Rev. Allyson J. Estes

Rev. Allyson J. Estes has been in ministry in Asbury Park for over 35 years.  She came to Asbury Park as a visiting nurse in the 1980's.  Here in this city, while working with the ill and the poor, she received a call from God to attend seminary.  In 1997, she graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary.  While in seminary, she worked as a youth pastor at Embury UMC in Little Silver, and as a student pastor for the Red Ribbon Fellowship (a ministry for people infected, affected and concerned about HIV/AIDS) in Elizabeth NJ.

In 1996, while still a student, she was appointed to First United Methodist Church of Asbury Park, where she remained until 2003. While at First Church, Pastor Allyson led the congregation in becoming more inclusive and welcoming to the LGBTQIA+ community.  With the assistance of seminary and social work students, First Church reached out to the needs of their neighbors.

Following the birth of her first child, Pastor Allyson took a leave of absence from full time ministry.  While on a leave, she worked as a community organizer for SEOC, a parent based group that organized around issues in the public school system.  She also served as the interim pastor at the UMC's of Avon, Ballard and Jerseyville.

Pastor Allyson has been married to Tracy Estes since 1987. Together they have three children, Nova, Miles and Clara, all young adults.

Pastor Allyson is thrilled to be in pastoral ministry at Ballard UMC. The emphasis of her ministry is the love of God for us, and our love for God and each other.  All humans are beautiful creations of God who desire to be in community with God and others.  As followers of Jesus, we are tasked with sharing that love with everyone we meet.