Roy Allen

There is praise in my heart for this wonderful Gospel. I thank God for His love and mercy that seeks the lost. I had no idea that God could be real in a person's heart. I never saw a Bible in my home that I can remember. I didn't have the privilege of hearing victorious testimonies like we do here; but I was surely sick and tired of sin, which I tried from the time I was a little boy.

As a young man I chose the rough side of life; I followed men that were much older than I was. I was carrying a heavy burden of sin, and before I was 30 years old, I was so sick of the life of sin I had been living. I had sought in almost every channel for satisfaction.

I am so thankful that I went into a little church up in the eastern part of the state of Oregon, and there that night God cornered me up and made me realize I was a lost soul headed for a lost eternity. I am so thankful that I went to the altar that night in 1917, got on my two knees and prayed to God with all my heart. I didn’t have to pray long because I heard the minister by the pulpit holding out one of God’s promises to me. It was: “Let the wicked forsake His way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)

The Lord dropped those words into my heart. I was ready for that pardon, and I surrendered, and I thank God I felt the burden of sin roll off, and you talk about getting a surprise. I didn’t have any idea that God could be so real to a person down on this earth, but He filled my heart with joy and peace and He transformed my life.

He broke the habits and appetites in my life and made me just as free as though I had never had them.

I cursed, got mad and threw things around, and frequented the dance halls on a Saturday night. I was bound with chewing the tobacco, the cigarettes and the booze and all that and He took it our slick and clean. I used to throw the tobacco away and tried to quit, but I would see someone using it and my mouth watered I wanted it so it so badly. But I have never wanted it from that day unto this.

I remember when I was a young fellow the saloon used to be about the first place I would hit when I got into town. Now, as I walk down Burnside going to the street meetings, I don’t even want to look into those dumps and dives along the way.

One of the things I promised Jesus that night, and that was one of the conditions He saved me on, was that I would forsake my sins and straighten out that crooked life. I went back and confessed out to stealing and violating the Oregon Game Laws. I sent money back to a storekeeper whom I had cheated out of money and never intended to pay him.

Later God brought me among this people where they could tell me the way more perfectly.

When God saved me He took out the sinful desires. Down through the years I can say they have never come back. It’s a joyful salvation. Thank God for the privilege of serving Him. I don’t know what I would do without Jesus. I have a title clear to mansions in the sky.

Roy Allen was born in Ada, Minnesota, and as a young boy, 12 or 13 years old, came with his folks to Oregon in a covered wagon, with all their household belongings. His mother and sister came on the train.

They settled in the small farming community of Cove in eastern Oregon. In due time he met and married Veda May. He was a strong-minded young man with a taste for liquor and a terrible temper, taking it out on the farm animals.

His sister had moved to Portland where she found the panacea for her hungry heart at the Apostolic Faith church camp meeting. She sent the literature the church printed, telling of victory over all kinds of sin, and how to live a victorious life.

In Cove, the Methodist church was having special services. Brother Allen attended one of those services where God dealt with his heart. He said such a terrible darkness came over him. He knew he was lost. He went to the altar and repented of his sin and promised God he would straighten out his life. The minister prayed beside him, quoting the scripture in Isaiah 55:7. Brother Allen took a hold on that promise and was wonderfully saved. He said such joy and peace flooded his soul. That was in 1916.

He came  to  Portland in 1917 with his wife and two small boys, to work in the shipyards. He received his sanctification while on the job in 1917, and in 1918 he received his baptism of the Holy Ghost.

When it was time for them to go back to the farm, they had doubts about it. The Scripture came to Sister Allen “To whom shall we go?” They decided to make their home in Portland.

He played a horn in the first orchestra, and sang in the quartet many years, and was faithful in the street work and jail services. He even learned to sing one song and give his testimony in Chinese.

He was a master carpenter. In those early years there was the tabernacle to be built, benches and altars for the tabernacle, and tent frames for the congregation who came to live for at least 7 weeks, and visitors for short stays. One of his most cherished accomplishments was the pulpit he designed and built. It was engineered so that it could be raised or lowered as the speaker needed.

Brother and Sister Allen had their times of testing, too. Their younger son, Arthur contracted spinal meningitis when he was about four years old. He wasn’t expected to live and if he did the doctors said he wouldn’t be mentally competent. They held their faith in God and God healed him. He became a minister and missionary to Japan. Their older son, Norman, also became a minister and pastor.

Brother Allen was an example and inspiration for those with whom he worked and associated.

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