Allen
NASHVILLE — Ecclesiastes chapter 3 says, “There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance… .”
On Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, we celebrated the life of Dennis Allen at Judson Baptist Church in Nashville. It was a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. We continue to mourn our loss, and we will continue to celebrate all the ways Dennis gave himself away in service to his family, the Church and to the Lord.
Dennis and his wife, Nan, are the reason I have personally been a part of the Judson Baptist story for the last 30 years. They are the ones that introduced me, as a 24-year-old young man, to this church and the minister of music at the time, David Briley. David was interested in starting an orchestra to be a regular part of the worship ministry at Judson. The Allens, knowing my father’s involvement in the church orchestra movement, wondered aloud if I had the same interest and training. The answer was yes, and within months of me moving to Nashville, I had begun a part-time music associate role at the church.
In those early days, we became fast friends. Some of my very best memories of that period of my life involve Dennis and Nan, and their two boys, Mark and Drew. I would go to their house for dinner (and to do my laundry), and we would laugh, watch movies and tell stories. They gave me ample encouragement and advice as I started dating Julianne, my wife-to-be. Our lives were truly woven together. They are dear friends to me and my family.
Dennis and Nan first moved to Nashville in the 1980s to do ministry work for the Baptist Sunday School Board, now known as Lifeway Christian Resources. They have written, arranged and produced countless songs, musicals and collections that have been distributed through Lifeway Worship the last four decades. Their music was for all generations to sing and was usually geared toward the average-size church. Their music has been sung in churches across the globe.
Dennis understood the critical importance of raising the next generation of worshipers and worship leaders. He understood the need for songs that point us to the Savior and arranging them in a way that could be easily learned and beautifully presented as an offering of worship. And though they never ceased to create these accessible musical arrangements, there came a point in their career when they took an opportunity to invest in the next generation of leaders in an even more tangible way—by taking faculty positions at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Georgia. For seven years they poured their lives and knowledge into college students, and the fruit of that labor will be growing for generations.
The Allens moved back to the Nashville area a few years ago to be closer to their sons and their grandchildren; especially because their daughter-in-law was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. This was further proof of their priorities of faith, family and kingdom focus. Their daughter-in-law Michelle fought a good fight but went home to be with the Lord in 2024. I know personally how devastating this was for Dennis, but how grateful they were to be here to walk with their son Drew and his children during this difficult time.
My first published song is entitled “The Call” and was co-written with Dennis and Nan. They were always encouraging me as a singer and as a songwriter. These are the lyrics in the chorus:
“Let us answer the call, walking worthy of all the Father wants us to do.
Let us rise up and build according to His will for us.
We must love one another, every sister, every brother
And together, reach those beyond our walls
When we hear His voice let us rise and answer the call.”
This was the call on the life of Dennis Allen, and he gave his all to answer that call. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, by his church family and by the Church at large. The kingdom is more beautiful and more vast because of the way Dennis (and Nan) have spent their time and talent!
“One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts…They will give a testimony of your great goodness and will joyfully sing of your righteousness” (Psalm 145:4,7).
Note: Kirk Kirkland, longtime songwriter, arranger and worship leader, was selected to lead Lifeway Worship in November.
