For those of you who have never had the blessing of being a pastor—and maybe you even wonder why pastor appreciation month exists—allow me to provide some clarity and suggestions for Pastor Appreciation Month
How to Support Your Pastor
Pastor Appreciation Month—Why is it Important?
We're Intentionally Getting Smaller—And Here's Why
You probably have heard it said, “UBA is the largest association in SBC life.” Virtually every time I’m introduced, that statement accompanies my name like it’s a flattering extension of my title. There’s nothing wrong with being big. But when Hurricane Harvey happened in 2017, our inability to reach several of the 550 churches on our roll begged the question: who are the churches of UBA really?
Why Unity is Important in the Church Body
Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:1-3 that in order to walk worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus, members of the church body must work diligently to keep the spirit of peace which holds us together. But why? Why is the unity of the church such a major doctrinal concern? If it is “work,"—and especially if it is a work in need of “diligence,”—then there must be something larger at stake when unity in the church is failing. Why is unity important in the church body? Allow me to offer three biblical reasons from Ephesians 4.
Pastor Appreciation Month—Why is it Important?
There was an old Isotoner Glove commercial featuring Hall of Fame Quarterback Dan Marino saying the tagline, “Take care of the hands that take care of you.” Regardless of your church or staff size, take care of the people who feel God’s call on their life to lead and take care of you. From ministry interns to senior pastors, we need them at their best, because they often see us at our worst.
What I Teach at Our New Member's Class
I have a high view of church membership, and I hope to lead my church to have the same view. I believe the best starting point for setting high expectations of every church member is a new member class. Whatever descriptor you use for the class, whatever time slot you choose to teach the class, every new member class should communicate three key points about your church: information, doctrine, and expectations.