Blog

On today’s Vandercast, William Vanderbloemen talks with Rick Garrett, Executive Pastor at Grace Church in Orlando, FL. 

Rick and William discuss hiring best practices for growing and multisite churches and strategies for balancing ministry and personal life.

Ministry is hard work and emotionally, spiritually, and physically taxing. Pastors are burning out and leaving the ministry at an alarming rate; divorce is still a common occurrence among pastors and church leaders; and depression and anxiety among those in ministry are all too common. Far too often, it’s due to putting the needs of the church ahead of the needs of the family.

Pope John Paul II said, "As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live." While God calls all of us to serve our neighbor, the institution of the family is the foundation from which we can summon the strength to help others.

Here are four steps you can take to help prioritize your family so you can better meet their needs, and in the process, better serve others and your church.

Searching for a new job can be a stressful and discouraging process. When that position is in ministry, it can be particularly stressful, especially when you add in the spiritual component. Setting proper expectations for yourself is crucial in maintaining a positive attitude throughout the process.

Here are four healthy tips and expectations to keep you on the right track.

On today’s Vandercast, William Vanderbloemen talks with Russell Howard, lead pastor at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, FL.

Russell and William talk about guiding your staff through a time of transition and the importance of maintaining your faith in the face of hardship.

One of the things I enjoy most about working at Vanderbloemen is the lack of meetings. Yes, I said it correctly: the lack of meetings.

One of our values at Vanderbloemen is Stewardship of Life. This value helps us think differently about what we do with our time. One of the ways we protect our time is by having meetings only when they are needed. Do you have a meeting strategy? How can you ensure your upcoming meetings are not only effective but also add value to your team?

Here are six things to consider the next time you plan a team meeting:

The past few years have seen instances of violence and unimaginable tragedy across the country. A few short years ago, violence on church campuses was extremely rare. Growing up, I remember a certain reverence from people by simply being on a church campus – a reverence only overshadowed by actually being inside a house of worship.

Things have changed. Today, we must stop and consider how we can protect those with whom we worship. While we’re not experts in church security, here are five safeguards that may make a difference at your church.

On today’s Vanderbloemen Leadership Podcast, William Vanderbloemen talks with Alan Hlavka, Outreach Pastor of Good Shepherd Community Church in Boring, OR.

Alan and William talk about how to help a hurting church and the importance of learning your place in the body of Christ.

(NOTE: This post was excerpted from the ebook “5 Crucial Church Metrics You’re Not Measuring (But Should Be!)”)

Most statistics churches track relate to what’s going on inside. That’s understandable. Those are the numbers that are easiest to track. But Mark Clifton, the senior director of the North American Mission Board’s rePlanting team, suggests that one of the most important proofs for the health and vitality of any church is whether the community would miss the congregation if it were gone.

Small groups build community and help new church members feel more connected to the local church. A smaller setting helps shrink down a large congregation to smaller, more intimate gatherings where members can establish deeper roots. No matter how each group is formed, there are some practical elements to consider when launching a brand-new group. Here are four steps every small group should take in the beginning.