Women Who Inspire – Samantha Allen
It is my privilege to be able to introduce you to my friend, Samantha Allen. I met Sam at my church, New Life Church in Colorado Springs, a couple of years ago, and our friendship has flourished and blossomed over time. I wanted you to get to know her too, as this lady is remarkable; not by the standards of this world, but she is remarkable because her life characterizes and embodies the Lord. She represents Him impeccably with a trust that is tried and true by a God Who is trustworthy to her in every future situation because He has been faithful in all past circumstances. Sam and her family are faced with an enormous life issue, and while it is too raw to share aloud, her internal testimony and their faith speaks volumes to those who walk alongside and to whom they minister. I would like you to meet Sam!
Michelle Gott: Will you please introduce yourself to our readers and give us a little background information and brief testimony?
Samantha Allen: I was born in Detroit, Michigan. I grew up in a small Village outside Niagara Falls, Lewiston, New York. I had a good family; one older brother. As a kid, I was quiet and shy. I spent a lot of time outside. I talked to God a lot there and really experienced His Presence in nature, though I didn’t really realize it at the time. I don’t ever remember a day feeling a stranger to Him.
I often felt fearful at night. I started reading the Bible and listening to Amy Grant and Michael W Smith when I was very young. Music and God’s Word had huge roles of influence in my growing years. I was always sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s touch. I was baptized in to Christ at the age of nine. I always wanted to marry a youth pastor. To me, it seemed that the ones I knew really loved Jesus and loved people, and they had so much fun doing it! That was the kind of life I wanted.
MG: I understand one of your passions has been missions and you have spent time on the mission field. Where did your family minister and for what length of time? What was life for you like on the mission field? How were you led to where you ministered? Did you always want to be a missionary?
SA: The calling to foreign missions began with a choir trip to Europe after my sophomore year in college. For the first time, I met people who had actually never heard the Gospel, and were hungry for it. I was in love with this calling. This led to meeting my husband Steve, and God began growing my heart for all the nations of the world. We ended up in Bangkok, Thailand for 16 years. We had seven children there, one who is in Heaven now. We planted a church there and raised our kids. I was a homemaker and a home-schooler.
MG: After returning from the mission field and Thailand, what did you do next?
SA: My first business was a franchise that God provided for me to purchase when I was 45 years old. We had been back from Thailand a few years and the Lord made it very clear to me that this was next for me! I returned the franchise after a year and went in to business for myself for a couple years. When we moved from Nashville to Colorado, I shut down my business. Right before we moved, I received a prophetic word from a new friend about writing a book.
MG: You have co-authored a book called Walk with Me: God’s Solutions for America’s Hurting Children. What led you to write this book and what is its background? Tell us about your adopted daughter and about your journey. (This book can be found on Amazon.)
SA: This was not really on my radar, but I wanted to be quick to obey so not long after the move, I began writing. I didn’t feel like I had much to say, so beginning to write felt difficult at first. I finally just decided to write about something I am very passionate about and that I have some experience in: adoption. I figured maybe our journey could dispel some myths, share some stories, and help encourage someone else. As soon as I began writing, our adopted daughter Jezreel wanted to begin writing a book also! Her story ended up being an allegory to Heaven that she also illustrated. A friend of mine also help me make a prayer manual to go with it, helping the church take its place to pray for the children in need and take its place in the adoption movement. I truly believe that the church should be the forerunner in the adoption movement, and fostering, and providing the healthy family haven for hurting children.
MG: Do you intend to write another book and, if so, do you have a topic for the next book?
SA: My next book may be about walking in faith and victory through difficult seasons. My husband was diagnosed with ALS seven years ago, and I would love to provide some encouragement to others walking through long and difficult seasons.
MG: I understand you have a vision for a business the Lord is inspiring you to start. Tell us about this business and your vision.
SA: I have a new business on the drawing table that is so fun, empowering to women and young businesswomen, and providing hope to others. It’s not ready for the public yet, but we pray and hammer away at it weekly! This one also started with a vision in a dream!
MG: Can you recall a time when you know that God was the only way you had a provision through a certain situation?
SA: Times that God came through for me?…they are too many to count! Around this time last year when our family all had covid. Our daughter Jezreel is high-risk and I was very concerned about her. All our community had covid, so we were all quarantined and no-one could help me if Jezreel had an emergency. I felt so vulnerable without the help of my husband. I asked the Lord for angels to come help and to heal. That night Jezreel had a dream that Jesus and his mother Mary invited her to a Christmas party and Jesus asked her if she was sick, (which she was). She said no, and they had a great time together eating noodles! Before she told me her dream, I thought I would make her favorite noodles for breakfast to try to get her to eat. She woke up well and ate her noodles and told me about her dream! Angels came to our aid!
MG: What do you see as some of the biggest challenges facing Christian women today? Women in ministry? Christian women authors?
SA: I think what I would share with Christian women today is to trust God’s goodness completely and literally. To walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is when you don’t have a plan B and you take the Bible literally and just walk on. Teach it to your children. Make God’s Word your daily go-to text for every situation!
MG: What inspires you and keeps you going?
SA: I think the thing that keeps me going is the goodness of God. I don’t always feel it, but if I look, it is always there and His Word confirms it. And my experience backs this up. He is ALWAYS good! So I have to keep looking for His goodness and asking Him for more of His Holy Spirit. Holy spirit is truly my best friend. He is all the things He says He is!
Sam, I am honored to call you friend, and I thank Christian Women Living for giving a small chunk of the world a place to meet one another and encourage each other; to heal, help and hope together through life experiences and growth.
