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I get lots of questions about particular authors, pastors, and Bible teachers, and whether or not I recommend them. Some of the best known can be found above at my Popular False Teachers tab. The teacher below is someone I’ve been asked about recently, so I’ve done a quick check (this is brief research, not exhaustive) on her.
Generally speaking, in order for me to recommend a teacher, speaker, or author, he or she has to meet three criteria:
a) A female teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly preach to or teach men in violation of 1 Timothy 2:12. A male teacher or pastor cannot allow women to carry out this violation of Scripture in his ministry. The pastor or teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly be living in any other sin (for example, cohabiting with her boyfriend or living as a homosexual).
b) The pastor or teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly be partnering with or frequently appearing with false teachers. This is a violation of Scripture.
c) The pastor or teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly be teaching false doctrine.
I am not very familiar with most of the teachers I’m asked about (there are so many out there!) and have not had the opportunity to examine their writings or hear them speak, so most of the “quick checking” I do involves items a and b (although in order to partner with false teachers (b) it is reasonable to assume their doctrine is acceptable to the false teacher and that they are not teaching anything that would conflict with the false teacher’s doctrine). Partnering with false teachers and women preaching to men are each sufficient biblical reasons not to follow a pastor, teacher, or author, or use his/her materials.
Just to be clear, “not recommended” is a spectrum. On one end of this spectrum are people like Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth and Kay Arthur. These are people I would not label as false teachers because their doctrine is generally sound, but because of some red flags I’m seeing with them, you won’t find me proactively endorsing them or suggesting them as a good resource, either. There are better people you could be listening to. On the other end of the spectrum are people like Joyce Meyer and Rachel Held Evans- complete heretics whose teachings, if believed, might lead you to an eternity in Hell. Most of the teachers I review fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum (leaning toward the latter).
If you’d like to check out some pastors and teachers I heartily recommend, click the Recommended Bible Teachers tab at the top of this page.
Jennie Allen / IF:Gathering
Not Recommended
Jennie Allen is “a Bible teacher, author, and the founder and visionary of IF:Gathering,” an annual conference for women. She also blogs, hosts the Made for This podcast, and speaks at IF:Gathering and other events.
The IF:Gathering conference organization (now including IF:Pray, IF:Lead, IF:Equip, IF:Table, IF:Local, IF:TV, and Discipleship Collective), around which most of Jennie’s ministry centers, was “inspired by the question, ‘If God is real…then what?‘.” If God is real– is a troubling premise for an ostensibly Christian ministry. The Christian existence does not center around the pablum possibility that God is real, but on the rock-solid, stake your life and your eternity on it certainty that He is not only real but the Creator of, and Sovereign over, the universe, and the only hope of salvation for sinners. If God is real…then what? as the foundation of a Christian ministry is somewhat akin to If 1+1=2, then what? as the foundational concept of a Mensa-esque organization for the top mathematical minds in the world.
As to the “…then what?” part of the equation, Jennie’s and IF’s solution is woefully unbiblical. Jennie has an established history of embracing and partnering in ministry with false teachers, female “pastors,” and women who preach to men. Just a few of the many available examples:
Some of the guests on Jennie’s podcast have included Priscilla Shirer and Chrystal Evans Hurst (ep. 08), Beth Moore (ep. 04), Christine Caine (ep. 02), and “diversity expert” and Black Lives Matter supporter, LaTasha Morrison (multiple episodes).
Since the launch of IF:Gathering in 2014, Jennie has habitually featured false and biblically problematic teachers and female preachers/pastors as speakers and as part of IF’s leadership team:
Speakers featured at IF:Gathering over the years (many of them appearing multiple times) have included: Jen Hatmaker (here, in 2015), female “pastor” and homosexuality advocate Melissa Greene, Ann Voskamp, Bianca Olthoff, Rebekah Lyons, Lysa TerKeurst, Jill Briscoe, Shauna Niequist, Angie Smith, Kay Warren (Rick Warren’s wife), female “pastor” Jenni Catron, Christine Caine, female “preacher” and author of Jesus Feminist, Sarah Bessey…
…(then) female “co-pastor” Keisha Polonio, female “pastor” Jeanne Stevens…
…Lauren Chandler, female “pastor” Layla de la Garza, Beth Moore, and others. (2020)
IF 2022 included a similar tableau of false teachers, female preachers/pastors, and racialists (some are returning speakers, some are new):
And, once again, IF 2023 features many of the same speakers, plus a few new faces who mostly (though not all) fall into the same categories of female “pastor,” women who preach to men, false teachers, and racialists.
