Archbishop Allen T.D. Wiggins, Sr.

Background


BIO

Answering the call to ministry and community building, Archbishop Allen T. D. Wiggins, Senior Pastor of The Hope Church has led the charge for transformative change in the lives of families in Orlando and around the globe.

Enriching the human spirit and touching the heart of families has been a lifelong calling for Archbishop Wiggins, who is inspired by Geri Weitzman’s words and has adopted as his motto: “Sometimes you gotta create what you want to be a part of.” Nowhere is this inspiration more apparent than in the work of Hope Center West, a landmark coalition founded and led by Archbishop Wiggins.

Hope Center West is a “Live, Work, Learn, Play, and Worship,” community that spans more than 50 acres and includes The Village Square Mall, which housing small community businesses, a small business incubation center, affordable and attainable apartments, single-family homes, and a K-8 academy school. He and his team eliminated a longstanding “food desert” by creating a place for a Walmart Neighborhood Market. Places were also made for 7-Eleven and AutoZone to attract national brands that brought jobs.

In response to the compelling impact of technology, Archbishop Wiggins rebranded a half century old urban youth center called Frontline Outreach, Inc. into Frontline Innovation Studios with an aim to introduce youth to the emerging technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution. He has demonstrated his philosophy of uniting change agents by broadly embracing community and governmental leaders, faith partnerships, and serving as a board member of the Purpose-Built Communities Network’s, Lift Orlando and one of Orlando’s elite performing private Christian schools, The First Academy.

Throughout his young adulthood he occupied a national platform as a two-time Stellar Award-winning musician with the inspirational jazz duo, “Allen and Allen,” producing and publishing 10 CD recordings and performing alongside other celebrated artists in preeminent venues, internationally.

His pathway led to the acceptance of the mantle of leadership from his father, the late Reverend Dr. R. W. Wiggins, in October 2001, to become the dedicated pastor of The Hope Church for more than 20 years and was later elevated to the office of bishop in the International Bishops’ Conference. He has continued to both serve and have impact on the international stage by becoming the Presiding Archbishop of the International Bishops’ Conference, the presiding prelate of the interdenominational sanctioning body for Christian faith leaders, churches, and thousands of congregants world-wide.

Archbishop Wiggins earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, he holds two honorary Doctorate degrees, and he is a proud graduate of the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative.

Archbishop Wiggins is the recipient of many accolades and awards celebrating his leadership, community enrichment endeavors, and work to promote business opportunities for all. In 2022 he won the Better Man of the Year Award and in 2023 he was awarded and recognized as a Community Game Changer by the Orlando Magic and the Florida Blue organization.

Beyond his ministry, Archbishop Wiggins is the husband of Lady Deborah Wiggins, who together are proud parents of five children: Michael, Brandy, Julian, Allen II, and Jonathan.


Network


SUBSCRIBE

Stay updated with news and events.