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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!
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...
Dave Childers
Jul 8, 20243 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...
Christian Townson
Apr 15, 20244 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...
Mike Easton
Mar 12, 20243 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...
Mike Easton
Nov 27, 20232 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.
Mike Easton
Jul 27, 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.
Mike Easton
Jul 20, 20234 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.
Mike Easton
Jul 6, 20233 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.
Nathan Sloan
Mar 16, 20235 min read
Liturgy for the Well-Worn Missions Leader
We hope this liturgy written by Upstream's Bradley Bell is an encouragement to you.
Bradley Bell
Mar 9, 20232 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...
Mike Easton
Dec 22, 20227 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...
Gary Eberly
Mar 14, 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.” -...
Mike Easton
Mar 7, 20226 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...
Larry McCrary
Mar 1, 20224 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...
Mike Easton
Dec 6, 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.
Mike Easton
Sep 20, 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
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?
Mike Easton
Jul 23, 20216 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
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.
Mike Easton
May 10, 20212 min read
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