Our Pastor
Pastor Renard D. Allen Jr. was born to a family of distinguished pastors who nurtured his love for God, gift for preaching, passion for ministry, and interest in the general welfare of people.
Pastor Allen is a graduate of Morehouse College, an institution known for producing Renaissance men who are well-read, well-spoken, well-mannered, well-traveled, and well-dressed. He is also a graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary, where he attained the Master of Divinity with the David Esler Award in Homiletics distinguishing him as the most outstanding student preacher in his class per the vote of the seminary’s faculty.
His skills as a visionary, administrator, writer (of song, poetry, and prose), public thinker and vocalist are secondary and dependent upon his most cherished and recognized gifts – preaching and leadership. An eclectic blend of scholarship and soul, wisdom and wit, humor and hope, positivity and purpose, conviction and compassion, social and personal concerns are intricately woven together in his preaching and leadership. Words of highest commendation have been used to describe his preaching and leadership abilities by both his peers and elder colleagues from both within the academy and the public square.
Since 2016, he has served as the pastor of St. Luke Baptist Church, Dayton, Ohio. The church has experienced significant growth in a short time, adding nearly 300 persons to its membership, baptizing nearly 100 converts, developing weekly discipleship opportunities as well as embracing Pastor Allen’s vision of transforming people to transform community. Hence, a new motto for our church was born: “A Ministry for People on the GROW.” Over 12 new ministries and/or community-based initiatives and events have been added to the church. The church’s presence and reach throughout the community has garnered unprecedented local media coverage, with over 25 news appearances in five years – not including numerous publications in both community and city papers, radio interviews, etc.
During the COVID19 global pandemic, Pastor Allen implemented his pre-existing vision for a drive-in service for the benefit of the neighborhood and community-at-large that has been held in the church’s parking lot without fail since Sunday, March 29, 2020. He has literally preached outside in light rain, snowfall, and in temperatures as low as 10 degrees. His commitment to this level of spiritual engagement is both pastoral and personal. As he often says, “If people think enough of God to drive up to hear the Word in the most unfavorable weather conditions, I think enough of them to make sure they receive it.” From a personal point of view, he considers it but a small sacrifice and “reasonable service” unto the Lord (Romans 12:1). Additionally, Pastor Allen has hosted and participated in dozens of forums/interviews regarding the pandemic to inform, enlighten and foster engagement between the church and the medical, political, business, and academic professions.
Whether organizing an interracial, interdenominational group of Clergy such as Dayton Ministers United for Social Change, providing spiritual guidance to the city and its leaders in the aftermath of the Oregon District Massacre. Or creating his own talk show, Let’s Get L.I.T. (Lost in Truth) to bring knowledge to the masses as well as hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas giveaways for families, Pastor Allen’s chief aim is to see both the church and the city, the individual and the community transform by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Especially as proclaimed AND practiced by those who serve under his influence.
To this end, He has committed his life in service to the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Allen is married to Jasmine Nicole and is the proud father of his “three heartbeats,” Kennedy Anjell, Renard III, and Sydney Marie.
Pastor Renard D. Allen Jr. was born to a family of distinguished pastors who nurtured his love for God, gift for preaching, passion for ministry, and interest in the general welfare of people.
Pastor Allen is a graduate of Morehouse College, an institution known for producing Renaissance men who are well-read, well-spoken, well-mannered, well-traveled, and well-dressed. He is also a graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary, where he attained the Master of Divinity with the David Esler Award in Homiletics distinguishing him as the most outstanding student preacher in his class per the vote of the seminary’s faculty.
His skills as a visionary, administrator, writer (of song, poetry, and prose), public thinker and vocalist are secondary and dependent upon his most cherished and recognized gifts – preaching and leadership. An eclectic blend of scholarship and soul, wisdom and wit, humor and hope, positivity and purpose, conviction and compassion, social and personal concerns are intricately woven together in his preaching and leadership. Words of highest commendation have been used to describe his preaching and leadership abilities by both his peers and elder colleagues from both within the academy and the public square.
Since 2016, he has served as the pastor of St. Luke Baptist Church, Dayton, Ohio. The church has experienced significant growth in a short time, adding nearly 300 persons to its membership, baptizing nearly 100 converts, developing weekly discipleship opportunities as well as embracing Pastor Allen’s vision of transforming people to transform community. Hence, a new motto for our church was born: “A Ministry for People on the GROW.” Over 12 new ministries and/or community-based initiatives and events have been added to the church. The church’s presence and reach throughout the community has garnered unprecedented local media coverage, with over 25 news appearances in five years – not including numerous publications in both community and city papers, radio interviews, etc.
During the COVID19 global pandemic, Pastor Allen implemented his pre-existing vision for a drive-in service for the benefit of the neighborhood and community-at-large that has been held in the church’s parking lot without fail since Sunday, March 29, 2020. He has literally preached outside in light rain, snowfall, and in temperatures as low as 10 degrees. His commitment to this level of spiritual engagement is both pastoral and personal. As he often says, “If people think enough of God to drive up to hear the Word in the most unfavorable weather conditions, I think enough of them to make sure they receive it.” From a personal point of view, he considers it but a small sacrifice and “reasonable service” unto the Lord (Romans 12:1). Additionally, Pastor Allen has hosted and participated in dozens of forums/interviews regarding the pandemic to inform, enlighten and foster engagement between the church and the medical, political, business, and academic professions.
Whether organizing an interracial, interdenominational group of Clergy such as Dayton Ministers United for Social Change, providing spiritual guidance to the city and its leaders in the aftermath of the Oregon District Massacre. Or creating his own talk show, Let’s Get L.I.T. (Lost in Truth) to bring knowledge to the masses as well as hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas giveaways for families, Pastor Allen’s chief aim is to see both the church and the city, the individual and the community transform by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Especially as proclaimed AND practiced by those who serve under his influence.
To this end, He has committed his life in service to the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Allen is married to Jasmine Nicole and is the proud father of his “three heartbeats,” Kennedy Anjell, Renard III, and Sydney Marie.
