Stephen Allen was called to serve as Senior Pastor at South Run Baptist Church in May 2013. Having previously served as an intern at South Run for two summers during college, Stephen has an intricate understanding of the unique dynamic that exists in our congregation. He is excited about the bright future that God has for South Run as it works to further the Kingdom of God in Northern Virginia and beyond.

A native of Central Texas, Stephen was born in Austin where he was raised in a Christian home. His mother led him to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at the age of 6, and he received baptism the following Sunday. Stephen began to feel God’s call to ministry while on a spring break mission trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, during his junior year in High School. He surrendered to the ministry in the spring of 2005 and has been actively ministering and preaching the gospel ever since. Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, licensed him to ministry and he was ordained by the First Baptist Church in Cranfills Gap, Texas.

Since feeling the call to ministry, Stephen has sought to inspire Christians to live their life to the fullness only made possible through Jesus Christ. He strongly believes in the transformative nature of the gospel and its relevance for today. This is evidenced in both his dedication to the local church and his preaching biblically based, Christ-centered sermons for modern day application.  Stephen puts a strong emphasis on living for the Mission of God by incorporating spiritual disciplines, biblical teaching, and Christian community into every facet of life. He passionately believes that the local church is the hope of the world and that the gospel of Jesus Christ is its only means for salvation.

Before coming to South Run Baptist Church, Stephen served for five years as the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Cranfills Gap, Texas. During his time at “the Gap,” he completed his work for a Master of Divinity degree while leading the church to establish vibrant children and youth programs. He was actively involved in the community and was blessed to see dozens come to know Jesus Christ during his ministry in Bosque County.

He is a 2011 graduate of George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in Theology. Upon graduation, he was awarded the prestigious Abda J. Chip Conyers Outstanding Student Award. He also received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Baylor University in 2008.

Stephen met the love his life, Leeann, while they were students at Baylor University and they were married in 2009. When Stephen is not doing Kingdom work, he can be found spending time with his wife and their dog, Wyatt. Stephen is an avid reader and student of American and Texas history. He is also a die-hard fan of Baylor Bear Athletics.