The words challenge and hope describe well the focus of this issue. Ministry can be hard. And discouraging. But we stick with it because of hope—hope in whom we serve, and hope in the work to which he has called us.
March 2, 2025
Who are those currently surrounding you and infusing you with strength? Such strengthening angels will be able to assure you that you have been called, that you are loved and that you are kept by the grace of God.
February 14, 2025
Dr. Alan Ahlgrim’s unexpected passing prompted widespread gratitude for his preaching, church planting, and mentorship of pastors. He led Rocky Mountain Christian Church for three decades and continued caring for leaders through Blessing Ranch and Covenant Connections.
January 1, 2024
Experiencing Growth and Community in a Covenant Group By Chad Goucher In my life, I have made some good investments and some bad investments. Let me begin by telling you about one of the really bad ones. I made what was perhaps my worst investment when I was in college. I took out a student loan and used the funds to purchase a membership at a local golf course. It’s the truth. I was in Bible college, and I obviously wasn’t majoring in finance. I loved golf and wasn’t fond of the classroom so—at the time—it made perfect sense to
January 1, 2024
THIS IS A SIDEBAR TO CHAD GOUCHER’S ARTICLE, “THE BEST INVESTMENT I’VE EVER MADE.” _ _ _ By Alan Ahlgrim What is Soul Care? The model we follow at Covenant Connections for Pastors is typically 4-3-2-1: four leaders (and one experienced facilitator), meeting over three years, twice a year in retreat, and once a month by Zoom or phone calls. This model allows honest, transparent, and even vulnerable sharing as relationships deepen through the consistent devotion of a disciplined community. The group is not out to “fix others” or even to hold others accountable; rather, the commitment to “be close”
December 14, 2023
"The coming of Christ is breathtakingly good news for all who feel overwhelmed with any need," Alan Ahlgrim wrote in 2014. "Jesus didn't merely identify with us; he came to assume the crushing, overwhelming burden of our sin. . . ."
September 1, 2023
How Are Our Churches—and Our Movement—Doing Today? An Honest Evaluation.
January 3, 2023
"I know that my last day could be any day," Alan Ahlgrim writes. He and four close ministry friends nearly skidded off the side of a mountain road in Colorado not long ago. "By God’s grace, we are living to serve another day."
October 10, 2022
For many of us, though, confession is the most difficult kind of prayer. Why is it so difficult? Here are four reasons . . .
July 1, 2022
By Alan Ahlgrim Too many times in my life my “stinkin’ thinkin’” and substandard theology led me to patterns that failed to improve my well-being. A few examples: I once determined to read the entire Bible out loud over the course of a year. That drained me more than blessed me. I once committed to a schedule that included both evening appointments and early morning meetings. Burning the candle at both ends left me flamed out. I was depleted by weariness and self-pity. I once adhered to a daily jogging regimen in all weathers. That led to injuries, especially when
June 27, 2022
How do you view the church? Unbelievers mock it or view it as a relic . . . Consumer Christians treat the church like a retail store . . . Celebrity-focused believers view the church as an entertainment venue . . .
March 30, 2021
Loneliness is a perpetual problem among pastors, and it only has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to two experts who specialize in care for pastors—Dr. Wes Beavis and Alan Ahlgrim. “There’s not a pastor out there who does not need authentic friendships,” Beavis said.
May 22, 2019
Vested in Our Leaders: The Center for Church Leadership By Alan Ahlgrim Many pastors lead growing ministries and have hundreds or even thousands of social media friends, yet they have no one other than their wife who really understands them and is truly devoted to them. A recent survey found that less than 25 percent of Christian men have a close male friend; for pastors the percentage is even smaller: less than 5 percent. The isolated leader is a vulnerable leader!Isolation is the devil’s tool to discourage and dishearten those in vital roles.We all are weak and vulnerable at times.
May 19, 2019
Compiled by Mark A. Taylor _ _ _ Alan Ahlgrim Retired: Founding pastor with Rocky Mountain Christian Church, Niwot, Colorado, March 2013 What are you doing now? Continues to encourage and mentor church leaders. Director of Covenant Groups with the Center for Church Leadership. Thoughts on retirement: âThe best is yet to be for every kingdom leader. I jokingly say if I had known this season would be so fulfilling, I would have started with this first and stuck with it! Iâ™ve traded unrelenting responsibility for a soul-enriching opportunity.â _ _ _ Dick Alexander Retired: Senior minister, LifeSpring Christian Church,
April 19, 2019
I Began Preaching on Problematic Bible Passages to Help People Grow Deeper in Their Convictions and Biblical Understanding By Ryan Rasmussen Do you ever put off hard things? You know theyâ™re important and often necessary . . . but theyâ™re hard. Some time ago, I realized I was doing this with my preaching. Itâ™s not that I was shortchanging the process. I wasnâ™t âborrowingâ sermons from famous preachers or recycling old manuscripts. Honestly, I didnâ™t notice my tendency until reading something in Mark 4. After Jesus preached the parable of the sower, his followers asked why he often taught
January 23, 2017
By Alan Ahlgrim In Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, Kent and Barbara Hughes begin with Kent”s angry lament: “Most people I know in the ministry are unhappy. . . . They are failures in their own eyes. Mine as well. Why should I expect God to bless me when it appears He hasn”t blessed them? Am I so ego-centered to think He loves me more?” Success . . . and Disappointment We live in a success-obsessed culture. No one hopes to one day be a colossal failure; we all dream of achievement. That”s not a bad thing. God created
January 22, 2017
By Alan Ahlgrim Every person can relate to being at the end of his or her rope””especially leaders! But realizing that secrets like these are common to many can lead to solutions and calm. Secrets””everyone has them. I”ve been close to a group of business entrepreneurs for years. We used to gather every week for lunch, now we connect every few months and it”s always a grand reunion. Recently, as we finished our sandwiches in a business conference room, I interrupted the chatter by reading a passage from Matthew 5. When I asked what stood out the most in this teaching
October 20, 2015
By Alan Ahlgrim Integrity failures come in all shapes and sizes, and usually at the most inconvenient times, in the most surprising ways, and from the most unexpected directions. Based on my experience and what I”ve learned from others, here”s my advice for a church coping with a leader”s failure. Over the course of my ministry, here”s just a sample of what I”ve been faced with and forced to lead through. “¢ Confronting the chairman of the elders with his adultery with another visible church member. “¢ Navigating the confession of molestation, as a highly respected leader simultaneously admitted his sin
October 19, 2015
An interview with John Walker By Alan Ahlgrim What would you like a struggling leader to know? First of all, they need to know they”re not alone. Everyone has struggled, is struggling, or will struggle with a life-limiting or ministry-threatening issue. Everyone. Sadly, too many not only struggle, but fail to the point of falling out. Is there a pattern to the failure situations you”ve seen in ministry? Not really, except to say that to some degree, sooner or later everyone messes up or gets stuck. We”re not about blame, shame, or punishment. We”re concerned about restoration and healing. That”s
September 1, 2015
By Mark A. Taylor The October issue of CHRISTIAN STANDARD is devoted to the theme of integrity. As we finish making final corrections before sending it to the printer this week, I know it contains some of the best material we”ve ever published. Surely the issue will prompt soul-searching in every reader. In a world characterized by concern for image management more than private goodness, even Christians too often fail to walk their talk. But a question has come to me in recent days that we do not consider in those pages. What do we do with integrity failures we
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