In addition to Beth Moore speaking at IF:Gathering 2020 and IF:Lead 2020, Jennie’s partnerships and displays of affinity with her are far too numerous to list (just Google Jennie Allen Beth Moore, and you’ll see what I mean) and have been going on for years. A couple of recent examples:
A webinar with Beth Moore:
An IF:Gathering video with Beth Moore:
And here’s Jennie at a meeting “with twenty women leaders [including Bianca Olthoff] under the wisdom of Christine Caine and Joyce Meyer.” (Annie F. Downs)
Jennie has worked with and has been a featured speaker several times (including 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020) at the Catalyst conference, which is not only co-ed (so Jennie is teaching/preaching to men) but is also plagued by doctrinal problems and has featured a plethora of false teachers including founder Andy Stanley, Brian Houston, female “pastor” Charlotte Gambill, Brandon and Jen Hatmaker, and Rebekah Lyons among many others.
Just a few further examples of Jennie preaching to men herself:
Jennie preaching the chapel service at Dallas Theological Seminary (Stopping The Spiral – Mrs. Jennie Allen | February 15, 2022 – Men clearly visible in the audience at 1:47)
Jennie preaching at The Porch (United Together | Jennie Allen, September 15, 2021 – Men clearly visible in the audience at 4:52)
Jennie preaching the chapel service at Oklahoma Baptist University (Jennie Allen – March 10, 2021 – OBU Chapel Message, Streamed live on March 10, 2021 – All students are required to attend chapel.)
Jennie preaching at Liberty University’s convocation (chapel) (LU Convocation – Mar.6, 10:30 AM, Streamed Live on March 6, 2020 – Jennie begins preaching at 40:59) Starting at 38:40 the man introducing Jennie says, “…I believe Jennie has a message for every single one of us…I’m so excited to sit under her teaching because I don’t believe…the principles that she has for us are just for women…I want you to know, especially the men in this room, that I believe that what God has brought through this messenger at this very moment is not just for the ladies in the room. It would be very closed minded for us to think that…every time a man shows up here that’s just for the men in the room and every time a woman comes, that’s just for the other [women]…”
I can’t seem to locate a statement of faith for Jennie or what church she currently attends, so you’ll have to infer what she believes by reading her books and blog, but I have learned a few specifics about her theology. Jennie is a proponent of the unbiblical Enneagram. Jennie believes in extra-biblical revelation, and started IF:Gathering because “a voice from the sky” told her to:
Jennie often focuses on “dreaming” (in the sense of future goals or creative aspirations), a concept foreign to Scripture. I downloaded her “Dream Guide” for 2019 and found some of her statements troubling:
It really is as simple as this. Do the best you can in this world and as you’re going, love God and give Him away to people.
“Do the best you can in this world”? Where does the Bible say that? “And as you’re going, love God”? Like it’s an afterthought or an accessory to your life of “doing the best you can”? No. It really is as simple as this: Repent and believe the gospel, and walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
When we create and thrive for the good of others, you’re participating in God’s redemptive work of making the world better.
Again, the Bible doesn’t teach this anywhere. “God’s redemptive work” is not “making the world better.” The Bible clearly says that “the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants,” and, “the world is passing away along with its desires.” Furthermore, “God’s redemptive work” is to save people. That’s the entire point of the whole Bible. His redemptive work was completed in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to save sinners. And if you want to “participate in God’s redemptive work,” you don’t “create and thrive” (whatever that means) “for the good of others,” you share the gospel with them and disciple them as we’re commanded to in the Great Commission.
