"Homecoming"

  We welcome the Rev. Allen Eugene Long to Lee Road this Sunday as our guest minister.  Allen was born and raised in Kentucky.  His family moved to Rockwood, Tennessee where he attended high school.

Allen attended Spartanburg Junior College, Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia and Duke Divinity School.  He was ordained an elder in full connection in the South Carolina United Methodist Conference in 1963.  Allen served Faith in Greer before coming to Lee Road in 1967 as our first full-time minister.  In 1973 Allen was appointed to Cherokee Place, North Charleston, then served St. Mark in Seneca, Trinity in Bamberg, First Church in Winsboro, Inman, Fairmon/Gravely Memorial in Spartanburg, then to Platt Springs in West Columbia as his last appointment before retiring in 1998.  In 2002 Allen returned as retired supply pastor at Asbury in Gaffney for four months.

While at Lee Road Allen supported the Lay Witness Mission that Arthur Tinsley, Paul and Linda Black and others brought to Lee Road.  The program stimulated a new spiritual awareness.  Several small groups were formed and from that, the Wednesday Morning Prayer Group continues today, 36 years later.

Lee Road’s youth program was growing and Allen recognized the need for leadership.  Part-time youth workers and summer workers were hired to strengthen the youth program.  Allen remembers the workers as great assets to the church.  They were:  Bill Dillard, Susan Henry-Crowe (then a student at Winthrop, now a Methodist minister at Emory), and Mr. Walker (then a student at Furman, now a Baptist minister working with youth).

In a growing church full of youth, Mr. W.C. Howard had a vision for a Family Life Building.  Allen led the church in raising the funds and building Howard Hall.  It was first used January 1, 1972.

Since 2001 Allen has served as a trustee for Pine Mountain Settlement School in Pine Mountain, Kentucky, established in 1913.  Allen said that during his retirement he has enjoyed being a genealogy “nut” and also enjoys writing short stories.  He is hopeful that he will be published in Guideposts.

Allen and Jean, a retired school teacher, retired to Lake Junaluska in 1998.  In 2002 they moved to Pacolet where they now reside.  Their daughter, Terri lives in Asheville; Joy lives in Goose Creek; Suzanne lives in Pacolet; and their son, David lives in Greer.  They have three grandchildren and one great granddaughter.  It sounds as though this six month old has brought new excitement and energy to the family.

Let us all join as a church family to give Allen and his family a warm welcome as we celebrate Homecoming on this 50th anniversary.

Submitted by Jane McGahee, 50th Anniversary Committee Member