A.L. Allen
Archie Lee Allen was the last of three children born to Walter Lee Allen and Anna Estelle Carter Allen. Born May 14, 1927 at 12:00 noon, in Aberdeen, Mississippi, the story goes that his mother chopped cotton until 10:00 on the day of his birth.
Coming from a long line of singers and musicians, music always played a major role in Archie. Allen’s life. His maternal grandfather, George Washington Carter was part of Mississippi’s musical history roots, and recorded several 78rpm records in the late 1920s.
Archie was no older than 14 when he and his brother, Hansel, along with O. C. Byrd and Junior Melton, formed a little band and called themselves The Mississippi Ramblers. Bro. Allen played the steel guitar and rendered his very first solo while performing with the group. The Mississippi Ramblers could be heard every week on the old WCBI radio station out of Columbus, Mississippi. They performed at store openings, and occasionally at local school functions. Bro. Allen also began writing songs at an early age, and would later use this gift for the glory of God.
In 1945, at the age of 18, in Aberdeen, Mississippi, Archie received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and was baptized, under the ministry of Bro. Charles Webb. Two years later, in 1947, Archie heard God’s call to preach the Gospel.
In 1948, while attending a sectional rally, Bro. Allen saw a young woman singing and playing the accordion and wanted to meet her. Ruth Kynerd was the young woman. After their meeting, it wasn’t long before the two struck up a friendship and began playing and singing together. They became a popular duet at church functions in the Mississippi district and soon began dating.
On May 28, 1949, Archie Lee Allen and Audie Ruth Kynerd were united in marriage in Kosciusko, Mississippi, by Bro. Buford Miller. Archie was 22; Ruth had just turned 17. During the summer that followed, the newlyweds preached revivals in and around the Philadelphia, Mississippi area, where they resided.
In the fall of 1949, the Allens rented an apartment in Columbus, Mississippi where Bro. Allen worked part-time in the timber business, while preaching out as often as time allowed. The following summer found them traveling to Louisville, Kentucky, where they assisted Bro. Homer Hall in a large tent revival. They also provided the special singing for this revival and saw many come to the Lord.
Soon after, Bro. and Sis. Allen began evangelizing full-time, ministering in numerous states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Illinois. In January of 1951, the Allens traveled to Indiana for an extended time of revivals. They enjoyed being with Bro. Doyle Jenkins in Lebanon, and Bro. Elmer Jenkins in Sheridan.
After returning home in May, 1951, the Allens began a revival for sectional presbyter, Bro. Boyd, in Booneville, Mississippi. It was during this revival that Bro. Boyd asked Bro. Allen to consider the church in Iuka. Bro. Allen agreed and became pastor of the Iuka Pentecostal Church soon after. The church experienced revival and healings—both physical and spiritual. In September of that same year, the Allens welcomed their first child, Elaine, into the world.
In August, 1952, the Allens moved close to the Gulf Coast and assumed the pastorate of the United Pentecostal church in Kreole. They would remain there for the next three years. It was during their time in Kreole that the Allens met former assistant general superintendent and former foreign missions director, Oscar Vouga and his wife. Bro. Vouga was pastoring in Prichard, Alabama, just a few miles from Moss Point. He and Bro. Allen preached for each other often and a tight friendship was formed that lasted until Bro. Vouga’s death in 1978.
In May of 1955, Bro. Allen was elected pastor of the Mt. Pisgah United Pentecostal Church, near Leakesville, Mississippi. The church experienced revival and a season of growth, as did the Allen family. In October of the same year, Sis. Allen gave birth to identical twin girls, Dayle and Gayle.
In the fall of 1959, Bro. Allen accepted the pastorate of the Goodway Pentecostal Church in the delta town of Marks, Mississippi. Even though their time in Marks was brief, the Allens established deep friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
In 1960, Bro. Allen felt God’s leading to accept the pastorate of the church in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The ensuing years brought a great move of God in Vicksburg, with many souls being renewed in the Spirit and filled with the Holy Ghost. In 1963, the church purchased property on Grove Street. A building program soon began. Bro. Allen had a vision for the structure of the new building, and worked long hours overseeing and helping in its construction. The new church was dedicated in 1965, and received a brand new name: Calvary Tabernacle.
It was in the summer of 1964 that the Allens recorded their first album. With their daughter Elaine joining in, they were known as The Allen Trio. Their music blessed not only their local congregation, but campmeetings and conferences across the south in the years following.
