Alvin Sanders

When people in under-resourced communities experience trauma, the local church can be a beacon of hope. Alvin Sanders learned this from firsthand experience. While serving as an urban leader in the second most violent neighborhood in the country, a tragedy took place. A police shooting with racial overtones rocked the neighborhood.

As a response, Alvin planted an innovative church that continues to care for, serve, and encourage people from all walks of life. Through this experience he discovered his personal mission: to follow hard after God, to love his family, and to invest in those who invest in the poor.

Alvin is a churchman at heart. After church planting and pastoring, he served as a denominational leader with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) for seven years.

While there he directed the EFCA All People Initiative. Under his leadership the EFCA went from 13% of their congregations classified as urban, ethnic, or multi-ethnic to 22%. He also authored the book Bridging the Diversity Gap. With his passion for church leaders, his move to World Impact in 2015 was a natural fit.

His educational background includes a BS in Biblical Studies from Cincinnati Christian University and a MA in Religion & Urban Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Miami University. Since 2004 he has served as an adjunct professor at a variety of seminaries across the nation.

In his free time, Alvin is an avid reader and loves to follow his favorite sports teams. He is grateful for his amazing wife Caroline, who maintains a counseling practice in their hometown of Cincinnati. They have been blessed with two wonderful daughters.

In November 2017, Alvin was named the President and CEO of World Impact.