Protestors Shout Down Pastor’s ‘Last’ Service After Past Abuse Comes to Light

DULUTH, Minn. – Tensions ran high as police, protestors, and parishioners stood off outside of Revive City Church of Duluth after records showed the lead pastor pled guilty to sexually abusing two girls in 2000-2001 while he was working as a youth minister for a different church. 

On Friday, Revive City Church’s Facebook page created an event titled “One Last Time.” According to the event’s description, “Today, Pastor Ron Allen’s ordination has been suspended, and we will meet one last time on Sunday.” As of publishing, the church’s Facebook page appeared to have been deleted.

A FOX 21 investigation uncovered the pastor had previous sexual abuse convictions, which occurred while he had been serving at another church. 

The lead pastor and co-founder of Revive City Church, Ronald Allen, was 35 years old when, from 2000-2001, he groomed and sexually abused a 13-year-old girl. Court records showed Allen was the girl’s youth minister at Calvary Worship Center in Minnetonka, though most of the abuse occurred while the victim was babysitting Allen’s children at his home. 

Allen pled guilty to another single instance of sexually assaulting another 13-year-old girl, a friend of the first victim, while she was also babysitting his children.

Sunday’s service attracted supporters and protestors of Allen. While no arrests were reported, the emotions in the air and occasional direct conflict between the two sides led to a lingering police presence to keep them separated. “We are providing extra patrol in the area as we were monitoring the incident,” a media representative for Duluth Police said in response to our email. 

Most cars honked in approval as they passed the crowd of protestors outside the church. At least one driver parked and joined the protest. Signs read “Pastor or Pedophile” and “Hands of Our Children.” Some made signs at home, while others created theirs on the spot. 

Three people identified themselves as supporters of Ronald and October Allen, his wife. Billy Hintsmen said the church and Allens provide for a lot of people. “I came from Oklahoma. You know, I understand people saying things about somebody’s past. We all got a past, history sometimes. Yeah, but those people, those people in that church. They do everything for the community.”

However, protestors disagree and say that people with sexual convictions against children shouldn’t be in positions of authority. Cliff Parker, a protestor who said he is a part of the recovery community, thinks that the Allens’ lack of transparency represents a double standard. “If, like October says, that Ron’s convictions and old record isn’t a big deal, why not go through his background check? Right? I had to for my job. I got denied, had to appeal it, jump through some hoops, because I have a past- not including sexual (expletive).” 

FOX 21 reached out to the Allens and their attorneys Sunday afternoon for comment, but as of publishing, we have not received a reply.