My name is Sandy Allen.
My husband, Tom, and I have been married 47 years. We met as music
majors in college. When I first heard him play the piano, I thought how
wonderful it would be to really get to know this person and figure out the
design of his musical ability. I’m still working on it! It is truly a God-given
talent.
Before I met Tom, my parents had instilled in me a love for
good music and afforded me piano lessons, which I enjoyed and took very
seriously. I grew up in a Christian home and attended Sunday School, worship,
and youth group activities regularly. I loved hearing the organist play the
pipe organ and dreamed of someday mastering this mighty instrument. The organ
was my major instrument in college and I studied the works of many gifted composers
and church musicians.
I was saved at age 13 at an evangelist crusade held in the
stadium at ETSU. My parents had allowed my older brother, who had recently
gotten his driver’s license, to drive us across town to the crusade. During the
invitation I went forward and received Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.
Soon after that, at the recommendation of my organ teacher, I began playing for
services in a very small church and 57 years later I’m still serving the Lord
through music in worship.
The Lord blessed Tom and me with three children, Wendy,
Andrew, and Matthew, and five grandchildren. Wendy and her husband, Mike
Royston and their children, Meredith, Cullen, Savannah, and Caleb are members
of Indian Springs. Andrew lives in Nashville. Matthew is married to Cindy and
they have one son, Henry. They reside in Hendersonville, TN.
When Wendy was three years old, a friend invited us to a
revival at Indian Springs Baptist Church. The services were held in what is now
the office wing of the church. Plans were in the works to build a new
sanctuary, now the SAC. Several months later we joined and have been serving
the Lord at Indian Springs for 41 years. It has been so exciting to see our
church grow and expand our outreach to two campuses.
Under Bro. Mike’s guidance, Tom and I began a Children’s
Choir Ministry. We have had many wonderful volunteers lead and assist in this
ministry through the years. It has been a wonderful journey and I pray that
this program will stay strong because of the great importance of Christian
music in the life of children.
I taught music in Kingsport City Schools for 22 years. I am
presently teaching a music class at the Bristol YWCA to girls, ages 9-14. I
love sewing and knitting and Tom and I enjoy year-round gardening in our hobby
greenhouse.
I am grateful to the Lord for the life He has given me on
this earth and I claim the following verse as my “life verse”: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as
for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive
the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Colossians 3:23-24
~ Submitted by Kathy Neal
ISBC Women's Ministry
Communications Coordinator
