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...
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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!
Christian Townson
- Apr 15
- 4 min
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 12
- 3 min
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
- Nov 27, 2023
- 2 min
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
- Jul 27, 2023
- 4 min
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 20, 2023
- 4 min
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 6, 2023
- 3 min
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.
Nathan Sloan
- Mar 16, 2023
- 5 min
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.
Bradley Bell
- Mar 9, 2023
- 2 min
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, 2022
- 7 min
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, 2022
- 6 min
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, 2022
- 6 min
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.” -...
Larry McCrary
- Mar 1, 2022
- 4 min
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...
Mike Easton
- Dec 6, 2021
- 4 min
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
- Sep 20, 2021
- 4 min
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 16, 2021
- 4 min
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 13, 2021
- 5 min
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
- Jul 23, 2021
- 6 min
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, 2021
- 4 min
Healthy at Home: Healthy Souls
Maintaining healthy souls on reentry is a community effort that takes time and commitment.
Mike Easton
- May 10, 2021
- 2 min
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.
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