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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!
Greg Mathias
May 6, 20245 min read
The Nations in Our Own Back Yard
Our world is closer and more interconnected in ways that require us to think and act like a missionary in our communities. When we look for
D. Ray Davis
Apr 22, 20244 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
Jenny Marcelene
Apr 1, 20245 min read
Resources for Cultivating Missions Awareness in Kids
My family has an obsession—the Sacramento Kings basketball team. Despite fifteen years of marriage to a hardcore fan, I didn't cross the...
Christian Townson
Mar 4, 20244 min read
The What and Why of Advocacy Teams: Nurturing and Supporting Sent Ones
The role of advocacy teams has become increasingly vital to global missions and church planting as a means of caring for missionaries as...
Erica Beiler
Jan 22, 20244 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...
Matthew Hirt
Jun 19, 20235 min read
Serving Sent Ones in Hard Places
Sending missionaries from your church is exciting, but caring for your sent ones long term is often very difficult. Caring for them when...
Ryan Martin
Jun 8, 20234 min read
On-Field Care: Prayer Is Not Just the Means to Do the Work—It Is the Work
“Prayer does not equip us for greater works—prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some commonsense exercise of our higher...
Ashlyn Portero
Feb 13, 20235 min read
Caring for Sent Ones in the First Year
When I served as an advocate for sent ones in my home church, there was a story I recalled often (and still do) that captured who I hoped...
Bradley Bell
Oct 16, 20222 min read
A Liturgy for When a Loved One Is Ailing Back Home
Father, when first I set sail on this life in another land, I believed your promise, that for every house brother sister father mother...
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...
Anna Daub
Aug 7, 20224 min read
Leading Your Church to Think About the Global Church
The global church offers Western Christians hope in what feels like hopeless times; however, because many Western Christians do not see...
Dave & Lorene Wilson
Jun 6, 20225 min read
Missionary Prayer Is Missionary Care
A Call for Churches to Care For, Not Just About, Their Missionaries Oswald Chambers once said, “Prayer does not equip us for greater...
Anna Daub
Feb 28, 20225 min read
Supporting Single Missionaries in the Wake of Covid
Almost two years ago, after watching the Covid virus spread across the globe, many governments responded by closing their borders and...
Bradley Bell
Feb 21, 20226 min read
Lamentations as the Textbook for Newly Arrived Missionaries
I just finished reading Jeremiah and Lamentations. Boy, am I glad that’s over! Ever feel that way? If it weren’t for reading plans, there...
Matthew Hirt
Feb 14, 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...
Bradley Bell
Dec 23, 20213 min read
A Liturgy for Missionaries During the Holidays
We hope this liturgy written by Upstream's Bradley Bell is an encouragement to you. This may be prayed alone, but it could be more...
Meredith Cook
Aug 18, 20213 min read
Pray for Afghanistan and Haiti
Pray for Afghanistan and Haiti. Pray for these countries. Pray for their citizens. Pray for the church, its leaders, and believers.
Mike Easton
Apr 1, 20212 min read
Overview of Sending Church Element 12: Providing Ongoing Care for Sent Ones
The Sending Church can provide personalized care that keeps the Sent-One energized for the challenging work they endeavor upon.
Larry McCrary
May 28, 20203 min read
Sent Identity, Part 2: What Do Sending Churches Do Differently?
I noticed some common components about strong sending churches that enabled them to have such an identity.
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.
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