Mike Bonem
Translating Your Vision

One evening when our adult kids were home for Christmas, we entertained ourselves with Google translate by translating phrases back and forth to see how they might change. Communicating clearly and effectively is both important and challenging for church and ministry leaders. How often have you conveyed a key message and then been shocked at how it was misunderstood by others? Probably far more often than you would like.

Translating Your Vision
Joshua Hill
Love on the Streets of Osaka

This past summer, I led a group from Woodridge Church to go serve alongside IMB missionaries in Osaka, Japan. On this trip, I saw both the darkness in Japan as well as the hope that Christ offers the Japanese people.  That's why I'm excited about an upcoming training for those interested in reaching Japanese people in Japan as well as in Houston. This free event is Friday, September 13th at the UBA offices from 10am-12pm.

Love on the Streets of Osaka
Sally Hinzie
3 Ways to Do Kingdom Sowing in our City

One of the things I like about working at Union Baptist Association is the kingdom mentality. I have the privilege of serving outside our institutional boundaries on occasion to serve a broader community. UBA believes we are better together not only at the local level but also as we share the gospel and sow seeds for the Kingdom throughout the world. Here are just three of the many opportunities I have to make a kingdom impact in our city.

3 Ways to Do Kingdom Sowing in our City
UBA Staff
September Prayer Guide

Every month, we feature people, events, and ministries we want our people to pray for. So, join us as we pray to and praise God for what He's done, because we're always better together.

If you have any requests or just want to let us know you’re praying with us, feel free to tag us on Facebook or Twitter, and join the conversation. #UBAPraysTogether

September Prayer Guide
Guest
How Can You Serve Those Who Serve?

When Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on our Texas coast, firefighters like me got a front-row seat to the damage and destruction 27 trillion gallons and 50 inches of rain can cause. We regularly have to deal with destruction. As Chaplain of the Houston Fire Department, I see the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual toll this work can cause. I cannot do this alone and neither can our firefighters. So, I am seeking local churches to work alongside me. Would you help?

How Can You Serve Those Who Serve?

español

La Lluvia

La Lluvia

Estados Unidos es quizás el país con más libertad para predicar el evangelio. Tenemos canales de tv, radio estaciones, iglesias, seminarios, ministerios, y publicaciones que inundan el país con el mensaje. ¿Estará, de veras, llegando al corazón de la gente y dando fruto?  

America is perhaps the freest country in which to preach the gospel. We have tv channels, radio stations, churches, seminaries, ministries, and publications which flood the country with the message. But will it reach people's hearts and bear fruit?

La Historia Se Repite

La Historia Se Repite

Hoy en día, algunos comunicadores cristianos están haciendo un impacto para la gloria de Dios a través de la radio y la televisión. Sin embargo, no fue así al principio. Cuando llegó la radio, algunos líderes cristianos comenzaron a usarla para esparcir el evangelio, pero no sabían cómo manejarla efectivamente. Pagaban caro por un horario de baja sintonía y usaban un formato tipo culto. Como resultado, la audiencia que alcanzaban era de creyentes. O sea que gastaban el dinero predicándole lo mismo a los mismos.

Una Iglesia Sobrenatural

Una Iglesia Sobrenatural

Tenemos hermosos pensamientos sobre lo que es o podría ser la iglesia, pero a través de diferentes experiencias frustrantes, desarrollamos un concepto que se parece más a un club social, que a la asamblea sobrenatural de creyentes llenos del Espíritu Santo. El esfuerzo que tomaba aprender a montar la bicicleta llevó un niño a abandonarla. Lo que él nunca se dio cuenta es que el verdadero problema era que las llantas de la bicicleta perdieron el aire. Igualmente, no podemos ser iglesia sin el Espíritu Santo.

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We have rich expectations of what the church is or could be, but through different frustrating experiences, we develop what looks more like a social club than a supernatural assembly of believers filled with the Holy Spirit. The frustrating amount of effort required may cause us to abandon our attempts. What we fail to realize, though, is that we can not be a church without the Holy Spirit.

Antimetabole

Antimetabole

Antimetabole es la transliteración de una palabra griega y consiste en la repetición de palabras en clausulas sucesivas, pero en diferente orden. Por ejemplo: ¿Cómo sería una congregación donde la mitad son creyentes no practicantes y la otra mitad son practicantes no creyentes? Sería una situación que haría llorar a nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

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An antimetabole is a Greek literary device that consists in the repetition of words in successive clauses, but in a different order. For example: Do we have congregations where some are non-practicing believers and others are non-believing practitioners? This would make our Lord Jesus Christ cry.

Renuevo

Renuevo

De todas las historias de la bíblica, una de mis favoritas es la visión de los huesos secos en el capítulo 37 del libro de Ezequiel. Dios lleva al profeta a un valle que según los primeros versos estaba “lleno de huesos” y “secos en gran manera.” Entonces Dios le hace una pregunta muy extraña al profeta: “vivirán esos huesos?” A lo que el profeta contestó, “solo tú, Señor lo sabes.” Dios quiere y puede darle vida a su iglesia. Nosotros deseamos ayudarle.

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Of all the stories in the Bible, one of my favorites is the vision of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. God takes the prophet to a valley that was "full of bones" and "dried up in a great way" according to the first verses. Then, God asks a very strange question to the prophet: "Will those bones live?" To which the prophet replied, "Sovereign Lord, you alone know." God is willing and able to give new life to your church, and we want to help you, as well.

Amistad, una Relación más Elevada

Amistad, una Relación más Elevada

Las redes sociales se jactan de poder enlazar una red de amistades, pero la realidad es que la gran mayoría de los usuarios solo logran tener muchos conocidos, pero muy pocos amigos. Por otro lado, para los pastores y ministros cristianos, debido a las demandas del ministerio, desarrollar amistades profundas se complica. La amistad es una relación de ecuanimidad y equidad que necesita ser cultivada todos los días.

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While social networks boast of being able to link a network of friends, the reality is that the vast majority of users only manage to have acquaintances, but very few friends. Often for pastors and Christian ministers, the demands of the ministry make it very complicated to develop truly deep friendships. Friendship is a relationship of balance and equity that needs to be cultivated every day.

Discipulado / Discipleship

Discipulado / Discipleship

Los que estamos al frente de una iglesia tenemos la responsabilidad de desarrollar un plan para discipular a todo aquel que esté dispuesto a disciplinarse en la vida cristiana. Según la Gran Comisión (Mateo 28:18-20), el Señor no nos envió a tener cultos maravillosos, ni actividades interesantes. Simplemente, nos envía a hacer discípulos. Pero parece que el hacer discípulos es la parte menos practicada.

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Those of us who are in charge of a church have the responsibility of developing a plan to disciple anyone who is willing to discipline themselves in the Christian life. According to the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20), the Lord did not send us to have wonderful worship times or interesting activities. The Great Commission simply sends us to make disciples. But it seems that making disciples is the least practiced part.

Amateur's Guide to Coordinating VBS (English & Español)

Amateur's Guide to Coordinating VBS (English & Español)

In 2016, my sister and I decided to take on the responsibility to plan our church's first Vacation Bible School (VBS). We've learned quite a few things along the way and are still learning. Hopefully, these thoughts and tips can be helpful to those of you thinking of planning VBS, no matter how big or small.

En el 2016, yo y mi hermana, tomamos la responsabilidad de hacer una Escuela Bíblica de Verano (EBV) por primera vez. Hemos aprendido varias cosas y espero que estos les ayude a planificar EBV, grande o pequeño.