Reverend Doctor Malvina Stephens was born in Port Arthur, Texas. She accepted her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ before the age of 12 and was baptized in the New Sixth Baptist Church, pastured by U.S. Keeling, Jr. After graduating from high school, she married and gave birth to two sons, Dwight and Daryl. As a teenager, she taught Sunday School, sang in the adult choir, attended Vacation Bible School and was the president of the Young Matron’s Group.
When Dr. Stephens completed her Masters of Divinity at American Baptist Seminary of the West, she did not have a church to work in nor complete her on the job training. God had prepared a man and a church. She knew of the expertise of Pastor Emeritus J. Alfred Smith, Sr., then Senior Pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church. God brought her to love both and to rejoice in the blessing of pastor, church and people. Her academic excellence has afforded her the privilege of being the Director of Prison Ministry at Allen Temple.
Dr. Stephens received her Doctoral Degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary in May 1997.
