The House of Prayer returns to spotlight

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The House of Prayer returns to spotlight

History of House of Prayer

The Rev. Arthur Allen, founder of The House of Prayer, spent two years in prison for aggravated assault and cruelty to children. He directed the congregants of his church to administer belt-whippings to their children when they misbehaved. Allen died after an apartment fire Oct 28, 2013, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office. (W.A. BRIDGES JR./FILE)

Members adhered to the teachings of the Rev. Allen. Pictured is a group of men during a service in 2001. (KIMBERLY SMITH/FILE)

An unidentified woman prays during a women's prayer session at the House of Prayer dedicated to asking the lord to return their children taken from them by the state for cruel punishment. (W.A. BRIDGES/FILE)

Children slept on a cot while adults held a service. The members were strict in their beliefs and would gather nearly everyday for a service. (W.A. BRIDGES/FILE)

A Tuesday prayer session at the House of Prayer finds members giving testimony to the cause of the day which is getting back their children from DFACS. Horace Bates hugs a group of children during the service. (W.A. BRIDGES/FILE)

DFACS visited two families from the House of Prayer to determine if their children were at risk from abuse. At the home of Kim Ogletree children play in the yard as does 6 year old Brittany who emerges from a make shift play house which is in the backyard. (W.A.BRIDGES JR./FILE)

In 2001, state officials sought to remove children from House of Prayer parents after some of the children showed up in school with welts and bruises from whippings. Quinton Frazier, 12, has his head put down onto the trunk lid of a car as DFACS and Atlanta police officials take him into custody from his family's Atlanta home. (KIMBERLY SMITH/FILE)

A boy is taken away, too, as TV cameras capture the separation. (KIMBERLY SMITH/FILE)

Dianna Frazier, 14, struggles to free herself from the officers. Altogether, 30 children were removed from their homes. (KIMBERLY SMITH/FILE)

After the forced separation, church members protested to have their children released ffrom state custody. Here, 3-year-old church member, Charles Ogletree, holds a freedom sign with MLK Jr. on it. (JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM)

In the meantime, the Rev. Allen became a new father again. His wife and congregant, Trina Allen, was 25 years old in 2001 and gave birth to Amber Rose, 2 months old in the picture, at their home. (BITA HONARVAR/BHONARVAR@AJC.COM)

Parents and children were reunited after the House of Prayer parents agreed to the state mandate not to whip them again. Sharon Duncan hugs her young daughter after being reunited with her. (W.A. BRIDGES/FILE)

Stephen Duncan hugs his dad for the first time in months as a tiny tear forms in his eye. (W.A. BRIDGES/FILE)

Members of the House of Prayer went on trial in 2002 for child cruelty. David Wilson testified on the witness stand that he whipped his nephew, but that it was not a severe whipping and didn't leave marks. The picture shows the marks on the boy. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

Fulton County Prosecutor Patricia Jackson holds up photos of the children and argues these are, indeed, the proofs of child abuse. (PHOTO BY CATHERINE LOVETT/FULTON COUNTY DAILY REPORT)

Harriet Davis, with the Georgia Center for Children, talks about a drawing by David Duncan, Jr. that depicts his alledged beating by the Rev. Arthur Allen, Jr. at the House of Prayer church while he was held by two other church members. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

Fulton Prosecutor, Phyllis Clerk holds her arms stretched out as she explains how punishment was administered during church services. Five adults were put on trial. (JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM)

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The Rev. Arthur Allen, founder of The House of Prayer, spent two years in prison for aggravated assault and cruelty to children. He directed the congregants of his church to administer belt-whippings to their children when they misbehaved. Allen died after an apartment fire Oct 28, 2013, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office. (W.A. BRIDGES JR./FILE)

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