..this is our goal, to create beauty out of chaos and thrive.
Also not in the Bible anywhere. Also not our goal. As Christians, our goal is to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, pursue holiness, and carry out the Great Commission. All of which are in the Bible.
Dreaming is an incredible privilege. It is a stewardship of the opportunities God has put in front of us.
Not to sound like a broken record, but, again, none of this is in the Bible, and the second sentence doesn’t even make logical sense. To “steward” something is to use it wisely and for a godly purpose. To do something with it to the glory of God. Sitting around “dreaming” isn’t doing anything. In fact, since “dreaming” isn’t something we’re instructed to do in Scripture, it’s actually squandering the “opportunities God has put in front of us” – opportunities like sharing the gospel, serving others, studying our Bibles, prayer, worship, etc. – which are things Scripture instructs us to do, in favor of sitting around relying on our dreams.
At the end of the “Dream Guide” are several “conversation card” questions about how you can improve yourself in the coming year. One of them is pretty good: “How could you better plug into and serve the local church?”. The rest are fairly narcissistic, and there’s nothing about studying Scripture, growing in holiness, prayer, or repenting of sin. Additionally Jennie quotes only one passage of Scripture in the entire booklet, and she quotes it from The Message, one of the worst versions (it’s a paraphrase, not a translation) of the Bible out there.
And regarding “being a strong woman in the church,” while Jennie mostly stays vague and neutral, she does touch on a few biblical concepts:
18:35- “What my husband heard from me was: My wife has strong gifts and a strong passion for God, and she wants to serve Him, and she’s not because of me.” As if she couldn’t passionately serve God with her gifts by being a godly wife and serving and submitting to her husband.
22:31- “I know that the obvious question that everybody wants to know the answer of is ‘What about roles and positions in the church?’…But I think we oftentimes get so distracted by that…that we are missing all the work that God has for us. And, you know, my view on that is every local church is going to have a different opinion about that…So wherever you go, Scripture just says, ‘Don’t be divisive,’…but the bigger issue to me is the way we view each other, the way we value each other…” Notice Jennie uses no Scripture to answer the “obvious question” everybody wants to know the answer to, she only gives her personal opinion that we are getting “distracted” by this legitimate, biblical question, and that the bigger issue – to her – is not what the Bible says about the role of women in the church, but “the way we value each other”. It’s a problem that “every local church is going to have a different opinion” about the role of women in the church because there is only one position on that issue that’s biblical. The local church doesn’t get to have an opinion on that issue, the issue is decided by Scripture and the church is to submit to and uphold Scripture’s teaching on it. Furthermore, Scripture does not just say, “Don’t be divisive.” Scripture is abundantly clear what the role of women in the church is to be, and both individual women and church leaders are to obey it.
The fact that Jennie consistently and unrepentantly platforms female “pastors” and women who preach to men at IF speaks much more clearly about her personal (and unbiblical) opinion on the role of women in the church than her finessing answer here.
27:21- The interviewer asks Jennie, “What does submission mean?” Her response is much too long to quote, so I’ll summarize. The first words out of Jennie’s mouth are, “That word? To me?” She then proceeds to give a not altogether unbiblical answer about how she loves submission, but it is mainly her opinion and personal experience with her own husband, not Scripture, and primarily centers around the fact that if she brings something to her husband for a decision and he decides unbiblically, he will have to answer to God for it, not her, and that she will have no accountability to God for any sin she might commit in the process. “It’s gonna be awesome!” she chortles, as the audience laughs along, as though there’s something funny about her husband standing before God and giving an account for his decision, and her blaming him for it. Jennie then pivots to describing how “that word [submit] has been used like a pistol to [many women’s] heads” and says “so the fact that that word has a bad rap makes sense to me…Here’s the problem, guys, we’re divided, but there’s reasons on it for both sides.” She seems to be saying that submitting or not submitting is not based on Scripture’s commands, but on personal experiences and situations, and that both submitting and refusing to submit are equally valid choices depending on our own experiences, feelings, and opinions. (And, no, I am not saying women should “submit” to being abused. That’s not the biblical definition of submission.)
