Alumni Spotlight: Allen Newton
Rev. Allen Newton grew up embedded in church in a minister’s home, and he developed a deep knowledge of God’s love and grace. Allen gave his heart to Christ and responded to an altar call at a Ford Philpot crusade that emphasized God’s unconditional love. He felt a call from God to ministry, but, like Jonah, he ran from this calling; however, everywhere he turned, he found the Lord and people who encouraged him in his calling, gifts, and graces for ministry. Allen was grounded and rooted in the joyous and challenging realities of a vocation of ministry through his father and grandfather who were both United Methodist ministers. Allen served on the youth staff at Frazer UMC; when he was invited to preach, Allen sensed God’s presence overwhelmingly and knew that he “could do nothing greater with his life than that.”
Allen attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL though he had family roots at Asbury University – both his parents and grandparents met during their time at Asbury University! Once Allen first stepped foot on Asbury Seminary’s campus, he felt God’s presence and grace and fell in love with the campus. He never visited any other seminaries.
Throughout his ministry, Allen has served on staff at Frazer and First Houston and was pastor at Gulf Breeze UMC, Woodlawn UMC, and St. James UMC; he is currently serving as the District Superintendent of the Demopolis District of the Alabama-West Florida Conference.
Allen has been married to his wife Stephanie for twenty-five years who Stephanie writes inspirational romance for Love Inspired. They have three kids: Riley, age 24, is a youth pastor at The Orchard in Tupelo, MS and is began Asbury courses at the Memphis cohort this fall; Sarah Kate, age 21, is studying Social Work at Auburn; and David, age five, is lots of fun. Alongside hanging out with his son David, Allen’s hobbies include hunting, fishing, golfing, and being involved with air force and military families. Allen is extremely grateful to God for his family and the rich heritage of God’s grace and calling on their lives. Allen’s son, Riley, is the fourth generation of Newton ministers.
We love the Newton’s and have enjoyed doing ministry alongside them in the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the UMC! They are Kingdom people and movers and shakers, involved in ministry touching the world! Proud to be their friends….
Love, love, love the way Allen exposes The Word so it can be readily applied in daily life. For, what use is a seed if it is not planted and brings forth fruit.
We were blessed to have Allen as a minister at the Gulf Breeze Community Life Center.
Allen.. Thank you for the gift of your sharing. It has impacted me to this day.
-Mike Idoni