Personal conviction and church autonomy have long been distinctives defining who we are as Baptists. That means each church is going to have its own flavor, and that's (usually) a good thing—much like the mouth-watering diversity found in Houston. When we're bound together by the truth of the gospel, our different perspectives and approaches can help us innovate well. But how different is too different? Does unity in the church have to come at the cost of good decision-making or orthodoxy?

No debemos resistirnos al cambio, debemos fluir con él, guiados por los principios incambiables de la Biblia y con la mirada puesta en Cristo. Aprovechemos para reordenar nuestras vidas de adentro hacia afuera. Es una oportunidad que Dios nos está dando para estar en comunión con El, para reordenar nuestras vidas.

I was recently interviewed as part of a panel for re-opening the church in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is really not an expert on this topic, but we have a Good Shepherd. As we are all thinking through the tactical issues of reopening the doors of the church, I wanted to reveal three lessons I learned through Hurricane Harvey that will apply to our leadership during and after COVID-19.

UBA will celebrate its 180th birthday in October, and throughout all of those decades, we’ve been dedicated to strategically advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ—no matter what the circumstances. Even though our usual May meeting has been canceled, we still want you to hear the good work our ministries and subsidiary partners are doing to advance the gospel throughout Houston.

Cuando hay cambio, la mente de la gente se abre para explorar territorios que antes no le interesaban. Por consiguiente, la apertura de mente que la gente está experimentando es una oportunidad doble. Por un lado, para renovar la iglesia y por el otro para proclamar el evangelio. Admitiendo que es más fácil hablar que actuar, le comparto tres ideas para aprovechar el cambio en que estamos entrando.

Isn’t it so refreshing to know that even in the midst of everything we are facing that we have a shepherd who provides our every need? Christ Jesus is our leader in the midst of this crisis. Will you and your church lean in and pray with us as we seek provision and guidance from our shepherd and King? This month, we're continuing to pray for our city, country, and world during COVID-19. Join us.

There is nothing quite like receiving a gift—especially those gifts we did not ask for and did not see coming. Young or old, rich or poor, culture to culture, it is all the same. Without hesitation, the mental checklist begins with how to get the most use out of what has been handed to us to change us for the better. This unexpected season of stillness is a gift to those who use it well.

How do local churches fulfill the mandate to declare the good news of the gospel when “going” to all people is curtailed by health concerns, discouraged due to risk, and dissuaded by public officials? Here’s how normative-size (less than 199 in average weekend attendance) churches can move forward in engaging people with the gospel during the COVID-19 crisis.

"¿Cuándo pueden abrir la mayoría de las iglesias?" Si tuviera un centavo por cada vez que me hayan hecho esa pregunta en estos últimos días, sería millonario. Como con muchas otras cosas, la respuesta depende de una variedad de factores. Lo siguiente es solo un vistazo de algunas ideas de lo que las iglesias están haciendo para que sus instalaciones sean seguras para ellos y sus comunidades.

“When are most churches going to open?” If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been asked that question just in the last couple of days, I’d be a very rich man. As with many things, the answer depends on a variety of factors. Make sure you and your church are thinking through all these elements.