Jennie seems like a lovely, genuinely caring person, and earnest when she speaks and writes, but none of those things qualify someone to teach Scripture. And in this case, Jennie is disqualified by her errant theology and unbiblical practices. I regret that I’m forced to recommend that you not receive teaching from Jennie Allen, her materials and conferences, or anyone connected to the IF organization.
Additional Resources:
IF:Gathering:
A “voice from the sky” (not sure if it was God or not) told me to start IF: Gathering– Jennie Allen
What’s Wrong with the IF:Gathering– at Tulips & Honey
Why You should just say “NO” to IF:Gathering at A Worthy Walk
Important questions for church leaders at Berean Research
Almost: Our Encouragement and Concern with the IF:Gathering and
Almost: an addendum since releasing this episode at Sheologians
She Reads Truth, IF:Gathering, and women bible teachers. Part 3, the IF:Gathering at The End Time
If:Gathering: more information, including video claiming direct revelation at The End Time
IF:Gathering – updated review four years later at The End Time
If:Gathering: more information at The End Time
Thinking of attending an If:Gathering? Please read this, it’s eye-opening at The End Time
Book Reviews:
A Review of Jennie Allen’s “Anything: The Prayer that Unlocked My God and My Soul”
Other:
Review of Jennie Allen/Beth Moore webinar, and the ‘big announcement’ revealed at The End Time
Michelle Lesley 
Now, I’ve had the chance to read this article…finally. I was asked by Michelle to post this from my response on FB, and I’m doing such…with some edits since I have finally read through this.
One thing I deeply value about Michelle’s ministry is that she examines everything deeply, and by God’s word alone. I appreciate this method of living and also writing, as it is one I ascribe to myself. And in doing so, I have found that in still always learning and growing…and thus, I trust Michelle is as well, as her work shows she’s always growing in the humility and grace of the Lord. Michelle, for this, thank you.
With that, there are some names of ladies that I actually lump with the likes of Nancy Leigh Wolgemuth and the sorts you do that you reveal as just flat out not worthy to listen to. And I agree with 98% of the list you state, however I have found Lauren Chandler is in that category with Nancy Leigh for me…as do Jill Briscoe and Ann Voskamp. Hear me out for a moment as I state this: while I agree the spotlight and labels these women are given/ascribe to give me concern, I use that concern to examine everything they share with a very fine toothed Biblical comb. They have yet to really hit that full nail on the head in my examination of them that warrants me to fully silence them from my ears. If anything, I’ve found by listening to them, I get to keep my discernment bone honed well. I just wanted to take a moment to put my examined and experienced perspective out there about these ladies in particular…but the others, along with Jennie herself? Sadly, I must agree with you wholeheartedly.
And thus comes my comment from FB concerning why.. particularly with Jennie.
I came to realize on my own in my experience with attending an IF:Gathering a few years ago. Some of the “teachers” Jennie brings in used to have a solid foundation, but the year I attended…it’s when things began to show the true foundation. (A minor edits: I didn’t know she’d brought Lauren up on stage before, so this is a first I’m hearing about it…but alas, still, I stand by what I stated above concerning her teaching; and I went when Ann and Jill taught…and they were the ONLY ones I was able to grab onto anything from in my attendance that weekend…everything else was way off.) Overall, I felt awkward at the conference, and I had to really look for the gems in the midst of grey muck of emotionalism strewn about. By the time it was done, I didn’t really feel like an authentic anything occured.
After that, Jennie posted something on IG that was very much theologically bent in a way that was not sound…and I challenged it offside in a private message to her. She argued with me as I inquired as to why she kept things so on the surface in her postings on social media, and why the bend in a direction that actually gave rise more to emotionalism rather than God, by His word? Her response, argumentatively went to a place where she stated she keeps her “deeper” study aspects for her Bible study material, while keeping things on the surface social media wise so it reaches a broader audience. I challenged her further to state that I saw this as a manipulation, using social media as (basically) bait to get people to purchase material…rather than just sharing from the heart. She went back and forth with me a bit more about this for a few more messages before she blocked me. 🤷♀️ I kept things very respectful, but I did challenge her because I wanted to understand what her motive truly was. She revealed it in her 1) arguing 2) revealing she would rather “save” her more “deep” stuff for people to purchase (therefore revealing, without telling me flat out, it would put more money in her pocket) and 3) blocking me.
