A.A. Allen (Asa Alonzo Allen) was a prominent American Pentecostal evangelist and faith healer, best known for his role in the post-World War II healing revival movement. He was born on March 27, 1911, in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and passed away on June 11, 1970. His ministry and influence grew particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, as he gained a reputation for his miraculous healing services, large tent meetings, and revival campaigns.
What was A.A. Allen known for?
- Faith Healing: Allen was best known for his faith healing ministry. He held large healing crusades where he claimed to have seen numerous miracles, including people being healed from cancer, blindness, and paralysis.
- Tent Revivalist: Like many other Pentecostal ministers of his time, Allen conducted tent revival meetings where thousands gathered to witness and receive prayer for healing and miracles. His services often featured loud and energetic preaching, with many people reporting physical healings during these events.
- Evangelistic Campaigns: Allen was also recognized for his global evangelistic campaigns. He held crusades in numerous countries, preaching the gospel and performing miracles. His ministry brought him national and international attention.
- Pentecostal Preacher: He was a key figure in the Pentecostal movement, advocating for the power of the Holy Spirit in everyday life and the importance of speaking in tongues, healing, and other charismatic gifts.
- Founding of Miracle Valley: A.A. Allen founded Miracle Valley in Arizona, which became a hub for his ministry and a place where he conducted many of his healing services. The valley later became famous for hosting large numbers of people who traveled to see the supposed miracles of healing.
Famous Quotes
A.A. Allen had several memorable and impactful quotes. Here are a few of them:
- “God is not in the business of healing you today and then leaving you sick tomorrow.”
- This quote reflects Allen’s belief in the consistency and reliability of God’s healing power.
- “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
- A reference to Hebrews 11:1, which Allen often quoted in his healing services, emphasizing the power of faith.
- “The greatest miracle of all is the salvation of a soul.”
- Allen acknowledged that, while physical healings were miraculous, the salvation of a person’s soul was the greatest miracle one could experience.
- “If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.”
- A quote that draws from Mark 9:23, which reflects Allen’s core teaching about the power of faith in receiving God’s miracles.
Notable Miracles
A.A. Allen’s ministry was marked by numerous testimonies of miraculous healings. While the authenticity of some of these miracles has been debated over the years, many of his followers believed that Allen was a genuine vessel of God’s healing power. Some of the miracles attributed to him include:
- Blindness Healed: Numerous accounts exist of people who were allegedly healed of blindness after receiving prayer during Allen’s revival meetings.
- Cancer Healings: There were reports of individuals being healed of cancer during Allen’s services, which helped strengthen his reputation as a faith healer.
- Crippled People Walking: Allen claimed to have witnessed many instances where individuals who had been paralyzed or crippled were miraculously healed and were able to walk.
- Deafness Healed: Deaf individuals were reportedly healed during his services, with many testifying to restored hearing.
- Deliverance from Diseases: There were numerous testimonies of people being healed from various diseases, including tuberculosis and heart conditions, after Allen laid hands on them.
Sermons
A.A. Allen’s sermons were passionate, fiery, and centered on themes of faith, healing, and salvation. He often emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit’s power and the need for individuals to trust in God’s miraculous ability to heal and deliver.
Some key themes in his sermons included:
- The Power of Faith: Allen believed that having faith in God was the key to receiving miracles. He often told his audiences that miracles were available to those who had the faith to believe.
- Divine Healing: Allen taught that healing was a part of the gospel message and that Jesus still heals today, just as He did in the Bible.
- Salvation and Deliverance: While he focused heavily on healing, Allen also preached salvation through Jesus Christ, emphasizing that spiritual healing was just as important as physical healing.
- The Holy Spirit’s Gifts: He frequently talked about the power of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of spiritual gifts like prophecy, tongues, and healing.
Final Years and Death
A.A. Allen died on June 11, 1970, under circumstances that remain somewhat mysterious. It was reported that he passed away in a motel room due to acute alcoholism, which had been a struggle for him in his later years. Despite his personal struggles, Allen’s impact on the Pentecostal movement remains significant. His ministry helped shape the direction of faith healing and charismatic revivals for decades.