Sending Together
Exploring Interdependent Sending
What does it look like for local churches to play a central role in sending and sustaining missionaries?
We call it Interdependent Sending.
As sending becomes increasingly complex, healthy missions requires more than a church, a field team, an agency, or a sent one acting independently. The future of sending belongs to those who embrace interdependent sending—shared responsibility for the preparation, sending, care, development, and long-term flourishing of those sent out for the advance of the gospel.
This gathering will explore what it takes to send and sustain people well together through biblical conviction, practical structures, collaborative learning, and shared ownership.
This isn’t another conference where you sit in rows, take notes, and leave with a to-do list. This is a highly interactive, discussion-driven space where your voice, your experience, and your challenges will directly shape the conversation. Come ready to engage, innovate, and problem-solve alongside peers who share your passion to raise up and send out healthy missionaries.
Speakers and Facilitators
Julius Tennal II
International Missions Pastor
Summit Church
Julius Tennal II is the Pastor of International Missions at The Summit Church in North Carolina. Before becoming a pastor, he served as a missionary in South Africa. He is also a co-author of Missiology for Mission Pastors. Julius is married to Brittany, and they have three wonderful children.
Justin Schell
Director Lausanne Younger Leaders Generation
Justin Schell serves as the Director of Lausanne’s Younger Leaders Generation and is also a lecturer at Union School of Theology. Before his current roles, he and his family served cross-culturally in the Muslim world. Justin holds degrees in mission and biblical theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is the author of The Mission of God and the Witness of the Church.
Larry McCrary
President
The Upstream Collective
For nearly 25 years, Larry and his family have called Europe home, where he’s played key roles in church planting and strategy across a variety of contexts. Prior to moving to Europe, he was a church planter and pastor in the United States, which gave him a front-row seat to both sending and going.
Nathan Sloan
Executive Director of Sending
The Upstream Collective
Nathan provides overall direction and leadership to Upstream Sending and is passionate about healthy missiology and the church's role in mission. He is the author of You Are Sent and Multisite Missions Leadership, and is an elder in his local church.
Bradley Bell
Executive Director of Equipping
The Upstream Collective
Brad is a gifted writer, speaker, and missiologist. Along with leading Upstream Equipping, he is the author of Sending Church Defined and the coauthor of several other books.
Dave Childers
Sending Network Director
The Upstream Collective
Dave leads our network of churches and church leaders, providing support and encouragement. Before his role at Upstream, he was a missions pastor and missions agency leader.
Jamaal Williams
Lead Pastor
Sojourn Midtown
Jamaal Williams is lead pastor of Sojourn Church Midtown in Louisville, Kentucky, and president of Harbor Network, a church network committed to launching, leading, and multiplying thriving churches. He’s a native of Chicago and holds a DEdMin in black church leadership. Jamaal is the co-author of In Church as It Is in Heaven.
Justin Dodson
Field Network Director
The Upstream Collective
Justin leads our Field Network and oversees all our work overseas. He and his family perviously served in Strasbourg, France where he planted a multicultural church and brought the gospel to refugees in the city.
Rachel Hamm
Worship Leader
Sojourn Midtown
Rachel Hamm is a worship leader at Sojourn Midtown in Louisville, Kentucky, where she has served for more than 15 years. She has also had the joy of serving at numerous global missions and church planting conferences, both locally and abroad.
Monday, Dec. 7
1:00pm | Welcome & Connection
2:00pm | Session 1: The Centrality of the Church in Missions
3:30pm | Collaborative Missions
5:30pm | Dinner
6:30pm | Worship
7:00pm | Session 2: Interdependent Sending Defined
7:30pm | A Sending Journey: A Church's Lived Experience
Tuesday, Dec. 8
8:30am | Worship & Prayer
9:15am | Session 3: Maturing as a Sending Church
9:45am | Collaborative Missions
11:00am | Session 4: Sending with Upstream
12:30pm | Lunch
1:30pm | Breakout #1
3:00pm | Breakout #2
4:00pm | Session 5: The Road Ahead: Upstream Update and Future Vision
5:00pm | Prayer Session
Wednesday, Dec. 9
8:30am | Worship & Prayer
9:30am | A Sending Journey: A Church's Lived Experience
10:15am | Session 6: The Receiving Field: The Neglected Link in Sending
11:00am | Collaborative Missions
12:00pm | Closing
Breakout Sessions
A Framework for Church-Based Member Care
Building a Healthy Sending Pipeline
Mental Health & Global Missions
Sending & Shepherding Gen Z
Exploring Upstream Sending
The Rise of the Global South and Its Effects on Sending
Collaborative Mission
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
We are committed to collaborating with our churches for more and better mission. We will do this through small group work and sharing best practices.
Gospel Renewal
We are called to serve out of the overflow of our life with God.
During our gathering, we’ll commit time to worship, Bible intake, reflection, and prayer in an effort to slow down and be renewed in the Lord.
Meaningful Relationships
Leadership can be a lonely endeavor but it doesn’t have to be.
We will give time and space to get to know one another, hear each other’s stories, and build meaningful relationships that last long after our gathering is over.
Collaborative mission, meaningful relationships, and gospel renewal are the values that shape our yearly gathering. They give our Sending Network clarity on who we are as a community and why we exist. These values are woven throughout our programming, worship, and downtime.
Venue
Sojourn Midtown is a member of the Sending Network and a vital part of our community. They are situated in Louisville, Kentucky and have graciously offered to host this year's Gathering.
The church sits at the heart of the city near great food, coffee shops, and all that Louisville has to offer.
Sojourn Midtown
1207 S Shelby St
Louisville, KY 40203
Lodging
We have a block of rooms available to us at the Tempo by Hilton Louisville NuLu, located a short drive from Sojourn Midtown. Rooms at a discounted rate are available until November 13th, 2026. If you have any questions, or if you need to make arrangements after November 13th, please email Laura Stokes.
To access our special discounted rate for the conference please use the booking link below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can attend the gathering?
The Sending Church Gathering is for church leaders in the Sending Network and for churches exploring partnership with Upstream Sending. Churches that are invited may bring as many people as they like. The event is not open to the public.
When does registration close?
Registration closes on November 13, 2026. Please book your spots before then so we will have sufficient time to prepare for the Gathering.
What is the cost of the event?
Upstream is committed to keeping our event affordable for our churches. The registration fee is $149 per person.
When should we arrive and when should we depart?
We ask people to arrive at the venue no later than 12:30pm on Monday and depart no earlier than 12:30pm on Wednesday.
Do I need a rental Car?
A rental car can be helpful to navigate and explore the city but it's not necessary. The airport is 10-15 mins from the airport and venture. Ubers and Lyfts are easily accessible.
Can I bring people with me?
Yes. Network churches are welcome to bring as many people from their team/church as they like. We actually encourage you to bring people as this will create more buy-in with Upstream.
What's around the venue to explore?
Sojourn Midtown is in the heart of the city and in the vibrant neighborhood of Shelby Park. Within walking distance are four coffee shops, numerous restaurants, a bakery, and an indoor market with a pinball arcade.