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On August 3, 1981 at 1:17 p.m. in St. Bernard hospital located on the south side of Chicago Allen Russell Jerome Coleman was born, the eldest son Alfred Lee Jackson Jr. and Mildred Elaine Coleman. Even as an infant Allen’s beautiful eyes and radiant smile won the hearts of many especially his original God-Parents Wilbert and Dorothy Johnson. Being born into a Christian home of Alabama native’s Allen was raise in the Big Zion M.B. Church were Rev. J.L. Coleman was pastor. In the summer of 1989 on a Thursday night, Allen was baptized by Pastor Rudolph Parker at Big Zion. As a child Allen always had a passion for singing and directing after church he would come home from church, get two bath towels pin one on the front and one on the back as a choir robe and stand on a milk crate singing and directing the songs that were sang in church that day. In 1994 Allen was fortunate to have the chance to sing with Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago while the FIFA World Cup series were in Chicago, due to his mom not being able to afford the expenses of the choir, a few months later Allen had to withdraw membership. Being determined to sing while in elementary school any event that had music in the mix Allen was involved in. In 1996 after graduating elementary school Allen was able to join the Young Adult Choir at Big Zion, it was later that year that Allen received his first lead “He’ll Welcome Me” by John P. Kee and became one of the choir director’s of the church. While attending Hyde Park Academy, Allen joined the Advance Mixed Chorus, the glee club, and a community choir known as Bryant Jones & Chosen, and played football. In 1998 he learned to read sheet music while singing bass in the Advanced mixed chorus and the All City High School Choir and it was at that time that he was able to travel across the seas to Vienna, Austria for a two week competition and tour with the All City High school Choir. Exodus 31:3 says: “and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” so with the mind to work and do God’s will Allen began to work in the vineyard for the Lord, he became a Vacation Bible School Teacher for the pre-school and kindergarten class, radio announcer for the church’s live broadcast over WBEE 1570AM and a youth leader. Rev. Shawn D. Coleman saw a gift in Allen that he felt needed to be utilized and in December of 1999 while preparing for a Christmas musical he passed on the mantle and gave Allen the title “Minister of Music” over three choirs the Voices of Big Zion, the Young Adult Choir and the Junior choir. Being a minister of music can be a challenging job especially without being able to actually play organ or piano, but having an ear for music and the ability to teach Allen was able to bring a new sound to the choir’s. Pattering after one of the world’s greatest choir director’s, C. Allen Cathey and his aunt Indy C. Wilson, Allen was able to create a style of directing that was uplifting to the people that he stood before. The Bible says in Jeremiah 51:12, “Set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; Make the guard strong, Set up the watchmen” Allen’s pastor and God-Father Rev. Darryl E. Yancy saw something that Allen was not ready to accept so he made him his personal “Armor Bearer”, instilling in him the word of GOD and teaching him how to grow a closer relationship with the Lord. In Feb of 2002 Allen resigned from his positions and moved his membership to Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer under the leadership of founder and Pastor Rev. Dr. Charles G. Hayes and became a member of the worldly acclaimed Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir know as the “Warrior’s”. Since being a member of “Cosmo” Allen has had the opportunity to travel extensively across the country, learn how to apply the word to daily life and grow a more personal and spiritual life with the Lord. In the early part of 2008, Allen acknowledged the calling to preach that the Lord placed on his life. The word says study to show thyself approved, Allen plans on furthering his education and relocating to Atlanta, Ga in the near future. music layout powered by HOT FreeLayouts.com / MyHotComments