Bro. Allen pastored the church in Vicksburg from 1960 to 1966. Many souls came to the Lord during these years and his ministry there continues to have far-reaching effects at home and around the globe. To God be the glory!
In 1966, Bro. Allen accepted the pastorate of the United Pentecostal church in Meridian, Mississippi, following Bro. Kenneth Phillips in this field of labor. A new parsonage was built the following year, and the church experienced revival.
The year 1969 brought big changes for the Allen family. In the early summer, Bro. Allen resigned the church in Meridian and began evangelizing full-time. He ministered in Word and song in a number of states over the next five months.
After much prayer, Bro. Allen left his home state of Mississippi and assumed the pastorate of the Chamberlin Drive United Pentecostal church in Beaumont, Texas in the fall of 1969.
During his tenure in the Mississippi district, Bro. Allen was honored to have served in the following capacities:
Secretary-Treasurer of the Pentecostal Conquerors
Member of the Mississippi District Board
Member of the Board of Directors, Pentecostal Bible Institute
When Bro. Allen accepted the pastorate of the Chamberlin Drive UPC in Beaumont, Texas, he knew a little bit about building programs from his past experience, which was a good thing, because the church was in the middle of a building program upon his arrival.
A new sanctuary was being constructed, and Bro. Allen set right to work, helping bring his vision, and the vision of the church members, to fruition the following year. The church was also given a new name: Calvary Tabernacle. Calvary Tabernacle in Beaumont, Texas saw tremendous growth over the next six years, with many souls being saved, healed, and set free.
In 1975, Bro. Allen resigned the church in Beaumont and evangelized full-time for the next ten years. His evangelistic ministry took him to numerous states, including Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Kansas, Georgia, and California. During this time, Sis. Allen worked at a local florist and established many strong friendships at the UPC church in Vidor, Texas, where she attended.
In 1985, Bro. and Sis. Allen returned to their home state of Mississippi to accept the pastorate of the Park Drive Pentecostal Church in McComb. They maintained their home in Texas, but would pastor the McComb church for the next 12-1/2 years, witnessing a move of God, with many souls being refreshed and renewed in the Spirit.
In September, 1998, Bro. and Sis. Allen semi-retired and moved back to their home in Vidor, Texas to be near family. The next few years found the Allens enjoying a more relaxed lifestyle, while continuing to serve the Lord through ministry and song in not only their local state, but also in Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas, North and South Dakota, and West Virginia.
The year 2007 marked Bro. Allen’s 60th year in ministry, as well as his 80th birthday. His daughters surprised him with cards from over 200 friends and family members, all expressing their deep appreciation for his influence in their lives, and in the lives of their children. An article about this occasion appeared in The Pentecostal Herald.
Throughout Bro. and Sis. Allen’s more than seven decades of ministry, they have witnessed numerous healings, and a host of souls born again and renewed in the Spirit. Bro. Allen has been especially blessed, and humbled, to witness the making of ministers and minister’s wives under his pastoral leadership. They, in turn, have raised ministers and missionaries of their own, at home and abroad.
On Sunday, January 31, 2021, after a brief illness, Bro. Allen passed peacefully from this life and into the arms of his loving Savior. He was 93 years old at the time of his passing. His memorial service was held on February 3, 2021 at Eastgate UPC in Vidor, Texas, where he was an active member.
Only eternity will reveal the harvest of Bro. Archie Lee Allen’s ministry, for the harvest will continue long after the sower has been laid to rest. To God be the glory for all He has done.
During his 73 years of ministry, Bro. Allen recorded five solo projects, and served in the following capacities:
Mississippi Secretary-Treasurer of the Pentecostal Conquerors
Mississippi District Board, Presbyter
Member of the Board of Directors, Pentecostal Bible Institute
Pastor, United Pentecostal Church, Iuka, Mississippi
Pastor, First United Pentecostal Church, Kreole, Mississippi
Pastor, Mt. Pisgah UPC Church, Leakesville, Mississippi
Pastor, Goodway Pentecostal Church, Marks, Mississippi
Pastor, Calvary Tabernacle, Vicksburg, Mississippi
Pastor, United Pentecostal Church, Meridian, Mississippi
Pastor, Calvary Tabernacle, Beaumont, Texas
Pastor, Park Drive Pentecostal Church, McComb, Mississippi