Jennie Allen: Preaching, therapy and the burden of 'platform'

The Profile

What happens when a Bible teacher with a global ministry loses her passion for scripture? That's just one of several thorny questions Jennie Allen has had to grapple with in recent years (the answer to that particular conundrum was found in a combination of "loosening up a little", prayer apps and watching The Chosen. She's now back to fine form). Jennie Allen is open, relaxed and unguarded during this interview, even when getting into another thorny issue of why an international Bible teacher can’t preach in her own church on a Sunday morning and, more importantly, why she’s OK with this. Now in her mid-40s, she seems confident in her calling and as enthusiastic as ever about communicating the life-changing hope of the gospel. Her books, which increasingly lean into popular psychology alongside biblical truth, seem to have helped her own discipleship as much as the audience she is speaking to. She's passionate about helping individuals grow in faith, especially the next generation. And it is the knowledge that she’ll be happy doing this in her living room, long after the platform she currently enjoys is no longer available, that has allowed her to let go of the perfectionism that once caused her such anxiety. You can also read this interview in Premier Christianity magazine The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Enter 'PROFILEPOD' at checkout for a special half price subscription