Father Paul and his wife Lisa are native Austinites, but they actually began dating while serving together in northwest China nearly 25 years ago. They have four children: Ava (19), Layla (17), Henri (11), and Ruby (8). God has used Layla and Henri to connect the Van Allens to the disability community, both in Austin and around the world.
Lisa is a graduate of Texas A&M, and Paul holds divinity diplomas and degrees from Word of Life, Liberty University, and Dallas Theological Seminary. After returning from more than a decade in northwest China, the Van Allens found their way into the Anglican Church of North America, where Paul was ordained a deacon in 2018 and a priest in 2023.
The journey God has led them on has cultivated a deep appreciation for the rootedness of liturgical Anglicanism, while also strengthening their commitment to Scripture and to God’s global mission among all nations. In addition to his role at Hope of Nations, Paul serves as a regional leader with Pioneers, a global church-planting organization.
Father Laolu and his wife Ife share a deep calling to see people from every nation come into a personal, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. They first met as university students in Nigeria, where their faith was shaped within the evangelical Anglican and Baptist traditions—foundations that continue to guide their passion for Scripture, mission, and discipleship.
They later moved to the United States for graduate studies and sensed God leading them to serve among international students and diaspora communities. At Texas A&M University, they founded and led the African Graduate Student Association (AGSA) and the Fellowship of International Graduate Students (FIGS), creating spaces for students from many nations to encounter Christ in authentic community.
Laolu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan, and an MBA from Wayne State University. Ife earned her PhD in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University. During the day, Laolu also works as a Senior Technical Program Manager in the payment technology space, living out his faith through both vocation and ministry.
They live in Georgetown, Texas, with their daughter, Ebunoluwa(1) —meaning “gift of God”—a daily reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Ms. Vung Cing is an assistant teacher at Pecan Street Christian School during the week, and blesses the children at HopePf every Sunday as their Sunday School Teacher. She finds great joy is watching the children she teaches grow in Christ and learn more about Him every week.
Vung was born and raised in the beautiful country of Myanmar (also known as Burma) which is in South Asia. There, she earned her Bachelor’s at Mandalay University. When she moved to America, she received her Doctorate of Theology from Life Christian University.