Allan Lincoln John BURROW

BURROW, ALLAN LINCOLN JOHN (b. Bolivia, 18 Feb 1912; d. Adelaide, SA, 27 Feb 1976?. Baptist pastor and Bible college principal.

The child of missionary parents the Rev Reg and Mrs Irene Burrow, Allan Burrow became a Christian as a child. After teacher training at Adelaide University (BSc, DipEd) he taught in country schools. Convinced of the need for Christian pastoring of the people in the country districts, he proceeded to ordination training with the SA Baptist Union but, dissatisfied with liberal teaching, transferred to work under Morling (q.v.) at the NSW Baptist College.

Burrow pastored at Peterhead, Semaphore Park, Parkside and Burnside Baptist churches in suburban Adelaide and also served as a RAAF chaplain during World War Two. In 1949 he revivified the existing Adelaide Bible Institute (ABI), founded on a part time basis in the 1920s, by teaching students who lived in his own home. He saw the Institute grow over the next 12 years, including the move to separate quarters at Payneham. He then served as principal of the New Zealand Bible Training Institute 1961-6, and head of the Andes Evangelical Mission 1967-73 based in Canada. His final years were wracked by painfull illness which left him in a wheelchair, but he still worked as associate pastor of Edwardstown Baptist church until his death.

Bruce Bryson, chairman of BCSA (the subsequent title for ABI) spoke in tribute to him: 'His was a life lived to great purpose. All his abilities ... were used to the full over many fruitful years ... He was a natural pioneer, with a wide range of skills ... His greatest gift ... was that of a Bible teacher.' He was survived by his wife Coral.

New Life March 1976

BRIAN DICKEY