Beyond the Darkness

About the AuthorAllen Colbert, Sr. was born and raised in Crescent City, Florida to Thomas and Annie Mae Colbert. The seventh of eleven children, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Bethune-Cookman College, now Bethune-Cookman University, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Upon graduating, Allen was employed by the IBM Corporation until the time of his retirement in April 1996. He received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in June 1975 and was called into the gospel ministry in 1978 while living in Newburgh, New York. It was there that he became one of the original members of the Mighty Traveling Echoes, a gospel singing group. As a part of his evangelistic calling, Allen loves seeing souls saved for the Lord. It is his desire to bring about a deeper awareness of the personal strength and closeness of God to the people through fasting and prayer because he understands that this is how we become more acutely aware of our spiritual standing with the Lord. Allen's first book, Power In Fasting, was published in 2006. Allen has previously served as assistant pastor of Faith Temple Holiness Church in Poughkeepsie, New York; pastor of Ridley Temple Church of God in Christ in Delray Beach, Florida; and as the associate pastor of Millgrove Church of God in Christ in Durham, North Carolina. Allen and his wife of 50 years, Jane, currently live in Gainesville, Florida where they are both active members of Williams Temple Church of God In Christ. Allen serves as an associate elder and Jane serves as a missionary, Sunday School teacher for the youth, and leader of the Sewing Circle. Allen also serves as secretary for the Central Florida Jurisdiction #1 COGIC Ordination Board and senior advisor to the jurisdiction's Men of Distinction, a men's ministry group designed to meet the spiritual needs of all men regardless of denomination or church affiliation. This well-rounded group ministers to the whole man by offering various forms of counseling including marital, financial, encouragement, prayer, education and periodic men's retreats, among other things. Allen and Jane have six children -- Allen Jr., Gerald, Yvette, Jeannette, Pricilla, and Joyce -- and have been blessed with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.