Since then, I’ve completely avoided her and [most everyone] she brings on the IF stage.
I really hate the reality that these women have taken the paths they have…and I wonder where thier husbands are [heart wise] in all this? It deeply concerns me, and I pray they all have the eyes of thier hearts opened by the Lord and return to Him by direction in the truth (not thier interpretation that matches a social justice, etc POV) of His word in the Holy Spirit.
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https://www.reformconfess.com/blog/therepulsivepowerofarrogance
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Thank you for this. Yesterday about fall women’s luncheon we watched a short into video front Right Now Media that featured Jennie Allen on the topic of friendship. It was all well and good and seemed harmless and its important for Christian women to have godly friendship but since it a Jennie Allen video I don’t think I will watch the rest of the series like our hostess encouraged.
I don’t even like Right Now Media. I’m having a hard time finding videos on there that are not taught by false teachers.
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There are a lot of “Christian ” influencers that should be added to this list as well. Sadly they are leading the youth astray.
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I totally agree, but there are not enough hours in the day or years in my life. :0)
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I wanted to present my pastor with a male perspective of the IF Gathering. Can you recommend any?
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I’m not aware of any research this extensive that’s been done by a man. I thought Todd Friel, Justin Peters, or Chris Rosebrough would be the men most likely to have done something on IF, but I can’t find anything on IF from any of them.
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It’s really tragic what is happening today within Christendom. Our church just announced an IF Gathering led by Allen. Apparently, it won’t be at our church but in our area. Even though I’m fully aware of what Scripture teaches regarding how terrible times will be in the end times and Jesus notes in Matthew 24 that there will be many false teachers and Christs, the average Christian seems completely unaware of what is happening. I think the reason is due simply to the fact that most go by “feelz” today. They don’t tend to deeply study His Word but prefer bits and snippets here or there. Books like “Jesus Calling” have replaced Scripture and it has taken its toll and continues to do so.
I appreciate your take, Michelle. Thanks for taking the time to write about people like Jennie Allen. It is very interesting to watch many of these folks seemingly start out correctly and then veer off. I’ve lost count of how many have done just that.
At any rate, thanks again.
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Thank you so much for expounding on (especially female) false teachers. I began my journey to deeper faith by reading She Reads Truth, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and many words from Jennie Allen (including her podcast).
I recently engaged in a Bible Study at my own church which used one of Jennie Allen’s books. I am sad that this was the case. In retrospect, I can see that I had to reach deeply in order to find God in her words. I am certain that those truly in His Word will have his light flowing out of them instead.
I simply do not want a self help guide or a feel good teaching. Thank you for highlighting this issue!
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Thank you for your kind words, Hannah. It is my pleasure to serve you in Christ. :0)
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Why has Candace Cameron Bure had Tara-Leigh Cobble, Bianca Olthoff, and Jeanie Allen as guest cohosts on her podcast? Calling them friends.
She has been a guest on Priscilla Shirer’s . Encouraged one of Priscilla’s books sometime back.
Her brother, Kirk, has been talking about stuff that sounds like Christian nationalism as of late. He has appeared on a YouTube podcast with a former Bethel church song leader. That singer led singing at a public library Kirk was read one his own children’s books.
Kirk has had Tara-Leigh Cobble, Ann VosKamp, Lysa TerKeurst, James McDonald, and others on his talk show.
Curious what your thoughts are on all this.
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I don’t keep up with either of them, but someone recently alerted me to the fact that Candace associates with false teachers. I wasn’t aware, but it doesn’t surprise me that Kirk does, too. Since I don’t follow either of them closely, I don’t really know whether either/both of them would be better categorized as “teachers” or “celebrities,” but in either case, I wouldn’t recommend following either of them or receiving teaching from either of them if they’re that undiscerning.
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