12/31/2020
Dear Students,
It is with deep sadness that I write to you of the sudden and unexpected passing of one of our school’s founders, Professor Allen Battle. A memorial for Allen will be held on January 9, 11 AM at Grace Church in Reno NV and a reception will be held afterward at Pastor Allen’s church, Faith Bible, which is near Grace Church.
Pastor Allen has served training Reno leaders since before Multnomah was in Reno. He served as Executive Director of Meadows Bible Institute and ran the bookstore at the Nevada Campus. Pastor Allen labored and built the foundation of what Multnomah would become in Nevada. His hands, along with his family and many friends, laid tile, painted walls as well as many other things in the school; to this day, I find things that are signatures of his care for the building, as well as his love for each one of you. Pastor Allen was a close friend and confidant. Pastor Allen continued to serve, even into this last semester as a professor at the Nevada Campus in History and Missiology. Pastor Allen, motivated by his teaching at the Nevada campus, served as an incentive for his receiving his ThM from Liberty University. Allen was well-loved by faculty and students. His uniqueness and humor will be remembered.
I have been afforded the opportunity to meet many men of spiritual renown in this world, many of them could not hold a candle to Allen. We shared a love for “Jesus Hippie Music,” and all the history which surrounds this; and a similar world view that always prompted conversation on how the world needs a savior. Allen loved Jesus, he loved God’s Kingdom and was ever the evangelist. Allen possessed the gift of encouragement and was one of the persons in my world that always brought hope and a smile.
Please pray for Allen’s family, whose son in law is still part of our Technology Programs. Please pray for his wife, Gina; she is bearing up well but is still bearing the grief of losing her partner in crime, and despite her firm knowledge that Allen is present with Jesus, it still hurts here and now. She is holding on to this hope and the many memories of their life, adventures, and all that they experienced together.
Pastor Allen Battle’s work here on earth is done; however, the work of God’s kingdom now falls to us who remain. Pastor Allen is an example of someone who gave his heart, hands, and work to Jesus and never looked back. There are probably many things this gifted man could have given himself to that would have brought him earthly rewards, but Allen devoted himself to the Kingdom; this my friends takes faith. I wonder how many of you are hearing the prompting of God in a similar way as Pastor Allen? Who will fill his shoes, who will carry on the work which he started? Who of you will hear the voice of God, like Isaiah, and respond, “here am I Lord, send me!”
Your co-worker in Christ,
John McKendricks
