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Upstream Blog

The Upstream Blog has a range of short articles on various topics around sending. Look through the tags to discover articles that meet your need.

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

When considering the Great Commission, is it prudent to entrust mission efforts to lay leaders? The missionary task is best accomplished whe

My family has an obsession—the Sacramento Kings basketball team. Despite fifteen years of marriage to a hardcore fan, I didn't cross the...

The role of advocacy teams has become increasingly vital to global missions and church planting as a means of caring for missionaries as...

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...

Sending missionaries from your church is exciting, but caring for your sent ones long term is often very difficult. Caring for them when...

“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...

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...

Father, when first I set sail on this life in another land, I believed your promise, that for every house brother sister father mother...

I started wearing glasses in the fourth grade. The optometrist whispered to my mom, “He’s nearsighted in one eye, farsighted in the...

The global church offers Western Christians hope in what feels like hopeless times; however, because many Western Christians do not see...

A Call for Churches to Care For, Not Just About, Their Missionaries Oswald Chambers once said, “Prayer does not equip us for greater...

Almost two years ago, after watching the Covid virus spread across the globe, many governments responded by closing their borders and...

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...

The missionary task requires understandable communication of the gospel. Depending on the context and the complexity of the language...

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...

Pray for Afghanistan and Haiti. Pray for these countries. Pray for their citizens. Pray for the church, its leaders, and believers.

The Sending Church can provide personalized care that keeps the Sent-One energized for the challenging work they endeavor upon.

I noticed some common components about strong sending churches that enabled them to have such an identity.

Here are a few questions to consider that might help us navigate, process, and prepare in crises.