Reverend Dr. Ashton G. Allen

Reverend Dr. Ashton G. Allen was born in Dayton, Ohio on April 26, 1959 to the late Reverend Ashton R. Allen and Mrs. Elaine Allen. He is the fourth born of five siblings. He is a 1977 graduate of Colonel White High School, in Dayton, Ohio. After graduating from high school he attended Northwestern Business College & Auto Diesel Technology Center in Lima, Ohio. He went to work for Shopsmith, Inc. in Vandalia, Ohio as a Mill & Bore Operator where he worked from 1979 until 1991. In May of 1992 he went to work for Hamilton County of Job & Family Services (HCJFS) where he is currently employed as a Child Support Enforcement Supervisor.

Reverend Allen accepted Christ and was baptized and united with the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church at the age of nineteen. He accepted his call to preach in April of 1994. He was officially licensed by the Pastor, Reverend Sylvester Walker. He received a Diploma of Theology from the American Baptist College on June 8, 2004. He was ordained on January 14, 2005. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the Bible from Faith Theology College and Seminary in Anderson, SC, on May 27, 2005. On Friday, June 6, 2014 he received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Zion Hill Baptist Theological Institute & Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

Reverend Allen faithfully served the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church for twelve years as an associate minister under the pastoral tutelage and spiritual leadership of Pastor Sylvester Walker. During that time he participated in numerous ministries before accepting the call to Pastor the Historical Mt. Carmel Baptist Church here in Cincinnati on September 29, 2006. Reverend Allen serves on the Dayton Baptist Pastors and Ministers executive committee and is a member of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Greater Cincinnati & Vicinity and is past President of the Ohio Family Support Association (OFSA) Board of Trustees, serving from 2005 - 2006.

Pastor Allen was elected 2nd Vice President of the Ministers and Deacons' Institute for the Western Union Baptist District Association (WUBDA) in 2007 and he served as Chairman of the Laymen's Committee for Local Entertainment Committee (LEC) for the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., held September 2008. In November 2008, he was appointed Dean of the Congress of Christian Education for the WUBDA, and is currently the 1st Vice President of the Ministers and Deacons' Institute. Pastor Allen along with the Congress of Christian Education committee was instrumental in initiating an outreach to 71 Churches and Pastors to participate in the 139th Annual Session of the W.U.B.D.A They presented a diversity of classes all taught by qualified instructors. During the 144th Annual session of the W.U.B.D.A., Pastor Allen was elected President for the Congress of Christian Education.

Under Pastor Allen's spiritual leadership and guidance the church has had many accomplishments. In addition to growing in membership; established new fellowships with sister churches in Dayton, Hamilton, Middletown, Springfield and Cincinnati, Ohio. Purchased a new van and gates for the church parking lot; revamped the media ministry to include CD's, and DVD's. He has established the Retention Committee to keep in contact with new members. Pastor Allen has conducted his 3rd Revival in the City of Cincinnati during the month of May at the First Baptist Church of Oakley. He helped coordinate the 5th Annual East End Day Community Outreach - CD's & DVD's of the services were made available. In December 2008 under the guidance of Pastor Allen the church adopted the Hyde Park Nursing Center where we conduct worship services every 4th Monday of the month.

In April 2009 he implemented the Pastor & Youth POW WOW - held on 4th Friday Bible Study & Fellowship Hour (April through September). In January 2011, Pastor Allen re-vamped the New Membership class during the 9:00 am session of Sunday School. New Members get a six week overview of the "Church Member's Handbook". At 9:30 am the members get an in-depth study of the Bible. He has re-established the old-Fashioned Tent Revival in July 2014 "Down by the Riverside". Pastor Allen's goal for 2015 was to incorporate "Training for Service" sessions with the weekly Bible Study; and to extend the Pastor & Youth POW WOW, held on 4th Friday Bible Study & Fellowship Hour to begin January through December; establish new guidelines for the Retention Committee.

More than ever, there is a sense of urgency for Pastor Allen to see the church become more active in community outreach initiatives, Prison ministry and spiritual development for our youth and young adults, a radio broadcast, and Neighborhood and College Outreaches (canvassing both venues with flyers) and much more for the cause of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On Saturday, October 30, 2015 a church "POW WOW" was called to order in an effort to get various initiatives up and running; this was accomplished and we are on our way - "Fresh Start Sunday" on Sunday, June 19, 2016 was an initiative from that meeting. Pastor Allen, envisions with the aid of the Holy Spirit 2017 becoming a year of Evangelism Canvassing for Mt. Carmel in the East End and the vicinity of Cincinnati. On Saturday, October 13, 2018 the Outreach Ministry Team ministered in Over the Rhine. Once again Pastor Allen is seeing his preaching and teaching move upon the people of God to do the work of the Lord.

Pastor Allen is happily married to the former Robin O'Neal for twenty seven years.  They have one son Darrel, Daughter-in-law Chantal, and two grandchildren.