The Allison Park Church community is grieving the sudden and devastating loss of longtime pastor Jeff Leake, who passed away Saturday night after suffering a massive heart attack, church leaders confirmed.
According to a message shared with the congregation, Pastor Leake became ill shortly after the church’s Saturday evening service. He was rushed to the hospital, where he later died. His passing has sent shockwaves through the church and the wider faith community he served for decades.
Pastor Leake led Allison Park Church for 35 years, shaping generations of families through his ministry. Church members say he was more than a pastor — he was a spiritual shepherd whose influence reached far beyond the pulpit. Over the years, he dedicated children, baptized believers, offered guidance during life’s most difficult seasons, and faithfully delivered God’s Word week after week.
“This is a monumental loss,” church leaders shared, noting the deep emotional impact on a congregation that had come to know Pastor Leake as a steady, compassionate presence. Many described him as a man of vision, humility, and unwavering faith, whose leadership helped define the church’s identity.
The church has asked for continued prayers for Pastor Leake’s wife, Melodie, and the entire Leake family as they navigate this sudden loss. Members reflected on how the family had consistently supported and prayed for others through seasons of hardship, and now the congregation is rallying around them in love and faith.
In response to the tragedy, Allison Park Church gathered Sunday morning to mourn, worship, and lean on the teachings Pastor Leake had long emphasized — turning to God for hope and to one another for strength. Church leaders shared that even in grief, the congregation is seeking comfort in scripture and community.
Referencing Psalm 34:18 — “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” — the church encouraged members to hold tightly to faith during this painful moment.
While the loss is deeply felt on this side of eternity, church leaders expressed hope rooted in their beliefs, sharing that Pastor Leake is now in the presence of Christ. Plans to honor his life and legacy are expected to be shared in the coming days.
As Allison Park Church mourns, members say Pastor Jeff Leake’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, the faith he nurtured, and the love he modeled throughout more than three decades of ministry.