Interview with Briana Perea
At UBA, we have a pretty amazing team of people hard at work in our churches. As you interact with the association, however, you may only know a few of our staff. And that's sad.
Our team is one of the best assets you have to get connected. So we wanted to highlight the people whose stories you might not otherwise know. Because every member of UBA is what makes up the association. Churches, ministers, staff, and associations are all #BetterTogether.
1. Introduce yourself.
I'm Briana Perea, and my title is Administrative Assistant. I am married and have a 7-year-old son. I've worked here for 3 years, and attend Ecclesia Clear Lake.
2. How did you get connected with the association?
I knew Josh Ellis through church and small group. Way back, my husband had randomly gone to the Ellis' Bible study a long time ago.
Josh knew I was looking to change jobs at the time and saw an opening where I could serve at UBA. I knew a little bit about him from seeing him do pulpit supply. Honestly, I didn't know how associations work until I started working here.
3. How does your role advance the gospel in our context?
Because we're so big numerically and geographically, I'm a part of keeping things organized. That way, our church consultants can do their work and interact with people without losing people in all the data.
4. What's one thing most people don’t know about you?
I went to the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. It's a public school in Houston with no sports. I got in on playing the violin.
5. What are you reading right now?
Just finished reading Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. It's such a page-turner. Disaster stories are fascinating, and you can feel the author’s emotions as he's telling the story.
Last year, I read Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, which was such a page-turner I immediately sought out more true disaster books. A couple of others that I loved were Buried in the Sky by Peter Zuckerman and Amanda Padoan, about a bad climbing season on K2, that really dives deep into Sherpa culture and religion; as well as Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton, about an early expedition to Antarctica. If I’ve learned anything from these books, it’s that I’m just fine at home surrounded by my creature comforts.
6. What motivates you to go to work?
I enjoy my colleagues. It's easy to work here because the culture is great. UBA’s leadership tries to give people what they need to thrive. It's just a great place to work.
7. What’s the most exciting thing you’re working on right now?
Admin work is a little cyclical. Since it’s early in a new quarter, I’m doing things like updating reports and preparing donor statements. I enjoy writing the occasional blog, which is challenging in different ways than my day-to-day duties.
Recently, we had a staff retreat and are preparing for annual staff check-ins with leadership, which I think are important opportunities for internal reflection so we can make sure we’re operating the way we should.
8. What do you love to do when you’re not at work?
I love spending time with my son and being outside as much as possible. Our family usually goes to different parks and trails.
9. What’s so special about a local association of churches?
The local association knows the nuances of Houston in an important way. There are things churches all over deal with in a common way, but our association knows the Houston context and how that plays out in ministry across different areas of town.
Also, our specific association is special because of the diversity we have. This diversity allows even more opportunities for good work to be done together.
10. Tell me a story that makes you smile.
I love hearing stories about church renewal, especially when it's two or three churches working together to help replant or renew a church like Broadway Baptist or Garden Villas.
I actually grew up in that neighborhood and went to that elementary school in Garden Villas. At the time, the neighborhood was already in transition. It was mostly Hispanic. Now the church is going to reflect the neighborhood it's in, and that's special and a little personal to me to see.