Contents
A Remarkable Life and a Mysterious Passing
Asa Alonso Allen, better known as A. A. Allen, was an American Pentecostal evangelist celebrated for his faith healing and deliverance ministry. His journey from humble beginnings to national prominence was marked by both triumphs and tribulations.
Early Struggles and Spiritual Awakening
Born on March 27, 1911, in Sulphur Rock, Arkansas, Allen’s childhood was marred by poverty and family hardships. Having been born of mixed race to white and Native American parents, his family was very poor and his father was an alcoholic. At the age of 23, Allen became a Christian at the Onward Methodist Church in Miller, Missouri. Later, he learned of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit from a Pentecostal preacher who was conducting meetings in his home. Allen soon felt the call to preach and affiliated himself with the Assemblies of God, subsequently obtaining ordination from them in 1936. He then began to pastor a small church in Colorado. By 1947, Allen was pastoring a large Assemblies of God church in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Ministry and Healing Revivals
Allen’s journey led him to pastor a small church in Colorado before assuming leadership of a large Assemblies of God congregation in Corpus Christi, Texas. However, it was a tent revival meeting hosted by Oral Roberts in 1949 that altered the course of Allen’s life. Inspired by the healing ministry, he left his church and embarked on his own healing revival meetings. His charismatic presence and reported healings garnered a devoted following. Allen pioneered national television ministry, blending preaching, testimony, music, and fervent prayer for the sick. African-American singer and choir leader Gene Martin often provided the musical backdrop to Allen’s healing line ministry.
Controversies and Decline
In 1955, Allen faced legal trouble when he was arrested for suspected drunk driving in Knoxville, Tennessee. His subsequent resignation from the Assemblies of God led to re-ordination by his newly formed Miracle Revival Fellowship. Despite these challenges, Allen continued to draw crowds and impact lives. Tragically, Allen’s life took a dark turn. He battled alcoholism, and on June 11, 1970, at the age of 59, he succumbed to alcohol-related liver failure in a coma at the Jack Tar Hotel in San Francisco, California. His legacy endures, and he rests at his ministry headquarters in Miracle Valley, Arizona.
Remembering A. A. Allen
A. A. Allen’s story is one of faith, healing, and human frailty. His impact on the world of evangelism remains significant, even as questions linger about the circumstances of his passing. His light, like a comet across the spiritual sky, continues to inspire seekers and believers alike.
