Resources to Help You Send Well
At Upstream, we believe the local church is God’s primary instrument for sending his people—both locally and globally. But churches often lack a clear roadmap for turning passion into action.
That’s why we’ve built a robust library of downloadable, easy-to-use guides—each one intentionally short, practical, and ready to implement. Curated by Upstream leaders with local church and field experience, these documents have been tested and proven effective.
To help you get started, we’ve curated 12 foundational resources—a kind of starter kit for any church looking to grow in healthy, strategic sending. These are free to download and designed to equip you with immediate, actionable next steps.
Become a subscriber to access these resources and more.
Introduction to the Sending Church Definition
Every lasting missions effort begins with the right foundation.
This resource introduces a biblical and practical definition of what it means to be a sending church—developed by Upstream to bring clarity to the sending church movement. Drawing from the example of the church at Antioch, it unpacks key components of the definition and invites leaders to reflect on their church’s current practices. Use it as a conversation starter with your team and a launch point into deeper engagement with our book, The Sending Church Defined.
Introduction to the Sending Church Elements
Without a clear framework, sending well can feel overwhelming.
This resource introduces that framework—called the Sending Church Elements. These are seventeen essential components of sending organized into four phases. It offers clear definitions, reflection prompts, and guidance to help missions leaders assess where their church is and identify areas for growth. For a deeper exploration of each element, readers are encouraged to read The Sending Church Applied, which unpacks the framework one chapter at a time with biblical depth and practical insight.
Introduction to Sending Church Discipleship
Becoming a sending church isn’t just about strategy—it’s about discipleship.
This resource introduces church leaders to the foundational concept of discipling every church member to live on mission wherever they live, work, and play. It provides an overview of key missionary skills drawn from Tradecraft: For the Church on Mission and offers practical ideas for forming disciples who live with gospel intentionality—whether they move overseas or stay rooted in their local community. You can use this resource to shape a discipleship pathway in your church, integrate missional habits into your church culture, or prepare members to be sent cross-culturally.
More Free Resources
12 Essential Traits in Developing Healthy Missionaries
Practical Ideas for Cultivating Missions Awareness
How to Participate in Global Missions Through Prayer
Introduction to the Sending Church Definition
How to Establish Advocacy Teams for Missionary Care
How to Develop a Healthy Short-Term Trips Strategy
Introduction to the Sending Church Elements
How to Proactively Identify Potential Missionaries
How to Establish Your Church's Missions Convictions
Introduction to Sending Church Discipleship
Best Practices for Establishing a Missions Budget
How to Build Your Church's Sending Pipeline
You Lead the Church. We’ll Equip You to Send Well.
Whether you’re clarifying your sending vision or scaling your global strategy, Upstream offers the guidance, tools, and community to move forward with confidence.
Ready to take the next step in building a healthy sending church?
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