LAPLACE — It’s been 20 years since Pastor Steve O. Allen Sr. was called to give up his lavish, fast-paced and morally corrupt lifestyle as a sports agent living states apart from his loving family.

Allen said it took a wakeup call and guidance from God set him on the right path, which eventually led his family to a church for sale on Main Street in LaPlace.

The first service at Destiny Christian Center, then known as New Homes Ministries – LaPlace, took place the night of Aug. 8, 1999. There were 32 members in attendance.

From that first day, Allen ministered for the next 21 consecutive days, drawing in larger crowds with each passing week. Now, 20 years later, Destiny Christian Center is bursting at the seams with fellowship from approximately 1,100 members.

There are now 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon services every Sunday, along with a faithful 7 p.m. Wednesday service. In the past 20 years, Allen has missed approximately eight Sunday services, some of which included guest ministering at other churches.

Consistency is key to encouraging the spiritual growth that transforms creations of God into children of God, according to Allen.

“I’ve seen families that were on the brink of being destroyed come back together through the ministry,” Allen said. “I’ve seen people who were addicted to alcohol and drugs give those things up. My wife and I have been very transparent about what has happened in our lives, and I think that transparency has helped some other families because they are where we used to be.”

Congregation members dutifully come to Destiny from as far as the West Bank of New Orleans and Slidell. According to Allen, LaPlace is unique because of the heart of its people.

Assistant Pastor Brittany Allen, Steve Allen’s daughter, said the church is celebrating the 20-year milestone with fun, fellowship and service.

The 2019 Birthday Bash kicked off last week with a Vision Night party during midweek service and a Friday night gospel lip synch battle.

On Saturday, church volunteers visited members who are sick or shut in and donated care packages to residents at Twin Oaks Nursing Home and the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home of Reserve.

“We contacted each location, and we donated socks, hair bonnets, gloves, handkerchiefs and the skull caps just to keep them warm,” Brittany said. “We also did combs, candy, applesauce, pudding and other things they could use.”

This weekend, Destiny members are in for a night of dancing and friendly competition at Rock ‘n’ Bowl in New Orleans, a tradition that started three years ago, according to Brittany.

While Brittany grew up with the church close to her heart, she didn’t expect to become ordained as an assistant pastor. She was studying broadcast journalism with dreams to become the next Oprah Winfrey when she heard the call from God.

“I said God, I’m going to need you to give me a sign, because this was not the plan,” Brittany recalled with a laugh.

The next day, her father was missing his first Sunday service in eight years of pastoring, and Brittany was the one to step in. She was ordained when the church celebrated 10 years in 2009, and she’s never looked back.
As a family, the Allens have quietly helped serve the community. Destiny Christian Center donated hot meals, baby products and other resources in the rebuilding period that followed Hurricane Isaac. The church also participated in a large-scale St. John Pastors Coalition effort to serve more than 1,000 turkeys to the community in 2018.

Pastor Steve Allen mentors a group of approximately 20 young men — some church members, some not. Additionally, Destiny Christian Center extends scholarships to all members who graduate high school.

The next step for the church is expansion, according to Allen. Destiny Christian Center has acquired 15 acres of land on Woodland Drive, which will be developed into new facilities as funds become available.

“We have three services on Sundays now,” Allen said. “We just need more room. We’re going to change more lives.”

The church isn’t leaving 612 Main Street, Allen said, adding the area has developed and changed for the better in the past two decades with a family-oriented presence.