Reflecting on your favorite reads from 2025 is something I look forward to each year. Considering your most-visited articles from the year not only gives us a snapshot of what you cared about this year but also compiles some great articles all in one place!

From women in ministry to dissolution clauses and everything in between, we hope you'll enjoy these fun and informative articles with us.

#1 - 5 Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Church’s Women’s Ministry

By Melody Brackett

As in all ministries, the tasks and possibilities for service can easily pile up in women’s ministry. Demands on women’s time are high, and it can be hard to know what is most meaningful and effective.

UBA Staffer, Melody Brackett relieves the pressure and offers encouragement to the women in the everyday trenches of minstry.

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#2 - 7 Ways To Pray During LGBTQ+ Pride Month

By Gene Burrus

This article has lived on our top 10 list since it was written in 2021, which makes sense. Gender and sexuality are hot-button issues in our rapidly changing culture.

Gene Burrus reminds God’s people that prayer is essential, especially in challenging cultural moments. He also provides deeply practical ways to engage those around you well.

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#3 - El Cuidado Pastoral

Por Adrian Amezquita

Pastors face an incredible number of burdens from emotional challenges, ministerial pressures, isolation, and even questions of faith.

Adrian Amezquita shows how the act of taking care of yourself is not a sign of weakness, but a powerful testament to humility and wisdom.

“El acto de cuidarse a sí mismos no es un signo de debilidad, sino un testimonio poderoso de humildad y sabiduría.”

# 4 - ¿Qué enseñó Jesús sobre el discipulado?

Por Livan Quintana

Pastor Livan reminds us that discipleship starts by following Jesus’ example and dedicating yourself to Himself.

“A menos que uno tenga un compromiso de vida con Jesús no puede CRECER para SER y HACER Discípulos.”

#5 - Behind the Curtain: Isolation and the Pastor’s Wife

Isolation can be a normal part of ministry leadership. However, pastors’ wives face a unique kind of pressure and isolation. It’s why UBA is leaning into check-ins and cohorts for women in ministry (staff, lay leaders AND pastor’s wives.)

This anonymously-written article gives a peek “behind the curtain” to see both the challenges pastors’ wives face and ways you can serve them well.

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#6 - Ask These 4 Questions to Find Out What Someone Really Believes

By: Keelan Cook

It’s hard to know where to begin in sharing the gospel. We can’t share effectively just using a canned gospel presentation or assuming someone is Christian when they’re not.

Who better to answer this question than former UBA Church Consultant and current Director for the Center for Great Commission studies at Southeaster Seminary Keelan Cook?!

Keelan offers four simple questions to start the conversation in an increasingly complex religious community.

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#7 -3 Ways the Church Ministers in Grief

By: Liz Williams

Walking with people through their darkest moments is one of the most difficult and important things ministers must do. It will always be a reality of life in ministry. So, I asked a dear friend Liz to help write a series for pastors, friends, and people who are grieving.

Liz Williams offers wisdom and personal insight from her own journey with her son’s sudden death. She gives practical ways to be present, words to say (or not say), and ways to serve those in the valley of the shadow of death.

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#8 - 10 Bad Work Habits Every Pastor Should Avoid

By Sam Rainer

Of course, the new year is when we reflect on habits and try to optimize our work, but it seems that y’all have been enjoying Sam Rainer’s advice all year long!

This high-practical article exposes 10 bad habits pastors can be prone toward and why it matter to break those habits. Maybe you can find something to adjust and habits to change before it’s too late.

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#9 - 10 Ways a Local Church Can Help a Missionary

By: Chuck Lawless

When Chuck Lawless tells you something about missionaries, it’s always a good idea to listen! In this article, he focuses on how to support them well—something we’re also advocating as part of our Sending Pathways initiative.

Supporting missionaries is such a vital part of their longevity and effectiveness on the field, and Dr. Lawless gives easy ways any church (no matter the size) can support them well.

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#10 - Why Every Church Needs a Dissolution Clause

By: John Litzler

In this technical but incredibly helpful article, attorney John Litzler explains the dissolution clause, why it matters, and how it can save (or cost!) your church decades of property tax payments.

As our churches have looked through their documents, this article has helped keep them legal and prevent them from paying unnecessary property taxes.

It has saved our churches a collective millions of dollars, so it’s worth reviewing!

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We hope you enjoyed this look back on your favorites from 2021. If you have any topics or authors you'd like to see on our blog, reach out or our editor, Marie Burrus. We love to host helpful articles for you and all of our churches in the Greater Houston Area.

Happy New Year!

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