My Story

Kentucky Baptist Foundation
Kentucky Baptist Foundation Funding the Great Commission

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

I made my profession of faith in Jesus Christ during the spring revival of my home church, the FBC, Grenada, MS, on March 10, 1958. I was 9 ½ years old. I was baptized on April 27.

I had the blessing of having been born and reared in a Christian home by devout Christian parents who were my role models in life and who demonstrated by their lives and their lips what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and live one’s life according to the Scriptures.

Our church was what I would characterize as a full service Southern Baptist church and understood its mission to be: exalt the Savior, equip the saints and evangelize the sinner. Both of my parents were church leaders and involved my three sisters and me in every aspect of the bible study, discipleship, music and missions ministries of the church. Our family was involved in pioneer missions to the western part of the USA in cooperation with the Mississippi Baptist Convention and the Home Mission Board, SBC in the early 1960’s long before it was called “partnership missions.” There has never been a time in my life I did not know about Jesus.

Even though I had received this accumulation of spiritual nourishment from my parents and my church, I still had to come to that point to which every person has to come, that is, the realization and confession of my sinful and self-centered nature. It was on the night of March 10, 1958 during that revival I confessed and repented of my sin, asked Jesus to forgive me and to come into my life to save and mold me into the person He wanted me to be. And, from that time until now there has never been a time I have not felt the Lord’s presence watching over and guiding me in everything I do. My life verse became Proverbs 3:6: “In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” My favorite hymn became “Our Best.” Do you remember the words: “Give of your best to the Master …?”

Another part of my story is the good fortune and blessing of having discovered early in my life not only God’s vocational call, but also the field of service in which He wanted me to fulfill that call. I give Him thanks for the 44 years of service to Kentucky Baptists.

Kentucky Baptist Foundation

Kentucky Baptist Foundation

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