How should churches act out their responsibility to provide safe places for children to grow in Christian faith? Scott Floyd, director of Counseling Programs at B.H. Carroll Theological Institute, provides some clear guidelines.

Louis Armstrong’s song, “What a Wonderful World,” is one of my favorites. The words and tune echo in my mind and escape my lips often. And yet … .

While church staffing is a difficult conversation, it is one we must have if we are to be good stewards of our resources and our witness.

To any other man or woman who has been a victim of sexual abuse, I would like to tell you that you matter and I believe you. What happened to you was not your fault. You deserve healing and an opportunity to live a life free from shame and fear.

Like children and youth, adults experience a range of affects from childhood sexual abuse. Scott Floyd examines some of those affects and points to hope and resilience for adults survivors of abuse.

When a congregation welcomes a new pastor, it is an exciting time, a new beginning for both the congregation and the new minister. To maximize this new beginning, it is important to prepare spiritually, cognitively and emotionally for a new chapter.

How does sexual abuse effect those who are victimized? How is the impact experienced when one is a child, a teenager and then an adult?

The biggest and most costly mistake church leadership can make related to child sexual abuse is assuming “it can’t happen here.”

The fairy-tale nature of my life (and maybe yours, too) should not be a diversion from the need to acknowledge and respond to stress, especially as our response to stress presents an opportunity for followers of Christ to grow closer to him and to exhibit his hope to a world awash with stress.

Using the metaphor of Lewis and Clark’s exploration of the American West, a Fuller Seminary vice president explores the leadership challenges for the church in a post-Christendom world.

“People often ask for a simple explanation of how a church grew or some ministry flourished. … More often than not, there wasn’t one big thing.”

Church security is a matter of discipleship and stewardship. As disciples of Christ, our ultimate security is not in this world but is in Christ. As stewards of all God gives us, we must provide the best care we can for people.