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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!
Partnerships are Foundational to Missionary Care
The best way to do missionary care is to put people on great teams. There are a multitude of reasons why missionaries leave the field:...
Mike Easton
Jan 6, 20227 min read
Forming Outwardly Focused Followers
One of the most exciting moments for church missions leaders is when someone in the body expresses a call from God to serve...
Jonah Fox
Nov 11, 20215 min read
The Pro's and Con's of Church Planting Movements
In the early 2000s I (Bradley) played an active role in a church planting movement (CPM). Within only a few years of that movement, tens...
Bradley Bell
Nov 1, 20213 min read
Does Sending Church Exclude the Universal Church and Parachurch?
“Does the sending church conversation unhelpfully exclude or deemphasize the universal church or the parachurch?” The Development of...
Larry McCrary
Nov 1, 20213 min read
Eight Dangers of Becoming a Sending Church
I love the sending church. That’s why I’ve devoted my life to it. So why would I want to talk about the dangers of it? First, because it...
Nathan Sloan
Oct 30, 20215 min read
Short-term Trips and the COVID Vaccine
In considering short-term trips for 2022, there are facts about world travel and the COVID-19 vaccine that need to be considered.
Mike Easton
Oct 28, 20219 min read
The Sending Pipeline Part 6: From Committed Goers to Sent
Here are some questions to ask to develop programs in this transition phase from Committed Goers to Sent, as members actually hit the field.
Mike Easton
Sep 30, 20213 min read
The Sending Pipeline Part 5: From US Senders or Potential Goers to Committed Goers
Committed Goers are those that have been assessed by your church and the sending agency and are cleared to be sent overseas.
Mike Easton
Sep 27, 20217 min read
The Sending Pipeline Part 4: From Global Christians to Potential Goers
Here are some questions to ask as you develop programs in this transition phase from Global Christians to US Senders or Potential Goers.
Mike Easton
Sep 23, 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.
Mike Easton
Sep 16, 20214 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.
Mike Easton
Sep 13, 20215 min read
Resource of the Week: Sending Church Online Training
September's sending church online training will focus on Creating a Sending Pipeline for your church.
The Upstream Collective
Sep 10, 20211 min read
Building the Foundation for Healthy Sending
While it can be said there are no perfect Sending Churches, we do see some common practices of healthy Sending Churches.
Larry McCrary
Sep 7, 20213 min read
Missionary Care Begins with the Local Church: A Look at 3 John 5-8
The local church, both its members and leaders, should be sending and supporting well for the promotion and advancement of the gospel.
Ryan Martin
Aug 9, 20215 min read
Resource of the Week: Security Tips for Your Short-Term Teams
While it's never fun to consider how to respond to crises, it's important to learn how to equip your short-term teams for such occasions.
The Upstream Collective
Aug 6, 20211 min read
The Sign Says Closed: Four Key Questions about Missions in "Closed" Countries
What is a closed country and what does it mean for missions and sending?
Greg Mathias
Aug 2, 20215 min read
Taking a Tiered Approach to Giving to Sent-Ones & Organizations
Consider your missions department’s vision, values, strategy, and calling when developing a tiered approach for giving to missions.
Mike Easton
Jul 12, 20213 min read
Resource of the Week: Sending Church Online Training Recording- Developing a Missions Budget
We are bringing back one of our most popular Sending Church Online trainings- Developing a Missions Budget.
The Upstream Collective
Jul 9, 20211 min read
Healthy at Home: Helping Hands
Relying on the local church for travel, lodging plans, and fellowship has long been the norm for those sent out to deliver the Good News.
Shirley Ralston
Jun 28, 20215 min read
Healthy at Home: Healthy Souls
Maintaining healthy souls on reentry is a community effort that takes time and commitment.
Shirley Ralston
Jun 24, 20214 min read
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