Author's Story
Bishop Dr. Hixford Allen is the Senior Pastor of the Bronxwood International Church of God in Bronx New York. He was born in Manchester, Jamaica West Indies. He made a personal commitment of his life to the Lord Jesus in June of 1980, and has been faithfully and passionately engaged in Christian service and ministry shortly thereafter. Bishop Allen received his B.A. degree in Theological Studies from the Jamaica Theological Seminary in Kingston, Jamaica; a M.A. degree in Counseling Psychology from the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, Kingston, Jamaica; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee.
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Bishop Allen is a credential minister with the Church of God, Cleveland Tennessee, and he has been engaged in pastoral ministry since January 1987 to present. Over the period he has served as lead pastor for four congregations, two in Jamaica West Indies (Duhaney Park New Testament Church of God, and Bethel New Testament Church of God), and two here in the United States (True Life Church of God, Wyandanch, New York, and his present pastorate at Bronxwood International Church of God). While serving as pastor in Jamaica, Bishop Allen also served as guest speaker and bible teacher at the New Testament Church of God yearly youth camps; lecturer and dean at Bethel Bible College, Kingston campus, and as teacher/guidance counselor at Jamaica College high School.
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Bishop Allen and his family immigrated to the United States in 1996 and he continued his pastoral ministry at the True Life Church of God. Under Bishop Allen’s leadership the True Life Church of God experienced steady growth in just about every area of the church, and the district of churches he supervised grew from four congregations to eight vibrant congregations. The True Life Church of God was instrumental in launching two of those congregations. During his pastoral ministry in New York, Bishop Allen was also privileged to serve as the coordinator/facilitator for the New York State Church of God Pastoral Covenant Group, and member of the New York State Church of God Executive Board. Bishop Allen is a humble and caring servant of the Lord who is highly respected by his peers. His strength lies in his God given ability to preach and teach the word of God; mentor and coach young ministers and prospects for ministry; and provide loving pastoral care to his congregants and to people in general.
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Bishop Allen believes in and practices an approach to ministry that is holistic, and which is marked by liberation, empowerment, and transformation (LET). He believes that those who respond to the gospel are called not only to enjoy the blessings of the gospel, but also to bear the burdens of it. They experience liberation from and its effects, empowered so they can feed themselves and others, and be transformed to the point where they use their God given gifts and abilities to participate in the mission of God to the world (through word and deed) – becoming the embodiment of the gospel - engaging in liberating, empowering, and transforming the lives of others. Bishop Allen also believes that discipleship training should be geared toward people development and not merely toward filling some positions or performing certain tasks.
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Bishop Allen’s goal for the future is to continue in his pastoral and teaching ministry, with an emphasis on moving the church to become more missional. Broadening our sphere of ministry to help those who have failed in their journey of life due to bad choices to have a chance to recover from their setbacks and be restored to fellowship with God and the community. In his later years, Bishop Allen hopes to transition into a ministry of mentoring young ministers and prospects for ministry.
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Bishop Allen and his loving and dedicated wife Doreen have been married for over 44 years, and she has been his partner in ministry over the years. Their union produced four sons: Raoul, Andre, Mark, and Theophilus, who have all contributed to his ministry from their childhood years. Andre and Theophilus both hold ministerial credentials with the Church of God.
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