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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.

Recruiting volunteers is a big part of many ministry leaders' roles. Whether for student ministry, special events, or any other ministry, recruiting volunteers who are engaged and excited to serve is crucial to a ministry's success. Often, making a bulletin post or a mention in the services closing message is not going to cut it in terms of recruiting high capacity and willing volunteers.

With that in mind, here are five ways you can attract and engage with potential volunteers.

Sometimes we avoid receiving feedback because it can feel like inviting conflict. Conflict is a natural part of any church or organization; if you manage feedback well, then you can leave your organization in a healthier and stronger place. It can be easy for a church staff to become disconnected from the congregation, so it is crucial to always have a finger on the pulse of the church body.

Here are five suggestions on how to manage feedback well in your church.

In a day and age where people seem busier and more distracted than ever, it can be difficult to manage your time and to-do list well. Being productive can be even more challenging when you’re on a church staff wearing many different hats as team members in ministry tend to do. However, there are a few practices that can be implemented to help individuals make the most efficient use of their time.

Here are five strategies that will help you be productive and stay on task.

Every summer when I was young, my family would pile into our van and head to the beach. It was the highlight of the summer, an opportunity to step away from the normal day-to-day and spend time with family, and inevitably, a good book or two.

It’s the heart of summer, and even if you’ve already taken a trip to the beach, it’s still a perfect time to dive into a new book. We asked our ministry partners and friends to suggest some great summer reads. So whether you’re an avid reader or just looking for a book to pack for the pool or the beach, these summer reads are sure to renew, inspire, and entertain you:

Vision is not a far-fetched, unattainable fantasy, but rather a realistic picture of what you want and need your organization to become. It is a reflection of your values and the core reasons your ministry exists. Here are four keys to casting a vision for your team.

The process of interviewing and vetting candidates is always challenging. It can be difficult to understand and interpret a resume to get an accurate sense of an individual's employment history and skillset; it can be even harder to get a candidate to transparently discuss his or her ministry path and past experiences.

One of the more frustrating situations organizations encounter during the interviewing process is having a top candidate receive a negative reference from a former employer after checking all of the boxes throughout the interview process.

Here are four things to keep in mind if a candidate receives a negative reference:

I spent a large portion of my ministry as a Student Pastor. Like many with a student ministry background, I remember many aspects of my experience fondly; others, I'd like to forget. Regardless, my years as a student pastor were foundational as I learned invaluable lessons that taught me how to lead well.

As I look back on my early years of ministry, however, I realize that there were areas in which nobody took the time to coach me. I was left, sometimes, to learn on my own.

If you’re currently a new leader in ministry or have one on your team, here are seven areas of leadership to focus on developing.

I served as a Lead Pastor for well over two decades. In order to be the best I could be with the gifts I had been given, I relentlessly pursued outside activities and experiences that would sharpen my skills, from graduate school to continuing education, leadership conferences and seminars, I worked hard to achieve effective and transformative pastoral leadership.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul writes to a young, aspiring, and impressionable pastor named Timothy, and says these words:

"...I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction...keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:1-2, 5 (NIV)).

Good, great, got it, done! Who doesn’t want to follow Paul’s admonition? Who doesn’t want to be exceptional in what they do? As busy leaders, it would be easy to use a check list: today I study, on Sunday I teach, then I counsel, officiate at weddings and funerals, lead meetings with staff and elders, and on and on. Paul was one of the most motivating and inspiring leaders of all time. He was a theologian, author, public speaker, missionary, and apologist. Paul knew who he was, whose he was, and he had a purpose.

Paul’s extraordinary ministry however, was not through his heritage, education, or ambitions. He was passionate about being internally focused on his relationship with God. He knew and understood that leadership is an inside job, meaning the fruit of our leadership is in direct correlation to the condition of our inner person.

Inspired by the ministry of Paul, here are three keys for effective, spiritually charged leadership:

One of the core values of Vanderbloemen Search Group is: "Ever-Increasing Agility." As a company, we strive for agility to serve our clients and candidates with excellence in an ever-changing marketplace.

Whether it’s societal or cultural norms, our personal lives, our jobs, our communities, our nation, or our world, change is all around us. As Christian leaders and thinkers, we have to be able to navigate, grow, and even thrive in that tension.

Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church says, "Irrelevance happens when the speed of change outside an organization is greater than speed of change inside an organization."

Here are 3 key reminders on how to strive for agility in a changing environment: