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. Part of getting connected to our network of churches is knowing the people who can get you 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 (name, family, title, how long you’ve worked at UBA, what church you attend, etc)

My name is Lawrence Lee Scott, Jr, of Houston, Texas. I'm married to Shannon Scott, and we have six kids. I'm the lead pastor as well as the planting pastor for Harvest Point Fellowship Church in Pearland. Before that, I was the volunteer youth guy then the executive pastor at The Church at Bethel's Family.

2. How did you get connected with the association? 

I got connected to UBA through Bethel's Family. I had already planted Harvest point, and Pastor August said we should get connected with the association instead of being only independent. I had a lot of experience consulting with churches so ended up coming on with UBA, and I've been working here since 2018. 

3. How does your role advance the gospel in our context?

As a pastor, I get the privilege of leading amazing folks in the Pearland area. I get to lead in discipleship and evangelism. When done faithfully, that role leads to gospel advancement.

As a UBA church consultant, I come alongside amazing leaders in the city as a resource, cheerleader, friend, and prayer partner as they do the work.

4. What's one thing most people don’t know about you?

I've shared my story a lot, but we'll still say "most" people may not know it. I grew up in poverty. I was in a single-parent home in the inner city, and we struggled with homelessness. For a season we lived in a homeless shelter. 

But God provided. Now, I get to serve on the board for the same organization—Star of Hope—that served me as a kid. God is good!

5. What are you reading right now? (in the Bible, interesting books, etc) 

I'm in the prophets, and most recently Zephania. What's interesting to me is seeing God's posture on justice. Reading these texts in 2021 with fresh eyes, it helps me to see things I didn't see before. 

6. What motivates you to go to work?

The Holy Spirit. *laughs* No, seriously though, pastoring is a calling for me; it's not even work. God has placed me in my church, and there's nothing I'd rather do than that.

And when it comes to consulting at UBA, collaboration is a gift from God that I'm passionate about. Some of this collaboration has permitted us as a church to partner more deeply in our community, so we've seen the value for us as well.

7. What’s the most exciting thing you’re working on right now?

Honestly, it's less of a physical project and more making sure I'm spending extra time with my family right now. My daughter just went to homecoming, and I wasn't ready for that. 

So I'm trying to make sure we're building healthier rythms at home—having family time, devtionals, and things like that. We're building new systems and a healthier way to engage with one another. 

8. What do you love to do when you’re not at work?

I used to have other hobbies, but now I make my family's stuff my stuff. I think maybe I need to get my own hobbies some day, but I love this and I'm ok with it. 

9. What’s so special about a local association of churches?

The association is like a church's small group. They're more intimate, more relational, and people know one another. National stuff is great, but the local association gets to address the uniqueness of the city in a way the bigger organizations cannot. Associations are a necessary part of reaching our cities.

10. Tell me a story that makes you smile.

Shannon Scott is a good story. My wife and I have been married for 16 years, and the Lord knew I needed a super amazing wife. Across our 16 years, degrees, 6 kids, and all kinds of changes, seeing my wife make adjustments we needed to make was fantastic. 

I moved from being financial planner to working for the local church. When we were talking about it, she was all in. After describing all the things we'd have to change and all we couldn't do, she just said, "Let's do it!"

Now that we've reached a season where things are more stable, whenever she wants to do something, I say, "Let's do it." I love seeing her involved at the church and seeing her serve others. 

So now you know a little more about Lawrence. If you're interested in his story, church planting, marriage and family, or anything he mentioned, send him an email to connect.