The Single Missionary Woman (Part 3): Joy Miller Allen

     Jule LeGrose Miller (1925-2000) produced a series of filmstrips in 1956 known as the “Visualized Bible Study” (a.k.a. “Jule Miller Filmstrips”), later transferred to VHS and then to DVD. This series has been effectively used around the world to lead more souls to Christ than probably any other evangelistic tool. On the Sunday before his death, Jule Miller reportedly said to his family, “there are millions of people today who are dying in their sins. If we will take the gospel of Christ to them, millions can be saved. We’ve got to tell them about Jesus! …. I want all of you to spread the gospel and bring others to Christ” <Sketch of the Life of Jule Miller>.

     Jule Miller and his wife Judy had 32 grandchildren. Following is the story of one of them – their granddaughter Joy.

The Preparatory Years

     Rebecca Joy Miller Allen is the oldest daughter of Robin and Ellen Miller of Columbia, Tennessee. Joy attended Freed-Hardeman University, where she met her husband Kyle Spencer Allen. Kyle served as president of Evangelism Forum (a club on campus for mission-minded students), and Joy was the secretary for the missions studies department. They both graduated with degrees in Bible and missions.

The Missionary Family

     In September of 2004, while living in Columbia, TN, Joy gave birth to their first child, a precious little girl named Celia Joy. In 2006 the young family moved to the nation of India to serve as long-term missionaries in the region of Delhi. While in language school in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, they agreed to care for a frail baby girl whose mother was dying in a nearby village. At nearly 4-months old, the infant weighed only about 5 lbs. (2.5 kilograms), severely malnourished and not expected to live. When the mother died, the baby’s destitute father asked the Allens if they would adopt the sickly child. He had four other children, and he simply could not take care of her. They agreed, and the little girl who seemed to have little chance of survival was aptly named Asha, meaning “hope.”

     With the loving care of a loving family, Asha did survive, and she grew, and she thrived. As the Allens sought legal guardianship of Asha, which is a very slow and arduous process in India, they welcomed a third child into their family in 2012, a baby boy named Ephraim.

Challenges, Struggles, and Tragedy

     Due to extreme prejudice against Christians in North India, the bureaucratic red tape seemed endless for the Allens, especially since converting to Hinduism was not an option for them. Their case went through five different judges; before a ruling was made by one judge, another was appointed and the grueling process had to start all over again. Then frustration turned to tragedy.

     On 17 Feb. 2013, after six and a half years of missionary service in India, Kyle Allen unexpectedly died at the age of 35 from complications related to Sepsis. At the time Celia was 8, Asha was 6, and Ephraim was 11 months. The petition for Asha’s guardianship was in Kyle’s name and now had to be transferred into Joy’s name, hindering the lengthy proceedings even more. Finally, in October 2014, legal guardianship was granted. Now Joy was a widow, left in India to care for three young children on her own.

Missionary Service Continues

     With guardianship attained, the laborious adoption procedure begins. As far as Joy is concerned, just because of a tough environment and bitter circumstances, faithfulness to the Lord does not end, even as a single mother with three small children. There was never a thought of leaving India with her other two kids without her daughter Asha.

     Joy carries on the work that she and Kyle started together. She regularly hosts traveling Christians and non-Christians in her home, both Indians and foreigners. Despite persecutions and other risks that result from converting Hindus, she leads or is involved in a number of ladies classes and meetings around Delhi and other areas of India. She meets several times each month with Hindus and denominationalists for individual and group studies. She travels with her children throughout the year to places like Mussoorie, Mumbai, Pune, and Gujarat, visiting Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, and members of the Lord’s church, influencing the unbelievers and encouraging the brethren. As she teaches women’s classes, Celia and Asha lead short devotionals for younger ladies. Joy also assists a Christian elementary school in the village of Arunanchal, organizing curriculum, securing supplies, and helping plan day-to-day operations.

What Does the Future Hold?

     Will the Joy Allen family eventually return to the United States, or will they remain in India? According to Indian law, Joy is required to take Asha to the States within two years of obtaining legal guardianship to fully adopt her. However, American immigration law requires Joy to remain in India for the same two-year period because, in their view, she has only recently been recognized as Asha’s legal guardian. While the aim is to prevent child trafficking, they have reached a proverbial stalemate. Joy and the kids are now waiting to hear from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for a ruling on whether or not Asha will be granted a visa. In the meantime, here is how Joy views the situation:

I have been so blessed to raise the kids in India. Raising them as third culture kids has, of course, been an adventure, but every day we have all been blessed to have opportunities to shine all our lights. I cannot say enough of the experiences that we have had here to grow in the Father and to share Him as we live our lives with the beautiful Asian people. We have seen His love, hope, and strength every day here in our home and on the streets of India. We continue to rely on Him in this journey and we know as [we] make plans to leave that He loves the Indian people even more than we do. It is very difficult to think of leaving India and her people, that we have come to think of as our family, behind. We have not only worked here for almost a decade but we have LIVED here, truly lived, and we are so honored to have had this experience. <Our Story> 

      Joy’s earnest prayer is that God’s will be done. If the door opens for their return to the United States, she plans to find a job and be as self-sufficient as possible as quickly as possible so that church funds can remain invested in world evangelization. If the door opens for them to stay in India, she will feel blessed and consider it a privilege to continue raising her children in an atmosphere of service.

