Childers

Jul 83 min read

An Example of Starting a Missions Network in Your City

Do you remember the last time you started a new job or tried something that you’d never done before? Even though I had twenty years of...

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...

Mike Easton

Mar 123 min read

Microskills for Advocates

When you have a struggle in life, who do you go to? Is it a friend? A pastor? An older man or woman? A counselor? When someone in your...

Year-End Evaluation & Reflection Resources

Mike Easton

Nov 27, 20232 min read

Year-End Evaluation & Reflection Resources

As we come to the end of the year, it’s a valuable time to reflect on the work God has done in 2023 and look forward to the work he will...

How to Communicate Missions Giving to Your Church Members

Mike Easton

Jul 27, 20234 min read

How to Communicate Missions Giving to Your Church Members

When you communicate and celebrate missions giving you communicate vision and priorities to your people.

Four Church Giving Practices for Supporting Global Missions

Mike Easton

Jul 20, 20234 min read

Four Church Giving Practices for Supporting Global Missions

The budget is one of the best ways to reflect the values of a church. Giving to global missions usually falls in one of four categories.

Why Giving to Global Missions Is Helpful for Your Church Budget

Mike Easton

Jul 6, 20233 min read

Why Giving to Global Missions Is Helpful for Your Church Budget

There are biblical and pragmatic reasons that giving to global missions is helpful for your church's budget.

10 Lessons I’ve Learned as a Missions Pastor

Nathan Sloan

Mar 16, 20235 min read

10 Lessons I’ve Learned as a Missions Pastor

As a missions pastor, these are ten things I have learned in my role as I have served my church.

Liturgy for the Well-Worn Missions Leader

Bradley Bell

Mar 9, 20232 min read

Liturgy for the Well-Worn Missions Leader

We hope this liturgy written by Upstream's Bradley Bell is an encouragement to you.

Mike Easton

Dec 22, 20227 min read

Reflecting as a Missions Leader

The rhythms of the calendar are a gift from a good God who understands the heart and rhythms of his children. Each day provides the...

Gary Eberly

Mar 14, 20226 min read

Non-Staff Missions Leadership

Over dinner one night at my favorite Indian restaurant, I was listening to a new friend talk about his recent 5K races, Ironman...

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.” -...

Organizing Your Missions Leadership Team

Larry McCrary

Mar 1, 20224 min read

Organizing Your Missions Leadership Team

Many churches have a mission team or committee that is too narrowly focused in its responsibilities and primarily tasked with overseeing...

New Years Resolutions for Missions Leaders

Mike Easton

Dec 6, 20214 min read

New Years Resolutions for Missions Leaders

Each new year brings the opportunity to practice one of the most loved and hated R words in the English language: resolutions. Forty-one...

The Sending Pipeline Part 3: From Globally Aware to Global Christians

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.

The Sending Pipeline Part 2: Moving Church Members from "New to Missions" to "Globally Aware"

Mike Easton

Sep 16, 20214 min read

The Sending Pipeline Part 2: Moving Church Members from "New to Missions" to "Globally Aware"

These are three questions we need to answer when helping church members move from being new to missions to globally aware.

The Sending Pipeline Part 1: Overview of the Sending Pipeline

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.

How to Get Good Video Coverage Overseas on a Budget

Mike Easton

Jul 23, 20216 min read

How to Get Good Video Coverage Overseas on a Budget

How can I do video and interviews on a budget, without having to pay one of my communications staff to come overseas?

Shirley Ralston

Jun 24, 20214 min read

Healthy at Home: Healthy Souls

Maintaining healthy souls on reentry is a community effort that takes time and commitment.

Resource of the Week: Upstream Collective Cohorts

Mike Easton

May 10, 20212 min read

Resource of the Week: Upstream Collective Cohorts

Our desire is to see your church move to the next level of being a Sending Church. We can help you do that through our cohorts.