In August of 2005, Pastor Mark Allen's father (Dr. Dan Allen) passed away from terminal cancer.  Prior to his passing, Pastor Mark had resigned his church in Oklahoma to go assist his father with his church in Florida.  The church in Florida brought Pastor Mark on as co-pastor with his father.  Upon his father's passing, he felt the need to remain with the church for a short transition period and to make sure that the church in Florida would be able to continue without his father's leadership.  Pastor Mark knew that this would not be a permanent position since it was a church that differed somewhat in doctrine and theology.  (A few years earlier, he personally discovered the fullness of the Holy Spirit.)  Rather than being a catalyst that would have split or even destroyed the church, he believed that the Lord would move him and his family to serve in another congregation.

By February of 2006, the Holy Spirit began speaking to Pastor Mark about moving to Athens, Texas to start a church. "I would have never chosen Athens as a place to start a church." (Pastor Mark) He based this on 2 reasons: First, geographically and demographically, it seemed that a person would not attempt to grow a church in such a small community that already had dozens and dozens of churches.  Second, his brother and sister, and their families, lived in Athens and he had no desire to pastor family members. However, God had other plans. "After much soul searching and many tears, we believed God had called us to start the church here." (Pastor Mark)  He resigned the church in Florida by the first of March, and Life Fellowship officially began on Palm Sunday (April 9th, 2006).