The Athletic Ministry challenges youth to build self-esteem and enhance their interpersonal skills through athletic sports activities.

The Benevolence Ministry at Allen Temple Baptist Church aims to assist the membership and community when in need.

According to the will of God, the holy scriptures, the church constitution, and benevolent guidelines, Allen Temple Baptist Church aims to assist the membership when in need and to the community where it is appropriate.

Please complete the benevolence application by clicking here.  Once completed in full and submitted, a member of the Benevolence Ministry will be in touch with you.

If you have any questions, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (510) 544-8979

The Bereavement Ministry helps and supports families who lay their loved ones to rest.  We provide comfort, care, support, and services to those who have experienced loss.

We provide professional counseling and assessment services to the community at large. Counseling can have a spiritual or non-spiritual focus. Everyone who comes through our door is treated with courtesy, consideration, and respect.

Counseling Services We Offer:

• Counseling for individuals of all ages, for couples, and for families
• Referrals to Parenting, Anger Management, and Twelve-Step Groups
• Referrals to other local resources
• Psychological Testing/Assessment
• Assistance in applying for Victims of Crime funds

Contact us by phone (510) 544-8945 and leave us a confidential message, or send email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

The Betty D. Gadling Fine Arts Academy, named after Betty D. Gadling, Allen Temple's late Minister of Music Emerita, was developed to address the scarcity of music instruction available in the public schools.

Boy Scout Troop 409

The mission of the Boy Scouts is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes.

The Business and Professional Women Society's purpose is to raise scholarship funds so the youth of Allen Temple can further their educational studies.

Founded in 1962, the Business and Professional Women Society has raised over 1 million dollars to send our youth to college through benevolent and charitable activities.  All members of Allen Temple can participate and contribute to the future of our youth by supporting our fundraiser activities.

This choir comprises energetic children & youth (5-17) who love to sing praises to God.

The Church Clerks Ministry assists new and current members through member intake, baptism & baby dedication coordination, support ministry requests, and other important tasks.

Visit our Forms and Policies page for various forms including membership, member information change, and baby dedication.

The Communications Ministry reaches the congregation and our community through media to inspire, inform, and invite participation in the life, mission, and purposes of the Church.

The Communication Ministry consists of passionate individuals with dedication who drive to glorify the word of God through various forms of technology.

The Ministry uses a five-point strategy for execution:
• Innovation – presenting in a fresh way
• Integration – using all the media means in an effective way
• Involvement – coaching members on how to communicate effectively
• Inspiration – telling the stories of God at work in people's lives

The Communications Ministry oversees our Church eNews, Social Media Platforms, Cyber Church, and the Strategies for God's Mission. 

If you are a team player and familiar with computers, consider joining our ministry.  We will provide training for all volunteers.  Please email us.

The Allen Temple Couples Ministry is designed for couples in committed relationships who are ready to go deeper — in faith, in love, and in community. Through prayer, facilitated discussions, and fellowship activities, we create space for couples to share experiences that build upon a foundation of faith, hope, and love for God and one another. Our focus is simple but meaningful: communication, education, spirituality, relaxation, and fun. Whether you are newly together or have been building a life side by side for years, this ministry is for you.

The Deaconess Ministry exists to support the Senior and Assistant Pastors and the entire congregation; to develop strategies that encourage and engage each Deaconess in evangelism; to partner with the Deacons and other ministries of the church to physically evangelize in the surrounding community; to increase participation in leadership workshops and to interact with and give support to the youth and young adults. 

The Deacons Ministry leads in worship, Bible Study and evangelism; supports the Pastor by serving in congregational and Pastoral care and administers benevolence, discipline, and reconciliation. This ministry also trains children and youth on all of the aspects of the Deacon’s Ministry through the Junior Deacon’s Ministry.

We are comprised of eternal servants/disciples of Jesus Christ, and all are officers of the Church. We base our scriptural inception on Acts 6:1-7. Our firm commitment is to Christ and to His kingdom building as his humble Servants and to our Pastor, who is the under-shepherd. We pursue the high calling in Christ Jesus by regularly attending Church services, meetings, and conferences and leading in the devotions, worship services, prayer, studying the Bible, evangelizing, tithing, and attending Church Advisory and Business meetings. We are responsible for the administration of congregational care, benevolence, church discipline, and reconciliation.

Allen Temple is honored to host three food distribution services:  The Allen Temple Food Pantry, The Mercy Brown Bag Program & The Commmodities-Alameda County Program

The Girl Scout teaches girls the importance of personal responsibility, the value of goal-setting, the spirit of teamwork, of God, and the thrill of accomplishment.

