Meet Mark Altrogge, 59.

My friend Mark is a gifted songwriter and the author of worship songs like:

• I Stand in Awe
• In the Presence
• I’m Forever Grateful
  

But Mark is also a pastor, the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Indiana, Pennsylvania. He has been serving this church for 28 years.

He and his wife, Kristi, have been married for 29 years and have five children. Mark earned a B.A. in Art Education and a Masters in Painting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. “This has helped me a lot in pastoral ministry,” he says in a trademark jest.

Although Mark is the least gifted athlete in all of Sovereign Grace Ministries, he is one of the funniest men I know. Both of these qualities will surface throughout my interview.

Thanks for your time, Mark! Please describe your morning devotions. What time do you wake up in the morning? How much time do you spend reading, meditating, praying, etc.? What are you presently reading?

Can I have the question about leisure first?

I rise between 6 and 6:30 a.m., make myself a cup of nuclear dark roast coffee, spend a few minutes thanking God for the gift of sleep and protection, and for the blood of Christ that enables me to draw near. I often pray John Piper’s I-O-U-S (INCLINE my heart to your word, OPEN my eyes to see wonderful things in your word, UNITE my heart to fear you, and SATISFY me with your love), then attempt to focus my bleary eyes on the Word.

My goal is “to have my soul happy in the Lord” (George Mueller), so I don’t read much or fast.

I read sequentially through the Bible, (with occasional breaks to read other books) alternating between the New Testament and Old. When I finish a NT book, I read through an OT book, and so on. I usually read a chapter or two a day, taking about 30 minutes, underlining with my trusty blue china marker. Currently reading 1 Samuel.

I pray for approximately 30 minutes. I write the day and date at the top of a page in my Moleskine journal, followed by a Scripture or quote I read that morning, which I use as a springboard for praise and prayers. I write for about 10 minutes—nothing long or profound. I write because it slows me down and helps me meditate.

Then I grab my prayer notebook and pray through one of the following sections:

• Kingdom/Persecuted Church,
• Family, 
• Church, 
• Salvation,
• Current Needs, 
• I finish with specific requests for myself, family and friends.
  

Excellent. Thank you, my friend. Please join me next time for part two of my interview with Mark Altrogge.