communication

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

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.

10 Ways to be a Better Listener

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.

What Churches Can and Cannot Say During Elections

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.

A Layleader's Guide to Reaching the Nations Near You

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. That’s why UBA is hosting the Who’s My Neighbor Workshop to equip everyone to do this kind of work. Until then, here's my guide to anyone wanting to start engaging foreign-born peoples.