When Allen Kendrick was 9 years old, he lost his father.

“He had dealt with bouts of depression and coped through alcohol,” Kendrick said.

“It eventually caused him to lose his life.”

His father’s death was a pivotal experience in his life. Everything “normal” changed on March 2, 2001.

“That same year, my mom actually got laid off from her job of 25 years,” he said.

“Over the next 2 years, everything in my life felt out of control. I asked my mom to take me to a church down the road when I was 11.

“When I walked into that rural church, my whole life changed. I loved the ‘speeches’ the minister gave, I loved the music, I loved how friendly everyone was. I wanted what they had.

“I stuck around that youth group and church for the next 7 years. Then I moved to Dallas, Texas, to go to Bible College, but I never expected to be a pastor.

“I originally wanted to be a musician. But after accepting a role as a Dorm Pastor at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, I heard ‘Pastor Allen’ for the 1st time, and it stuck.

He doesn’t think his father’s death originally played a role in his entering ministry, but it has shaped how he thinks about the needs of different people.

Kendrick and his wife Amanda feel they have been called to plant the new Vivid Church in Lexington.

From 2013-2015, he and Amanda served as dormitory pastors at Southwestern.

“That was our 1st experience with young adult ministry,” he said. “We enjoyed it so much that we wanted to become young adult pastors.

“That took us all the way to Visalia, California. We started a young adult ministry for Visalia First Assembly of God. Over the next 4 years, we grew that to a couple of hundred young adults and took mission trips to South Africa, Mexico, and traveled the country speaking at churches.

“Amanda and I met at a youth camp in 2008 in Alabama. We have truly been together ever since.

“We went to college in Dallas, got married in 2013, and moved to California.

“She gave birth to our 1st daughter Emma in 2017 and just recently gave birth to our 2nd daughter Mazie.”

While living in California, they were approached about church planting. They had no ideas where to do it even if they wanted to.

“To gain some clarity, I went to a monastery in January of 2019 in Big Sur, California. It was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I took a vow of solitude and silence, and from that I knew that God was leading us to move back to the south to plant a church.”

He and Amanda listed cities to visit in March to see if any of them “felt like home.”

They visited Charlotte, Savannah, Raleigh and Columbia among many others.

“When we drove through Columbia, something happened in our hearts.

“I think this is it,” he said. “I think we’re home.”

They moved to Lexington last June to start a church.

“Over the next 3-5 years, I hope to see Vivid Church flourish,” he said. “I believe there are people who have not yet encountered Jesus and made a decision to follow him as their personal Lord and Savior.

“I’m certain we will see people make that life-changing decision through the ministry of Vivid Church.

“I believe God desperately wants to give people a better story than the one they have.

“I believe that when we allow God to take the pen and author the rest of our days, we end up with stories worth retelling. That’s why our vision for Vivid Church is, ‘We exist to lead people into the Vivid story God has for them.’

“The stories we tell should be full of life, love, and grace. I think all of those things are found in Christ.

“I believe He gives people a life that is Vivid.”

Vivid Church’s 1st worship service will be at 10 am Sunday, Sept. 20, at Lexington Middle School.

For details, contact him at 205-503-1680 or email allenk@vividchurch.com .