     Please pray for Joy, Celia (11), Asha (9), and Ephraim (3), not necessarily for a specific outcome to their uncertain predicament, but for the will of God to be accomplished in their lives. From a missionary perspective, it is not simply a matter of “coming home.” They are already home. It is about seeking what is in the best interest of the family and their service to Christ. Let us encourage, support, and thank God for such champions of faith, of whom the world is not worthy (Heb. 11:39).
--Kevin L. Moore

*If you are interested in keeping up with the Allen’s extraordinary adventure, visit “Keep up with the Allen Family Adoption” <here>. 

**Since this article was posted, Asha's adoption has been finalized, and the family has moved back to the USA.

Works Consulted:

Allen, Joy Miller, “Our Story,” Facebook (18 Nov. 2015), <Link>.

---. Correspondence with Earl D. Edwards (13 Nov. 2015).

Allen, Kathryn, Celia’s Story Through the Eyes of Texas Grandma (Xlibris.com, 2014), <Link>.

“Judith Miller Obituary,” The Pasadena Citizen (Oct. 21–Nov. 3, 2013), <Link>.

McKune, Katie, “Adopting Asha,” YouCaring (10 March 2014), <Link>.

Matheny, J. Randal, “Missionary Kyle Allen,” Brotherhood News (28 Feb. 2013), <Link>. 

“Kyle Spencer Allen,” The Daily Herald (5 March 2013), <Link>.

“Sketch of the Life of Jule Miller,” Restoration History, <Link>.

Related Posts: Part 1: Sarah Andrews, Part 2: Roberta Edwards

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The Single Christian

     People are single for various reasons, whether widowed, divorced, or never married. Many are simply waiting to find that special someone with whom they are willing to spend a lifetime, while others actually choose to remain unmarried. In almost every congregation of the Lord’s church, single Christians can be found in each of these categories.

     While all eligible persons have the “right to take along a believing [spouse]” (1 Cor. 9:5), keep in mind they also have the right not to! Regardless of social expectations, the Lord has not made it a requirement for everyone to be married. Jesus, our Master and perfect example, was a single man, as was Jeremiah, Daniel, and Paul. There is no mention in the Bible of the following individuals having been married: Ezra, Nehemiah, Mordecai, John the baptizer, Mary Magdalene, Lazarus and his sisters, Stephen, Barnabas, Silas, John Mark, Timothy, Phoebe, Titus, Apollos, and many more. Others, such as Ezekiel, Hosea, Naomi, Ruth, Jesus’ mother, Lydia and more, became (or at least appear to have become) “single again” after marriage. Being unmarried, therefore, is not only acceptable, in some cases it may even be preferable (cf. 1 Cor. 7:7-8).

     Marriage, in and of itself, does not guarantee a fulfilling and happy life, as evidenced by the many disillusioned married couples and the alarming divorce rate! If we expect to be happy in heaven, and there is no marriage in heaven (Mark 12:25), where is that happiness going to come from? True joy comes from within, regardless of external circumstances. It was a single person who said, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11). One must never let singlehood keep him/her from living a faithful and fulfilling Christian life, eagerly serving in God’s kingdom.

     Unmarried people are not a special class of needy individuals in the church to be pitied, ministered to, or entertained. Being spouseless is not an impediment. The mere fact of singleness does not automatically render a person “needy” or eliminate that person’s own responsibility to serve others (1 Tim. 5:3-16). Singles ought to be seen as a dynamic force in the Lord’s body to be appreciated and utilized. Every congregation needs an effective “singles ministry,” which means keeping our unmarried members involved in active ministry (1 Cor. 12:12-21).

     To help singles cope with the inevitable pressures of the single life, the following is suggested. (a) Realize you’re not the only one. Singlehood is a reality for a lot of people, including many great men and women of faith who have gone on before us (Heb. 12:1). (b) Keep your eyes focused on Jesus, who lived a meaningful and productive life as an unmarried person (Heb. 12:2). (c) In overcoming self-pity and loneliness, remove yourself from the center of your life as Jesus did (1 Cor. 10:24). (d) Stay keenly involved in the Lord’s work (1 Cor. 15:58). (e) Develop close relationships with your spiritual family (Eph. 2:19). (f) Appreciate the blessings of singleness and the opportunities that would otherwise not be afforded (1 Cor. 7:25-35). (g) Trust in God (Psa. 37:3-6). (h) Learn and embrace contentment (Phil. 4:11-13). (i) Pray regularly (1 Thess. 5:17). (j) Commit your life totally to the Lord (Eccl. 12:13).

     Married or single, the challenge is to accept your circumstance in life, be content, and use your unique situation to the glory of God (1 Cor. 7:24; 10:31). Even if your marital status happens to change, your contentment and usefulness to God should not.

--Kevin L. Moore

*Adapted from the author’s The Single Missionary (2002).

Addendum: I hope this article is not viewed as the insensitive ramblings of a clueless and unsympathetic married person. While I am no longer single, for the first 34 years of my life I was, and these thoughts were developed through my experiences as an unmarried Christian and single missionary. I am all too familiar with the feelings of loneliness, sexual frustration, not fitting in, and other challenges faced by singles in the church. The article conveys principles that were helpful to me during those single years. 

Related Posts: Cross-Bearing: the Cost of Discipleship, Single Missionary: Sarah Andrews, Single Missionary: Roberta Edwards, Single Missionary: Joy Allen

Related articles: Wes McAdams' “Marriage Won't Make You Happy,” <Link>; Cristena Cleveland, “Singled Out: How Churches Can Embrace Unmarried Adults,” <Link>; Ethan Renoe's "Not Waiting Till Marriage," <Link>; Jack Dodgen's “Changing the Way We View Singles" <Link>.     

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