Our History

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A ministry formed through decades of seeking truth, serving the wounded, and returning Scripture to its original world.

Before the Ministry Was Founded

The story of El Shaddai Christian Ministries did not begin with an organization—it began with a lifelong formation shaped by service, discernment, and a pursuit of truth.

Founder and President Pastor Glenn Ahrens was raised in environments where compassion was lived, not theorized. His father served with the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity, assigning the family to regions of deep poverty where dignity-centered service was essential. From the Appalachian Mountains, to Puerto Rico, to Colombia—where his father coordinated CARE and Peace Corps initiatives—Glenn witnessed firsthand what it meant to serve those on the margins.

His mother likewise devoted her life to education and advocacy, teaching in universities, correctional institutions, and community education programs. These formative years instilled a conviction that would later shape the ministry’s identity: true leadership begins with service, and every human life bears God-given dignity

A Journey Through Faith Traditions

Glenn’s spiritual formation unfolded across multiple Christian traditions, each contributing depth, discipline, and discernment. He spent 25 years within Quaker communities, learning the practices of quiet listening, communal discernment, and attentiveness to the inner life. His family was actively involved in Quaker leadership, grounding these disciplines in lived responsibility rather than abstraction.

He later spent 36 years within the Latin Rite Catholic tradition, where he developed a deep reverence for sacred space, prayerful discipline, sacramental life, and historical continuity. These traditions provided rich foundations—but they also raised important questions.

Despite sincere devotion, Glenn encountered growing doctrinal confusion and unresolved tensions between traditions. Rather than disengage, he chose to pursue Scripture directly—seeking clarity not through opinion, but through context.

Returning to the World Behind the Text

Beginning in 2004, Glenn embarked on an intensive study of Scripture that would span more than two decades. His research focused on the historical, linguistic, cultural, and covenantal world of the Bible—particularly the Judean context in which Scripture was written and received.

This pursuit eventually led to over 500 hours of advanced coursework through the Israel Bible Center and the Israeli Institute of Biblical Studies, alongside years of independent research and scholastic theological study. He earned certifications in the Hebrew Bible, the Jewish New Testament, and Jewish Context and Culture, and became a member of the Society of Biblical Literature.

What emerged was not a new theology, but a restored one—where Scripture revealed itself as unified, coherent, and deeply rooted in its original world. The Bible did not need reinterpretation. It needed restoration.

When Study Met Real-World Need

Scholarship alone was never the end goal.

As Glenn continued teaching and researching, he also served on the front lines of ministry—working in shelters, veteran support programs, trauma recovery settings, and community outreach initiatives. There, he witnessed a sobering reality: many individuals, especially veterans, continue fighting long after visible trauma appears to have passed.

These experiences revealed the limitations of theology disconnected from healing—and healing disconnected from truth. Scripture, trauma awareness, prayer, and pastoral care had to be integrated.

This realization became the heartbeat of what would eventually become El Shaddai Christian Ministries.

 

The Birth of the Ministry

In 2018, Glenn began compiling his research into structured teaching materials while leading a home-based Bible study. As interest grew, it became clear that the work needed a formal structure—one capable of supporting teaching, outreach, and service.

In June 2019, El Shaddai אל שדי Christian Ministries Inc. was officially established as a Delaware-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

From the beginning, the ministry was founded on several non-negotiable principles:

  • Scripture must be taught within its original context
  • Healing must address the whole person
  • Veterans and trauma survivors must be served with dignity
  • Ministry must operate with integrity, transparency, and restraint

From One Study to a Growing Ministry

Since its founding, El Shaddai Christian Ministries has expanded through teaching, writing, chaplaincy, and outreach. Glenn’s first book, The Mysteries of the Bible: The Seal of God, was published in 2022, with numerous additional manuscripts completed and forthcoming.

Bible studies and life-study groups have been led throughout Delaware, while outreach initiatives have supported veterans, trauma survivors, and individuals in crisis. One hundred percent of book-related profits are dedicated to supporting these efforts.

Today, the ministry continues to grow toward the launch of The El Shaddai Divine Health Academy and expanded trauma recovery initiatives—extending the original calling into structured education, healing, and long-term restoration.