Allen was born in Paso Robles in 1960. He and Lisa were married in 1991. The Lord blessed them with son Kyle in 1992, and daughter Erin in 1994. They suffered the loss of a stillborn son in 1995. Formal schooling took place at Trinity Lutheran in Paso Robles (1966-74); Paso Robles High (1974- 78); Concordia Portland (1978-83); Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (1984-88) with Vicarage assignment (1986 87) at two vacant congregations in Louisiana (Augustana in Alexandria and St. Paul in Mansura). Allen served as pastor to God’s people at The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour in Westland, MI (1988-97), as well as Nazareth, Detroit (1989-97). He served as associate pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Bloomington, IL (1997-2013). He felt called to return home and serve in the literal vineyard in Paso Robles (2013-2019); Lisa faithfully followed. While farming, he did vacancy work at Lutheran Church of Prayer in Bakersfield (2015-16) and at Zion in Terra Bella (2018-2019). Pastor Allen received Intentional Interim training during 2019 and has done Intentional Interim work at Zion, Terra Bella (8 months); Grace, Visalia (18 months); St. Paul, Merced (22 months). In addition to congregational work, he began serving as Intentional Interim Director in the CNH District in August of 2022 and was appointed as Visitor of Circuit #9 right here on the Central Coast in April, 2023.