About Allen

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Allen Hamlin Jr has worked with an international Christian non-profit organization since 2006. His role has primarily consisted of providing team development training and consultation, along with mentoring and member care, to multiethnic teams serving around the world. He and his wife, Lindsay, have participated in numerous working groups and facilitation committees for various global initiatives, and have lived in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Allen currently provides leadership and support for a number of teams operating in southern England, Wales, and Ireland. They have a deep appreciation for the values and tensions associated with serving in and alongside of cultures outside of one’s country of origin.

IMG_1344Both Allen and Lindsay view themselves as being most effective when they can serve in roles that bring them alongside a leader and vision. They thrive on employing their various skills in teaching, administration, organization, writing, and resourcing to provide the support necessary to free up others so that they can fully engage in making the best use of their own energy and abilities, with the result of seeing the organization’s aims achieved with effectiveness, efficiency, and excellence.

Prior to departing the U.S. for living overseas, Allen worked as an adjunct math instructor at Richland College in Dallas, Texas, during which time he completed a master’s degree in theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. He also has a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of West Florida and undergraduate degrees in religion and mathematics from the University of Florida. He holds additional qualifications as an MBTI® certified practitioner and a Clarion Model senior consultant, and is currently pursuing his PhD full-time.

EmbracingFollowership_CoverTextureEmbracing Followership: How to Thrive in a Leader-Centric Culture is his first mainstream publishing venture (2016).

Allen has been acknowledged for his work in contributing to several other books, including Beauty from Brokenness (art created during the pandemic), Forged on the Field and Far From Cold.

Allen can be reached via facebooklogoFacebook, twitterlogoTwitter (@AllenHamlinJr, #EmbracingFollowership), Instagram (#EmbracingFollowership), LinkedIn_logo_initialsLinkedIn, amazonlogoAmazon, goodreads_icon_32x32Goodreads, and through  aboutmelogoabout.me/allenhamlinjr.

Several interviews with Allen are linked on the book’s page. You can also listen to some of his sermons and read some of his creative writings at AdmitAndExplore.wordpress.com. Allen blogged a 24-month journey through the Psalms at 2YearsofPsalms.wordpress.com, and he has also been a periodic contributor at BiblicalLeadership.com (previously ChurchCentral.com; see e.g. 1 2 3 4 5 6). Free resources and downloads written by Allen can be found on the Companion Resources page of this site. Most recently, Allen has been co-hosting a ‘talk show’ on questions of the Christian faith: Questions in the Vicarage Garden. Other sermons include: Windows & Rainbow Stickers; The Gospel of Sonship; The Ordinariness of Our Weakness; The Lord Be With You; God’s Mission In You & Through You (video); From Keeping a Distance to an Extended Household; The Delivered Life; Why Do You Do What You Do?; Belonging to the Community of Faith (video; audio).

Allen & Lindsay experienced an 8-year struggle of infertility, but celebrated the miraculous arrival of their daughter in May 2017! You can hear their story here:

For fun, here’s an excerpt from a sermon (from May 2016) by Allen’s high school youth leader, who references the book and a bit of first impressions about Allen:

EmbracingFollowership_CoverTextureInformation on Allen’s first published work, Embracing Followership, can be found on The Book page of this site. The follow-up companion volume discussion guide was released in 2017.