Allen Elkins, MDiv.

DIRECTOR OF ARKANSAS BAPTIST HOMES FOR CHILDREN

Allen pastored for the past 35 years before joining our team. During that time, he received a BA in Christian Ministries, majoring in Pastoral Ministry and a minor split between History and New Testament Greek, from Williams Baptist University. Continuing his education, he received an MA in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Biblical Languages. Allen was called to ministry as a teenager, but foster care was not an area of ministry he had considered. Early in their marriage, his wife, Renee, shared her dream of having “a house full of kids...children who have no place to go and no hope.” Allen and Renee had three biological children, Katie, Allie (a licensed counselor with Living Well Counseling), and Ethan, when decided to become foster parents. They became passionate about reunifying families and helping not only the children who came into their home, but their biological families as well. Their journey had both successes and failures, but with each child that entered their home, they were determined to meet the biological family with the love of Christ. They now have five children through adoption: Mason, Bailey, Aubri, Eli, and Mister. After closing their home for a season, upon learning about Connected Foster Care of ABCFM, the family chose to reopen as a foster home for sibling groups. Through their experience as a foster family with the agency, God stirred Allen’s heart with a deep burden for the Monticello campus. As campus director, Allen continues his same passion to see families restored. Outside of ministry, Allen loves to fish, play golf, and coach his kids in sports. He loves spending time with friends, and meeting new ones.