Bishop-Designate O.C. Allen III is the Founder/Senior Pastor of The Vision Church of Atlanta. He is CEO of The Vision Community Foundation Inc., an organization designed to provide accessible social services for under-served populations. Additionally, he is the General Overseer of the United Progressive Pentecostal Church Fellowship, a fellowship of ministries and leaders, created to nurture and support visionary leadership. A uniquely gifted, creative and profound orator, he is a highly sought after, charismatic preacher, motivational speaker, lecturer, singer, writer and human rights advocate with a burden to equip and empower people to transform the world. Known for his "uncensored" and “down to earth” preaching style, Overseer Allen has the ability to relate to people from diverse backgrounds, specifically focusing on emotional healing and restoring the spiritual authority of the believer.

A native of southern California, Bishop-Designate Allen has vast experience in urban ministry which has afforded him ministry opportunities throughout the United States and abroad. As an international evangelist, he has spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ all over the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Central Europe and West Africa. His political and theological evolution over the years has focused his ministry on addressing miscellaneous forms of oppression within communities positioned on the margins of society, the spiritual and social impact it has on the lives of hurting people and the psychological and spiritual liberation needed to move people into their destiny.

In 2003, after over 20 years of preaching and urban ministry, Bishop-Designate Allen sensed a divine call of God to create a place of refuge and empowerment for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, affectional orientation, class or background. This place would be called "The Vision Church". In the fall of 2004, Bishop-Designate Allen began developing and training leaders to initiate birthing this refuge. Since its inception, many are calling The Vision Church “one of the South’s fastest growing Churches” or “Atlanta’s new progressive Pentecostal movement”. The Vision Church of Atlanta has become a multiracial, welcoming and affirming, Pentecostal Church experiencing explosive growth since its inception. In 5 years, The Vision Church has grown from 12 committed people to more than 2600+ members and more than 50 active ministries, including children, youth & young adult ministries, counseling services, community food and clothing bank, senior ministries, and much more. Each Tuesday, The Bread of Life Ministry (an outreach ministry of The Vision Church) feeds over 250 individuals in downtown Atlanta. Intentional about providing education and resources for the community, The Vision Church provides onsite medical testing and counseling on a monthly basis. Heralded in a BET documentary as “Atlanta’s new alternative to homophobia and identity oppression in the Black Church", Overseer Allen and The Vision Church have been transforming Atlanta’s “Church culture” to become more inclusive and influencing all people to live not just spiritually but authentically.

In addition to his pastoral duties, he currently studies at Harvard University, Harvard Extension Studies division in Cambridge, MA, where in conjunction with studies in Religion, he also pursues degrees in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources. He previously matriculated at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland where he studied Philosophy and Religion. Overseer Allen is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta intellectual societies. He works with numerous national, civic and social organizations focused on Economic and Community Development, Social Justice, Human Rights advocacy and HIV/AIDS testing and education. These organizations include; The Atlanta Branch of the NAACP, Operation Rainbow Push Coalition, People for the American Way, Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta Inc., The Center for American Progress, Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc., The National Black Justice Coalition, HRC (The Human Rights Campaign), United for Peace and Justice, The Coalition on Human Needs and The Equality Forum. Bishop-Designate Allen is currently working on his first book to be released in the very near future.

Under his visionary leadership, The Vision Church of Atlanta is further developing and perfecting “The Vision Worship Complex” which will encompass The Vision Cathedral and Worship Center, Vision Empowerment Center, Vision Community Foundation, The Vision Theological Institute, JAVA Christian Bookstore, and The Vision Academy and Learning Center. His chief mission is “saving souls while saving lives".