sent ones | Upstream Collective

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.

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...

Most churches channel their efforts into cross-cultural missions through short-term trips, enabling church members to experience the...

It is wise to assess members of your church who want to live and work overseas with intentionality.

When you communicate and celebrate missions giving you communicate vision and priorities to your people.

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.

No missions leader enjoys the part of their job where they let go of partnerships financially. Inevitably, if you want to be a strategic sen

Here are three reasons that we must be committed to language learning and disciple-making in the language of the heart.

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...

We should teach our future missionaries the principles of multiplicative discipleship no matter which church model they encounter.

I have been a support-raised missionary. It’s pretty awesome. Here are some of the challenges, along with a few pleasant surprises.

Being a fully-funded missionary is pretty awesome. Here are some of the benefits, along with a few unpleasant surprises.

A monkey was sitting in a tree during a typhoon. From the safety of his perch he noticed a fish that was struggling tremendously in the...

Think before you post. Just four words, but instantly you know what I’m talking about. It may sound similar to the old ways of saying it:...

As missions leaders, we work hard to get our people overseas on short-term trips and as long-term missionaries. This is an awesome...

In part 1 of “Discerning Readiness in a Potential Sent One,” we talked about the positive traits that would lead us to give a green light...

If you gave me a million dollars and told me I could use it toward anything related to global missions, I would probably invest it into...

The story of Moses and the burning bush is the iconic example of God calling someone to accomplish His purposes in this world....

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...

Here are some questions to ask to develop programs in this transition phase from Committed Goers to Sent, as members actually hit the field.

Committed Goers are those that have been assessed by your church and the sending agency and are cleared to be sent overseas.