Mar 1, 2025
In the pantheon of America’s most influential revival ministers, A.A. Allen stands as a remarkable figure whose ministry touched countless lives during the mid-20th century. Known affectionately as “God’s Man of Faith and Power,” Allen’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most dynamic evangelists of his era continues to inspire believers today.
Born in Sulphur Rock, Arkansas, in 1911, Asa Alonso Allen’s early life was marked by hardship and poverty. Yet, it was these very challenges that would later fuel his passionate ministry to those in need. Following his conversion experience in 1934, Allen felt called to spread the gospel message of hope and divine healing across America.
The turning point in Allen’s ministry came in 1951 when he launched his own revival campaign. His tent meetings, often drawing thousands of attendees, became legendary for their electric atmosphere of faith and expectation. One of the most remarkable documented accounts comes from evangelist R.W. Schambach about a 1959 Birmingham, Alabama revival meeting.
During this particular service at the Birmingham Fairgrounds Arena, attended by 3,000 people, a mother brought her four-year-old son who suffered from twenty-six major diseases. The child had been born blind, deaf, and mute, with crippled and deformed arms and legs. Doctors had initially predicted he wouldn’t survive his first birthday. After attending services all week, the mother, down to her last twenty dollars, responded to Allen’s call for a “faith offering” — giving something one couldn’t afford to give. She gave her last twenty dollars, despite needing it for gas to return home to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Later in that service, Allen, describing what he saw “like watching it on a television screen,” detailed the child’s condition and history with remarkable accuracy, including the journey from Tennessee. When the mother brought the child forward, witnesses, including Schambach himself, reported seeing extraordinary physical transformations: the boy’s tongue, which had been hanging out, snapped back into place; his milky eyes cleared to reveal brown ones; his deformed arms and legs straightened with audible sounds; and club feet formed into normal feet. The child, who had never walked, run, seen, or spoken before, ran across the platform and spoke his first word: “Mama.”
The following week, doctors examined the boy and provided affidavits certifying his healing from all twenty-six conditions. The mother later revealed another aspect of the miracle — after giving her last twenty dollars in the offering, she received $235 from spontaneous gifts from attendees after the service.
“Miracle Valley,” Allen’s 1,280-acre headquarters in Arizona, became a beacon of hope for many. The site housed not only his ministry offices but also a Bible school, where future ministers were trained to carry the message of faith to their own communities. Through his innovative use of radio and television, Allen’s reach extended far beyond the confines of his revival tent, making him one of the first evangelists to effectively utilize mass media for ministry.
Perhaps Allen’s most enduring legacy was his emphasis on God’s power to transform lives completely. His ministry particularly resonated with the working class and those struggling with poverty, as he preached a message of both spiritual and material liberation through faith. The A.A. Allen Revival Hours broadcast reached millions, while his publications circulated widely, carrying testimonies of lives changed through faith.
His impact on religious broadcasting and evangelistic methodology cannot be overstated. Allen pioneered many of the approaches that would become standard practice in televangelism, including the direct appeal to viewers and the use of testimonials. His ministry also established programs to help the poor and needy, reflecting his belief that the gospel should address both spiritual and physical needs.
Allen’s influence extended beyond American borders through his missionary outreach programs, which helped establish churches and support ministries in various parts of the world. His legacy lives on through the countless ministers he mentored and the institutional structures he established for evangelistic work.
While his ministry career spanned just over two decades, A.A. Allen’s impact on American religious history remains significant. His emphasis on faith, divine healing, and the power of God to transform lives continues to resonate with new generations of believers. The story of A.A. Allen reminds us that great movements often begin with individuals who, despite humble beginnings, dare to believe in something greater than themselves.
Today, historians and religious scholars recognize Allen as a significant figure in the post-World War II healing revival movement. His methods and message helped shape modern charismatic Christianity, while his emphasis on reaching the poor and disadvantaged continues to inspire faith-based charitable work around the world.
As we reflect on A.A. Allen’s legacy, we see a man who devoted his life to bringing hope to the hopeless and healing to the hurting. His story serves as a testament to the power of faith to transform not only individual lives but entire communities. In an era of increasing secularization, Allen’s unwavering belief in divine intervention and spiritual renewal offers an inspiring example of dedicated religious leadership and service.
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