January 1, 2026
Leading Through the Hand-Off: Lessons in Pastoral Transition
With careful planning, clear communication, financial foresight, and sensitivity to personalities, churches can not only survive transitions, they can thrive through them.
Articles for tag: Rocky Mountain Christian Church
February 14, 2025
Remembering Alan Ahlgrim (1947-2025)
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.
Spire Announces Speakers (Plus News Briefs)
The speaker lineup for the 2021 SpireConference is announced; High Hill Christian Camp is undergoing expansion; plus other briefs.
March 31, 2021
News Briefs for Mar. 31
More than 600 people attended a celebration of life service Monday at Antioch Christian Church, Marion, Iowa, for correctional officer Robert McFarland, who was killed last week during an attempted escape from the Anamosa State Penitentiary. The governor ordered flags in the state to be flown at half-staff Monday.
March 30, 2021
‘An Antidote to Loneliness’ for Pastors
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.
January 22, 2017
6 Secrets Leaders Share
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
The Best Sermon I”ve Ever Heard (10)
By Arron Chambers Christian leaders, some of them preachers themselves, tell us about a sermon they can”t forget””and maybe you won”t either. Jeff Miller Jeff Miller is a graduate of Nebraska Christian College in Papillion and Emmanuel Christian Seminary, Johnson City, Tennessee. He has held youth and worship ministries in Nebraska, Colorado, and Tennessee. He lives with his wife, Dana, in eastern Tennessee, where he teaches Bible at Milligan College. They have two adult daughters, Danielle and Cassady, and one granddaughter, Claire. Jeff”s Best Sermon: Sara Barton, chaplain at Pepperdine University, preached the best sermon I”ve heard on pride. The
September 20, 2014
Quitting Time
By Linda Ahlgrim Ever wonder if it”s quitting time? Every church volunteer has probably faced a time when they felt that way. More often than not, these frustrations arise from interpersonal conflict and should be seen as opportunities to practice humility and become more like Christ, not as reasons to quit. But sometimes we do need to step away from our ministry. Sometimes quitting is the most unselfish choice we can make. IT MAY BE QUITTING TIME IF . . . You need to say “no” to a serving opportunity to make room for God”s bigger “yes” in your life.
September 19, 2014
The Strategic Ministry of “˜Neighboring”
By Michael C. Mack In 2009, Dave Runyon gathered a group of 20 lead ministers in the Denver area to think, dream, and pray about how their churches might join forces to serve their community. The ministers asked the local mayor a simple question: “How can we as churches best work together to serve our city?” The mayor”s response has inspired passion and a movement. “The majority of issues our community is facing would be eliminated or drastically reduced if we could just figure out a way to become a community of great neighbors,” the mayor said. Runyon and Jay
Put It in Print
By Rick Jett (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I”ve Ever Received.”) The best advice I ever received was from Alan Ahlgrim, former senior minister of Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Colorado. About 20 years ago, Alan was teaching one of the graduate classes I was taking at Cincinnati Christian University. One lesson was about personal growth of a leader. He said good leaders are constantly growing. They will read, take classes, attend conferences, and interview other leaders. He explained that growing leaders will set goals. He walked us through an exercise of writing goals and action steps
Bad Sermons, Big Vision
By Alan Ahlgrim (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) One of my favorite elders is the source of both the best and worst advice I can think of. Just after we occupied our new building, with a huge debt, and just before a Sunday service, Norm said, “This church is just two bad sermons away from disaster!” That was the worst. The best came from the same man a few years later when we were celebrating our 10th anniversary. He delivered the heartfelt and encouraging reminder, “God”s vision for this church has always been bigger
December 20, 2013
What a Bunch of Hard-core Vegan Pagans Taught Me About Jesus
By Ryan Rasmussen Quite possibly the scariest moment in my life came at age 22, whereupon graduating from Bible college, I was embarking upon my first full-time ministry. I had taken a job as youth pastor at a little church just north of Indianapolis, Indiana. The church sat comfortably between cornfields and was on the outskirts of a blue-collar factory town the Beach Boys used to sing about (Kokomo). The people were nice, the church was great, but I still felt all alone in this new world I had taken by storm. In an effort to kill time and distract
September 22, 2013
The Church and the City
By Roger Boatman “There will be no large churches in this city,” thundered the city councilman of a Seattle suburb to leaders of a Christian church. At issue was land the church had in escrow to develop as its new campus. Church leaders objected, saying elected officials could not determine the size of their church. “Oh, yes we can,” the councilman replied, “because we set the parking code, and you will not be approved for this or any other large site in this city.” Not to be denied their vision for the church, the congregation backed away from that site
September 18, 2013
Colorado Churches Helping Flood Victims
By Jennifer Johnson Several Christian churches in Colorado have been key in helping victims of the floods that damaged more than 18,000 homes and left many other residents without power and running water. “¢ LifeBridge Christian Church (Longmont, CO) has served as one of the primary evacuation centers since last Thursday, assisting thousands of people and working with city and county officials as well as leaders from relief organizations. LBCC says it doesn”t need any immediate donations of food, water, or clothing, but will probably need more as rescue turns to recovery. “The LifeBridge site was almost a study
September 8, 2012
Giving Up!
By Alan Ahlgrim Picture this: Your church launches a new campus with a state-of-the-art, 70,000-square-foot building on 30 acres””just before the economy implodes in the greatest recession most of us have experienced. Meanwhile you are fighting for the church”s life in a lawsuit that costs you $2 million to win. This creates a loss of momentum that results in staff reductions and the departure of many members to another congregation nearby. What do you do in such a situation? Alan Ahlgrim, pastor of Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Colorado, faced all those challenges and more. As he shares in this
“˜Then the Lord Said to Moses”
Alan Ahlgrim reflects on hearing from God through Scripture, daily Bible reading, and moments of trust during personal anxiety and demanding ministry challenges.
January 14, 2011
Colorado Church Wins Long Court Fight Over Land Use
The U.S. Supreme Court declined Boulder County’s appeal in its case against Rocky Mountain Christian Church, leaving in place a final win tied to federal religious land-use protections.
December 16, 2010
A ‘Reel/Real’ Christmas Celebration
Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Niwot, Colorado, presented “Reel to Real,” a Christmas concert pairing favorite movie clips with live music and the real meaning of Christmas.
October 15, 2010
Embracing Esperanza
Mark A. Taylor reflects on the Chilean mine rescue, a daughter named Esperanza, and the living hope God gives through Christ’s resurrection.
January 17, 2010
Fear Not . . . Volunteers Can Be Found!
Linda Ahlgrim shares how church leaders can identify, invite, and encourage children’s ministry volunteers by addressing five common fears that keep people from saying yes.