Global Ministries promotes Allen Temple Baptist Church’s awareness of and involvement with issues that concern people globally, and especially Africans and people of African descent. The Ministry provides opportunities for service and education, and for cultural, religious, and economic exchange.

 If you've experienced the loss of a loved one, you're not alone—and you don’t have to navigate grief by yourself.

The Grief Ministry invites you to join Grief Share, a 13-week support group designed to help you process your loss and find hope for the days ahead.

Held on third Sundays after worship in Family Life Center Room C-205, Grief Share is a safe, welcoming space where you’ll find understanding, comfort, and practical tools to cope with the ups and downs of grief. Together, we’ll explore what’s “normal” in grief, how to handle difficult emotions, and ways to find healing—one step at a time.

There’s no cost to join—just bring your time, your heart, and your openness to healing. Share with those in your life who would benefit from healing in community.

The goal of the Health Education Ministry is to increase the health, mental and spiritual well-being of the Allen Temple Church Family and the East Oakland Community. 

The Allen Temple Information Technology Ministry seeks to be the center of IT solutions by providing system management, system administration, technical support and training for the advancement of the commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. The goal of IT Ministry is to ensure these services are provided in an effective, efficient and timely manner to allow Allen Temple Baptist Church to evangelize and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to residents, not only of our East Oakland community, but throughout the world.

The Junior Deacons Ministry is a sub-ministry of the Deacons Ministry.

Kingdom Dancers are our children and youth dance ministry. It is our sole purpose to minister through dance.

The L.Y.F.E. (Living Your Full Expectation) is for Young Adults at Allen Temple.  Join us for L.Y.F.E. Bible Study and Sunday School, our Cafe L.Y.F.E. where we fellowship over breakfast and have young adult spiritual reflections on topical subjects, or the L.Y.F.E. Choir.  We hold a rendezvous or cultural social event quarterly at various locations around the Bay Area, and a weekend retreat at the end of the year for personal reflection and spiritual development.

The Library Media Ministry provides assistance to church members in finding pertinent information or reading materials contained within the church library. The ministry also supports the mission of the church with materials needed to help undergird the teaching, preaching, and evangelistic efforts of the pastoral staff and all members.

It is our mission to provide the highest quality audio and video services within the Church, as well as to provide media to senior citizens, the sick and shut-in, and incarcerated.

Our ministry provides audio/visual and media support to the church ministries throughout the church campus. We are also responsible for archiving and maintaining important church events and historical events and making them available to the church and the community. Through technology, the ministry seeks to support the mission and vision for Allen Temple.

New Members Ministry is designed to acclimate new members to Allen Temple Baptist church and the ministries.

The New Members Ministry conducts a comprehensive orientation program to introduce all new members joining Allen Temple Baptist Church to church principles, practices, member responsibilities, and auxiliaries and ministries. We strive to ensure all new members are assimilated into the life and activities of the church.

Next Generation Children's & Youth Ministries

Allen Temple.s Next Generatin Ministry for Children's & Youth provides a safe and welcoming environment for young people to learn about God and grow in their faith. The ministry offers a variety of programs and activities that are designed to be fun, engaging, and educational.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” — Matthew 19:14

The Nursery Ministry supports parents and guardians by providing a safe, nurturing, and welcoming environment for children ages 6 months through 5 years while families participate in worship, Sunday School, and church events.

Through compassionate care and Christ-centered service, the Nursery Ministry seeks to:

• Provide attentive, safe, and loving care for every child

• Support families so they may fully engage in worship and spiritual growth

• Help introduce children to the love of God in age-appropriate ways

• Extend hospitality and care that reflects the heart of Christ

Volunteer Commitment

Nursery Ministry volunteers generally serve on Sunday mornings from 9:00 AM until approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of worship service. Opportunities to serve during special events and church programs will be communicated in advance.

Volunteer Onboarding Process

To help ensure a safe, caring, and well-prepared nursery environment, and in accordance with Alameda County childcare and safety expectations, all Nursery Ministry volunteers are asked to complete the following onboarding steps:

• Discernment conversation with the Nursery Ministry Director and Cluster Leadership

• Background check

• CPR certification (if not currently certified)

• Child Safety Orientation

• Review of and commitment to follow the Nursery Ministry Policies and Procedures Manual

Thank you for your interest in serving children and families through the Nursery Ministry. Your willingness to serve helps create a caring and Christ-centered environment where children are nurtured and families are supported with confidence and peace of mind.

To express your interest in serving, please complete this form.

Information on the Nursery’s opening date will be shared soon.

