By Rick Cherok
As news of Dr. Alan Ahlgrim’s unexpected passing on the evening of Tuesday, February 11, reaches the attention of those who knew him, reflections of his life, ministry, and service to Christ have been numerous and heartwarming on social-media spaces (see Cam Huxford’s remembrance of Ahlgrim below). Ahlgrim’s legacy as a Christian leader and a mentor to pastors will be missed by many.
Ahlgrim, 77, studied at Milligan College, graduating with the B.A. in Bible and History in 1969. While at Milligan, he met his future wife Linda, and they were married in 1969. Additional academic studies for Ahlgrim included the M.Div. degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (1972) and the D.Min. degree from Fuller Seminary (1985).
In a 2007 interview with Christian Standard, Ahlgrim explained that he went to seminary with the goal of entering a counseling ministry, but soon discovered that he was not well suited to be a counselor. “I had no expectation of becoming a pastor,” he said. “To my surprise,” he further noted, “I was able to connect well in my preaching.” That connection through preaching, he further stated “was, and still is, a great surprise to me.”
Although he had never been trained for church planting, Ahlgrim was a long-time advocate of the need for planting churches. He started the Dutch Fork Christian Church near Columbia, SC, but is most widely recognized as the founding minister of the dynamic Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Longmont, CO. Ahlgrim served as Lead Minister of the Rocky Mountain Christian Church from 1983 until his retirement in 2013.
Following his retirement from the pulpit, Ahlgrim spent 9 years (2013-2022) as the Director of Pastoral Care and Leadership Development with the Blessing Ranch of Livermore, CO. He went on to found and serve with Covenant Connections Soul Care Groups, where he has continued to serve as an administrator.
In addition to serving on the boards of The Christian Missionary Society, Standard Publishing, and Church Planters of the Rockies, Ahlgrim served as president of the 2007 North American Christian Convention in Kansas City, MO. He also wrote the highly acclaimed book, Soul Strength: Rhythms for Thriving.
Ahlgrim is survived by his wife of 56 years, three married children, and six grandchildren. His memorial services will be held at Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Longmont, CO, and livestreamed at https://rocky.church/alan/.
A Tribute to Alan Ahlgrim by Cam Huxford
I met Alan at Church Camp when I was 15 years old. He has literally been invested in my “heart work” ever since. He has been an amazing encourager and instructor in ministry and life … and sometimes a confrontational force in my life. He always had time for me. We’ve tried to talk every week for the last 40 years … it would be impossible to quantify the impact and blessing our relationship and his investment in my life has had on my ministry at Compassion Christian Church. It is true that some of our fruit grows on other people’s tree. The fruit of Alan’s integrity, giftedness, and yieldedness to Jesus has been growing on my tree for a long, long time.
Today, I’m trying to imagine a world without Alan Ahlgrim’s joy, laughter, insight, teaching, and example. He has been like a Magi for me in many ways. I have loved and admired and enjoyed our friendship … I can’t wait to hear that laugh in Heaven. As they say, soon, but not yet. I will continue to take what I learned from this Samurai Master of the sword of the Spirit, and invest it in others … like he did.
Please pray for his dear Linda and his family as they grieve through the valley of the shadow of death. Thank God, because of the love so many of us have for Alan … they will not walk alone.
I love Alan Ahlgrim … his leadership and mentoring was a gift from God to me. He will be remembered and though his is in Heaven his impact for Jesus will remain in play a long, long time. Thank you, my brother, for finishing so well!
Rick Cherok serves as Managing Editor of Christian Standard, Executive Director of Celtic Christian Mission, and Director of Men’s Services at Kentucky Christian University.
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