CENTENNIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
ELSBERRY, MO 63343
(573) 898-3174
(314) 968-6445 (Fax)
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Allen L.
Savage, Pastor
This is an article from the United Methodist Review June 28, 1998.
Rev. Allen L. Savage has been pastor of Centennial United Methodist Church since June 1994, but his leadership role has extended beyond the church into the community.
Soon after arriving he became active in local concerns by inviting the mayor of Elsberry to come and speal to the congregation.
"I think that the work I do there and what I try to encourage my church members to become involved in is one way to show integrity with the gospel", he said. "It is one thing to say God loves the world, but another thing to show that in what we're doing, in expressing God's concern for his people."
"I am very impressed with the leaders of our church family, because God is involved in it," he said. "Some are predisposed for leadership, and they're not always the people you might think. As a boy growing up, I was pretty shy. The idea of getting up in front of people is something I wouldn't have wanted."
A St. Louis, MO native, Savage said his opportunities for leadership first presented themselves "...in little offices I held in United UMC, my home church, through servant ministry. This is how I got my start. Involvement in the Choir, UMM, Finance Committee and Greeters Club under Rev. Errol Grant gave me the opportunity to be in leadership roles.
"I also think leadership is relational. You don't just drop into a situation and become a leader - except in a crisis situation. In normal life, while you may be appointed or elected as leader, you're not really the leader until the people you're working with say you're the leader. That takes time and trust.
You have to be with people in a lot of situations. They give you leadership if they feel that trust-relationship with you.
"Leadership by example also comes into play," said Savage. "Leaders do what they ask others to do. You have to get out and work with the people, and once they see that you are invested in what you're doing, they will follow you better."
He graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1969, from Westminster College in 1974, From Washington University Graduate School of Chemistry in 1978 and from Eden Seminary with Certification in Diaconal Ministry in 1986. Allen is currently attending St. Paul Seminary for United Methodist Local Pastors in Kansas, City MO He and his wife, Faith, have six children; Tina, Yolanda, Allen Jr., Michael, Christie, and Jonathan.
Savage said there are opportunities for leadership wherever you are. "A big city may offer some things a town the size of Elsberry may not, but I also know from having been here that in some sense those opportunities are more readily available here than in a large city. Here you can meet the mayor, meet the aldermen, meet the newspaper publisher - people who are influential. These people are fairly accessible.
"There are opportunities here, if not to lead, at least to be a part of something that's making a difference in our community, and that's something we are all called to do," he said.
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