The purpose of the Persons with Disabilities Ministry is to assist Allen Temple Baptist Church to be ADA friendly. We want to ensure that our ATBC is physically and programmatically accessible to any and all persons with different abilities. We welcome all who desire to fully worship and fellowship without boundaries. Ministry members have inspected the doorways, restrooms, sanctuary, pulpit, and more and made suggestions on changes or modifications. A future project is to review and provide suggestions for making the church's Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Plan more user friendly and inclusive of persons with disabilities. We welcome all who have an open mind, a willingness to think outside of the box, and a sensitivity to the needs of others.

The Prayer Warriors Ministry (PWM) seeks to cover the vision, mission, ministries, leaders and members of Allen Temple Baptist Church in prayer.

The vision of the Prophetic Justice Ministry at Allen Temple is to expose and equip the members of Allen Temple Baptist Church around issues of Prophetic Justice – i.e. understanding that the witness of the church is rooted in equity and liberation for all of God’s creation, through legislation, social and direct action, and communal-faith based learning.

The Public Ministry understands the socio-political impact of Jesus’ ministry, as stated in Isaiah 61. We are therefore called to be in this present world, what Jesus was in His, and that is always challenging the status quo.

The Scholarship Committee administers scholarship funds to awards funds to  eligible high school graduates and continuing college students.

The Seniors Ministry is a program designed to meet the comprehensive needs of seniors by establishing a structure in which seniors at Allen Temple and the East Oakland community can obtain information, resources, and referrals in a broad spectrum of topics ranging from healthcare needs to legal and financial concerns to social and recreational activities.

The Seniors Center is designed to provide an opportunity for seniors to simply gather, connect socially and support one another, as well as provide outreach to seniors who may be temporarily or permanently sick and shut-in.

The Streets Disciples take their name from a song called, “Just A Moment” which was recorded by New York City hip-hop artist, Nas.  The group has formed to offer support and aid to the victims of human trafficking.  The ministry networks with other churches and social service agencies to provide legal services, housing assistance, advocacy and spiritual counseling to those in the need. The ministry also seeks to offer support to the parents and grandparents of commercially sexually exploited people. The Streets Disciples plan to offer educational services to at-risk youth.

The Allen Temple Sunday School Department provides Christian Education from Kindergarten to Seasoned Saints.

The Trustee Ministry at Allen Temple Baptist Church is used for the efficient management of the liquid and fixed assets of the Church in such a manner that is conducive to the goals and objectives of the Church membership and Church leadership. The Trustee Ministry manages the material possessions and oversee the financial matters of the church according to God’s design for handling the resources He provides for His church; to enable the execution of God's mission through stewardship and individual Spiritual gifts and to provide direction, leadership, facilities, processes, capability and capacity to help further God's kingdom building work based on the scriptures.

The United Men of Allen Temple includes men from Allen Temple and the surrounding community who come together in prayerful support of one another. They meet on the fourth Saturday of every month and have a guest speaker or an open forum to discuss issues that affect them individually and collectively. The objective is to provide spiritual, intellectual, financial, and health education to the men of Allen Temple through monthly prayer breakfasts and Annual Men’s retreat. We seek to fully incorporate men of all ages into the Allen Temple United Men community, especially ages 18 through 35. We engage this age group of young men through existing United Men activities and newer ones such as mentorship and fellowships called The Gathering.  

We continue to play a supportive role to other Allen Temple ministries (e.g. Rebuilding Together Oakland, the Annual Health Fair, and the annual Toy Giveaway). We invite you to come and share your spirit, your insight, and your talent.

The Ushers, Nurses & First Responders Ministry administers to the needs of the clergy and congregation each Sunday. We facilitate the worship experience by meeting the congregation with a pleasant smile, a warm welcome, and directing them to their seats. We ensure that perfect order is kept in and around the Church at all times during the worship experience. The Ushers, Nurses & First Responders Ministry continues to practice the love of God by being compassionate in our dealings with the congregation. We strive to serve with humility, dignity and Christian love in the house of the Lord.

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) has been an Allen Temple Ministry since 2001, and is part of the Community Care Cluster. Our program is designed to help low to moderate-income taxpayers complete their current and prior-year tax returns at no cost. Each year the Allen Temple VITA program processes thousands of dollars in tax refunds and/or credits.

We are open to serve you from the first Saturday in February through mid April. Saturdays 9-4pm, Wednesdays 3-7pm in the Family Life Center.

The Welcome Ministry fosters a welcoming environment where every person who enters the church is met with warmth and kindness. This atmosphere of love and connection contributes to a sense of belonging, spiritual renewal, and reinforces the church's mission to be a place of hope, healing, and community.

The Women’s Mission Society (WMS) provides opportunities for personal development, spiritual growth and commitment to missions, through worshiping, working and witnessing in all areas of life.

The Worship & Arts Ministry is the center of all things music and dance at Allen Temple.