Insights from in and around the association

      UBA Voices      

Marie Burrus Marie Burrus

Who Holds You Accountable Online?

Christian accountability is an important part of discipleship. We often hold our Christian brothers and sisters accountable for inappropriate words or acts, but we might neglect one place where we spend a lot of social time.

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Marie Burrus Marie Burrus

War of Words: One Question to Help us Minister in Divided Communities

As Christians, how we communicate (or miscommunicate) with others is a gospel issue. Our ability to hear and speak clearly affects how we teach, disciple, gather, and evangelize. It's vital!

Learning to speak the truth in love requires we know how to speak and to whom we're speaking. So I have one simple question to help.

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Marie Burrus Marie Burrus

10 Ways to be a Better Listener

Are you a good listener? We'd all like to answer yes, but are we really? The simple gift of listening can build bridges and open doors in even the most delicate of conversations.

Listening well can deepen relationships, shape emotions, and inform decisions. Most know this. And most believe they listen well. But do you really? Here are ten suggestions for improving your listening game today.

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Marie Burrus Marie Burrus

How to Share the Gospel: A Quick Word on Narratives and Themes

There are two ways to consider the gospel which aid in understanding: a thematic approach and a narrative approach. You have probably heard both, but understanding both and why they are important will help you know the gospel better and explain the gospel better.

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Marie Burrus Marie Burrus

What Churches Can and Cannot Say During Elections

It's election season! With that comes some uncertainty about how—if at all—churches can act towards political campaigns and candidates. It all seems a bit confusing. To gain perspective about the mechanics of what churches can and cannot do and what the consequences might be, our Executive Director Josh Ellis reached out to Dr. Marvin McNeese Jr, a political science professor at the College of Biblical Studies and a Deacon at Houston's First Baptist Church.

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Marie Burrus Marie Burrus

6 Dangerous Social Media Habits Pastors Should Avoid

“… And he’s a pastor!” I hear this phrase almost every week about a pastor’s online activity—namely, their treatment toward another human being through harsh speech. It’s almost as if we get behind a keyboard or touchscreen and forget our calling as heralds of God’s Word, shepherds of God’s people.

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Marie Burrus Marie Burrus

A Layleader's Guide to Reaching the Nations Near You

I was fresh off the boat from two years of mission work when I first heard of diaspora missions. I joined a church that had committed to engaging the West African population nearby and was soon neck-deep in Gambian and Ivorian communities. In spite of my mission experience, this work was harder than I anticipated. But if I can do it, so can you. And so can anyone else in your church.

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