About Us
Meet Pastor Melvin N. Allen Sr. and First Lady Sheila Allen
Pastor Melvin N. Allen Sr.
Reverend Melvin N. Allen Sr. brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his role as Pastor of It Starts Within Church. A graduate of Temple University with a BBA in Computer Science and Accounting, he also holds degrees from Manna Bible Institute and Palmer Seminary. His academic journey culminated in a Doctorate in Pastoral Ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary.
Pastor Allen’s secular career includes significant roles at IBM, EDS, and Computer Sciences Corporation, and he founded Small Micro Systems. Since 2001, he has served as the Senior Pastor of New Mickle Baptist Church in Camden, New Jersey. His international ministry includes impactful work in Uganda, where he helped facilitate over eight thousand decisions for Christ. Pastor Allen has also established educational programs with Moody Bible Institute and Trinity College, and he has a passion for fostering new congregations like Hope-Haven.
First Lady Sheila Allen
Sheila Allen, a licensed social worker with over 30 years of experience, has devoted her career to improving the lives of seniors and individuals with disabilities. Holding a Master’s Degree in Social Work Administration from Rutgers University, she previously served as Coordinator for the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Gloucester County.
Sheila is renowned for her work with the homeless, having founded the Eleanor Corbett House, Gloucester County’s first shelter for homeless families. Her contributions extend to serving as a field instructor for social work students and as a conference speaker on cultural and diversity issues. Sheila has been recognized with numerous awards for her dedication to vulnerable populations and continues to make a significant impact through her work with Trinity College and It Starts Within Ministries. Married for 50+ years, Pastor Melvin and Sheila Allen are proud parents of two adult children, Melvin Allen Jr. and Jenelle Marshall, and are blessed with five grandchildren. They reside in Deptford, New Jersey, where they continue their ministry and community work.
