Sending Network

We believe the local church is not just involved in global missions—it’s central to it. The church is God’s chosen vehicle for making disciples of all nations, and our calling is to walk alongside churches to help them fulfill that role faithfully and effectively.

The Sending Network is the primary way we partner with churches to carry out that mission together. It is the community of local churches who send their missionaries through Upstream Sending, united by a shared theological and missiological vision and a deep commitment to church-centric mission.

What Is the Sending Network?

The Sending Network is a relational, collaborative network of churches that partner with Upstream Sending to send missionaries well. Our network serves as the structural and spiritual backbone of our work. It connects churches to one another, to our team, and to our Field Network around the world.

Churches in the Sending Network aren’t passive supporters—they are active senders. They are involved in identifying, preparing, sending, and sustaining their missionaries, and they do so in community with like-minded mission leaders from across the country.

At the heart of the Sending Network is a shared commitment to three key values:

Relationship & Collaboration – The Network is built on trust and connection. Regular rhythms of communication and connection allow for encouragement, real-time problem solving, and meaningful relationship.
A Seat at the Table – Partner churches help shape strategy and field engagement. They don’t just send missionaries; they have influence in how sending happens.
Resourcing & Empowerment – We invest in our churches through coaching, curated tools, webinars, gatherings, and full access to our digital resource platforms—including The HUB, our member-only library of tools built for sending churches.

Why Join the Sending Network?

Partnering with Upstream Sending through the Sending Network offers churches:

A community of mission leaders who understand the challenges and rewards of church-centric sending.
Shared wisdom and best practices for developing a healthy sending culture.
Access to trusted field partners through our Field Network, ensuring your missionaries are connected to healthy teams and sustainable work.
Intentional support from our staff in times of crisis, transition, or strategic decision-making.
Opportunities for reflection and development through our annual three-day Sending Gathering—a space for worship, learning, and community with fellow church and field leaders.

This is more than a network—it’s a family of churches, walking together in God’s global mission.

How Do I Join?

Here’s the process in a nutshell:

Initial Conversation – We begin with a simple conversation to get to know your church, hear your heart for missions, and share more about who we are.
Application – If there’s alignment, we’ll invite you to complete a brief application to help us better understand your church’s sending history, goals, theological convictions, and commitment to missions.
Assessment & Agreement – Together, we’ll walk through a Sending Church Assessment to evaluate your church’s readiness and needs, and we’ll draft a Partner Agreement outlining our mutual commitments.
Membership – Once the agreement is in place, your church officially joins the Sending Network and gains full access to all the resources, relationships, and support we provide.

A monthly membership fee is required of all network churches and helps fund this partnership—keeping our focus on serving churches well while reducing the administrative burden on missionaries.

Interested in Joining the Network?

Reach out to Dave Childers, Sending Network Director, at dave@upstreamsending.com to start a conversation.