It often surprises me, as I consult with churches and church leadership, that many congregations have elected a Personnel Committee but there is no clear direction given to them. There's no definition of expectation. What is a Personnel Committee supposed to do?

What if you as a committee resolved to encourage, equip, and resource church leadership?

People who pray for their pastors usually say they ask the Lord to bless sermon preparation—and for good reason. The Sunday sermon is the best opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of the most people. Yet there are many other reasons to intercede on behalf of the shepherds of the Lord’s congregation. Here are ten often-overlooked ways to pray for pastors.

If we know anything about disaster relief, it's that preparation for relief must take place long before a disaster strikes. That's why Houston Responds has developed The Willing & Able program to help congregations prepare for disaster and coordinate their response with other congregations in their community. Learn more about how your church can be prepared to act when disaster strikes.

If Houston were a country, it would rank fourth in the world for refugee resettlement. Houston welcomed Vietnamese boat people in the 1970’s. In 2001, Houston opened its doors to thousands of refugees from Hurricane Katrina. And now, Houston continues to receive refugees fleeing persecution, war, or violence from over forty countries. But what is it like once these refugees arrive, and what kind of support do they still need?

This week, we're featuring an excellent conversation from the Replant Bootcamp Podcast. Dr. James Hawkins discusses how to stay emotionally healthy during a time of crisis. With the heaviness of so many current events, we could all use Dr. Hawkins’ practical advice on how to develop and maintain our emotional health.

For the majority of our missionaries, moving halfway across the world for the sake of the gospel started out as a desire they shared with us one day. Shortly after that conversation, our journey to send them started. There is a lot of work that goes into preparing families and singles for the mission field. As sending churches, it is important to follow through as they return as well.

As a diverse association of churches committed to the equality and dignity of all people, the churches in the Union Baptist Association condemn the racism and injustice that has plagued our nation and harmed our African Americans brothers and sisters for far too long. We grieve the death of George Floyd, who was was a Houstonian, and our city feels his loss on a personal level. Let's seek justice, be humble, and answer hate with genuine love and peace.

As churches begin to reopen in the coming weeks, we support leaders making decisions to remain online as well as those reopening their church buildings—assuming necessary precautions are being taken. Our churches are represented in each of these camps. But now our attention turns to how a church can prepare for a true celebration with all its people.

It seems the emotional divide between churches that choose to reopen and those that are waiting is growing wider. This division within the larger body of Christ will only serve to distract us from our mission and tarnish our witness if we cannot choose to compassionately and gracefully disagree with one another’s tactical choices right now. Right now, it concerns me that what threatens the extension of grace between believers may come down to a face mask.

As Italy began to loosen its restrictions, an NPR reporter reminded listeners of the early days of the lockdown when Italians lifted their spirits by singing from their balconies. But the reporter noted that patience was wearing thin, and concluded, “Now the singing is over.” I recognize the emotions because I feel them myself. When I hear about the “endurance phase,” I want to grit my teeth, not burst out in song.