Al Runge's Bio
Pastor Runge's voice was first heard on our radio program in the 1960s, when he served as President of CJF Ministries. In December 2000, following Al's retirement from a long and successful pastoral career in the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA), Gary Hedrick asked him to return to CJF Ministries as Associate Bible Teacher on our radio program, Messianic Perspectives. His enthusiastic and personable teaching style, and his love for God's Word, won the hearts of our listening audience in a very short time.

Pastor Albert Runge was born into a Jewish family. When he was seven, a playmate asked him, "Are you Jewish?" When he responded positively, his friend said, "Well, I am not going to play with you anymore, because you crucified Jesus." Later, Albert asked his mother, "Who is Jesus?" She replied, "He is the God of the Gentiles, who taught his followers to hate the Jews."

Yet, in the years that followed, Albert discovered that in Jesus, he acquired love, access to God, salvation, healing, a useful life, and God’s blessings in his senior years. Pastor Runge’s life story has inspired many Christians to recommit themselves to trust God’s guidance; in addition, many others have found Christ as their Savior.

Pastor Runge has served as a missionary, a radio Bible teacher, and a senior pastor of four major Alliance congregations for over 42 years of ministry. His churches were in various parts of the United States and Canada. (Burlington, Vermont; Omaha, Nebraska; Edmonton, Alberta; and Abbotsford, British Columbia.) Over the years, Pastor Runge has developed an excellent reputation for church growth. Dr. Peter Wagner comments on Pastor Runge’s early ministry in his book Your Church Can Grow.

Pastor Runge is a minister-at-large for the Alliance. He preaches evangelistically, teaching Christians how to live a victorious life of faith. In addition, he trains church leaders in strategic planning.

For many years, God’s blessing has been on Pastor Runge’s ministry and personal life. God’s Word is not theoretical for him. The Bible’s promises have been tested and proven true in his life. In his last two pastorates, he operated an open altar ministry at the end of every service. God answered a multitude of people’s prayers for personal needs, for salvation, for recommitment, and for physical healings.

His wife, Lee, has a significant ministry of encouragement along with her husband. She conducts a seminar entitled, "How to Focus Your Life In Line With God’s Purpose," which deals with an important issue for people of all ages. Pastor and Mrs. Runge together are an effective ministry team.