ABOUT US

Reverend Dr. Wanda Allen

Reverend Dr. Wanda A. Allen was installed as Pastor of Memorial Gospel Crusades Church in Philadelphia, PA, in February 2018 under the leadership of her father and Founding Pastor, Elder Walter W. Scruggs. Through the years, she has held many positions in ministry: Youth Leader, Praise Dance Coordinator, Bible Teacher, Camp Program Director, Trustee and Minister of Music. After marriage to James S. Allen Jr. she joined Vine Memorial Baptist Church under the leadership of her father-in-law, Reverend James S. Allen Sr. As Associate Minister, she not only preached the Word of God but provided leadership over the Youth & Children Ministry and served as an instructor in the Bible Academy and Sunday School. In addition, she continued to assist her father in ministry at Memorial Gospel Crusades Church by preaching, officiating funerals, weddings, and providing leadership within the Women’s Ministry. She is the youngest of four children born to Elder Walter W. Scruggs and the late First Lady Anna Scruggs. Pastor Wanda A. Allen is happily married to Trustee James S. Allen Jr. and they are both actively involved in ministry. Pastor Wanda Allen is a lifelong educator. She is a retired administrator from the School District of Philadelphia and former instructor from Temple University. She has taught, coached and lead in the elementary, middle and high schools in the state of Pennsylvania and in New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cheyney University, Masters in Education from Temple University and a Doctor of Theology Degree from Manna Bible College in Wilson, NC. In addition, she holds a certificate in Distributed Leadership from University of Pennsylvania and a Certificate in Biblical Studies from Whetstone School of Biblical Studies. She has been the recipient of several educational and ministerial awards and encourages all to be packed, polished and prepared for all that God has for you. Pastor Allen believes that salvation through Jesus Christ gives us the power to live victoriously and to overcome every obstacle. She enjoys sharing the love of Jesus Christ and preaching hope to all mankind. She is excited about being the author of her book (2019), Saved, But Not Delivered: A Guide to Experience Joy and Peace. Reverend Dr. Wanda A. Allen continues to remind all of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

A Brief History Of Memorial Gospel Crusades Church

In the fall of 1970, a service was conducted at the Wayland Memorial Baptist Church by Evangelist Cleveland Reems of Oakland, California for Pastor and Sister Scruggs. The money raised was to be used to purchase a public announcement system for a future ministry. On the first Sunday in April of 1972, the ministry of Memorial Gospel Crusades Church began along with a weekly radio ministry over station WXUR. Services were conducted on Fridays and Sunday afternoons in the Wayland Memorial Church for 8 years. In 1980, the ministry moved to Mt. Ephraim Tabernacle Baptist church building for the next two years. The kindness of these two ministers, Pastor Paul and Pastor Grant will always be appreciated. The present edifice was purchased in 1982 after a long search and it was then that Pastor Scruggs realized that this was the building shown to him a vision as far back as 1967. Renovations and improvements to this building have been ongoing. The Lord is good. Memorial has had an ongoing ministry throughout the years with one purpose in mind that is to lift up the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ and win souls to Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Christian Education Ministry along with the various other ministries have been faithful in keeping the vision. Our Ministry has included an overnight annual camping ministry for the youth at Camp Men-O-Lan; Vacation Bible School for Youth & Adults; a weekly Radio Ministry; a Nursing Home Ministry; a Women’s and a Men’s Ministry with retreats and seminars; an Outreach Ministry for Substance Use Disorders (SUD); A Praise Dance Ministry; and The Music Ministry, just to name a few. Memorial has ordained qualified Elders, Ministers, Evangelists, Deacons, Missionaries and installed faithful Trustees down through the years. We endeavor to be true to God without fanfare or worldly acclamation. We believe in the power of the Gospel of Christ to change the lives of men, women, boys and girls to save, to deliver, and to keep. Our standard is holiness before the Lord because of His faithfulness to us. In February 2018, the Founding Pastor, Elder Walter W. Scruggs, installed his daughter, the Reverend Dr. Wanda A. Allen, as Pastor of Memorial Gospel Crusades Church. Shortly thereafter, First Lady Anna M. Scruggs departed to be with the Lord. Pastor Wanda and her husband Trustee James S. Allen have experienced a peaceful and supportive transition of membership and leadership. The Ministry has been blest to receive another daughter of Elder & Sister Scruggs, Minister Beverly A. Lloyd and her husband, Elder Fredrick W. Lloyd, both of whom have also graciously transitioned to Memorial Gospel Crusades Church. The Ministry stands firm on the word of God that says, “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” 1Thessalonians 5:24. We see the evidence that the Lord has been faithful in “Ordering the Steps” of those who He has called according to His purpose, The Ministry of Memorial Gospel Crusades Church.

A Message from the Pastor on Celebrating 50 Years of Ministry!

We Bless the Lord today in allowing us to celebrate 50 years in the ministry of Memorial Gospel Crusades Church. As a youth in 1972, I was encouraged to invite my friends to church and to join the choir. I witnessed the seeds, the planting of the Lord, being sown into our lives. I am proud to say that Memorial Gospel Crusades Church has always trained the youth in the way that they should go and that’s why we can sing today, “Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine!” I am personally indebted to all those mothers of the church who have departed to be with the Lord who have been to me like “Naomi was to Ruth”: my mother and First Lady, Anna Scruggs; my aunt, Alice Wilson; Mother Otelia Hayes and Missionary Barbara Cherry. They encouraged me through the wilderness and rejoiced during the showers of blessings! Answering the call of God upon my life has truly been a journey! Of course, I will be forever grateful to my father, Elder Walter W. Scruggs who led by example in the home, in the community and in the ministry. Also, I am grateful to my father-in-law, the late Reverend Dr. James S. Allen Sr., who I serve under for 10 years on the ministerial staff at Vine Memorial Baptist Church thus giving me the pastoral preparation necessary for this present journey. In 2007, I was blest to marry James S. Allen Jr. He is rich in love and wisdom, my “Boaz.” I praise God for a love that is patient, that is kind and believes, hopes and endures all things. We have been actively involved in ministry all our lives. God made us Pastor’s Kids, (PK’s) for His purpose. We are proud to be in Leadership at Memorial Gospel Crusades Church. We praise God for all the armor bearers and the church family & friends. Trustee James S. Allen & I will continue to allow God to “Order Our Steps” because the Spirit of the Lord is upon us because God is sending us to the poor, the captives, the blind and the oppressed. Truly, we all can celebrate the 50 years of ministry because it is a privilege to be Called, to be Sent and to Go! Reverend Dr. Wanda A. Allen