Steve Allen

Without apology, Steve's greatest passion is to see the gospel spread across the street and around the world.

"We have gone from one local and one international mission partnership in 2002 to over 15 different mission partnerships in 2006," he says. "God deserves all the glory. He has given us the vision for missions, put together a great missions team and moved in the hearts of the Northside family."

Steve and his wife Karen have 5 children: Jennifer, Michael, Sarah, David and Kevin. His greatest joy next to the Lord is time with his family. He has served as a basketball, soccer, baseball and a volleyball coach for his children. The Allens began attending Northside in 1993. As a layperson, Steve faithfully served as Faith Evangelism Director, Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and Sunday School director, and coached in a number of our sporting activities.

He is a native Texan who moved to Columbia in 1993 with a job transfer as Director of Operations for a chain of 18 restaurants. While in Texas, Steve served as a layman in the areas of Sunday School teacher, church-wide Sunday School director, and nursing home minister at Brighton Park Baptist Church. It was there that Steve was licensed to preach as a Minister of the Gospel.

"My favorite Scripture is Psalm 63:1- 'O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You, My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.' My greatest desire is to be, like David, a man after God's own heart."

After 21 years of management in the restaurant business, there was the opportunity to serve the Lord on staff at Northside Baptist Church. In August 2001, Steve enthusiastically joined the staff at Northside and was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel. His ministry areas of responsibility include pastoral care, evangelism, LIFE groups, women's ministry, senior adult ministry, and missions. He has also preached when asked by the senior pastor. He is a graduate of Luther Rice University.

Steve believes that Northside is a unique church that "loves others to Christ, and equips them to lead a victorious Christian life, as they grow in an intimate relationship with God."