Dr. Allen Wachter

Who I Am

Dr. Allen Wachter, DVM, DMin, is a semi-retired veterinarian, retired ordained pastor in the Free Methodist Church, and long-time mission mobilizer with a deep passion for expressing Christ’s love through veterinary medicine. With over four decades of combined veterinary and ministry experience, Allen has dedicated his life to holistic care—serving both the physical and spiritual needs of people and animals.

A graduate of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and George Fox University’s Doctor of Ministry program, Allen integrates veterinary science, theology, and sustainable development to empower Christian leaders around the world. Now serving as a CVM Associate, he combines his expertise in animal husbandry with a pastoral heart to bring sustainable solutions to rural pastors and their communities. 

My Work

Dr. Allen leads the Empowered by Livestock, Guided by Faith initiative—a sustainable development project in Zambia that equips rural pastors with livestock and training to strengthen their ministries and communities. In partnership with the Free Methodist Church in Zambia and under the local leadership of Rev. Francois Murekezi and Bishop Llama, pastors are provided with goats and chickens along with veterinary training, mentorship, and resources to build self-reliant income through animal husbandry. 

The impact is deeply transformational: 96 goats and 106 chickens have been distributed to 28 pastors and 106 leaders. Pastors gain economic stability, helping them feed their families, send children to school, and serve their congregations without the burden of poverty. The "pay-it-forward" model promotes community multiplication as offspring are passed on to other pastors or church members. Through livestock, doors are opened for the Gospel in unreached places as trust is built and dignity restored.

This work is a living testimony to CVM’s mission: empowering veterinarians to live out their Christian faith by serving others through veterinary medicine. The initiative's goal is to expand this model across Africa—sowing seeds of the Gospel alongside livestock, one pastor at a time.

My Partner

Current partners in the Empowered by Livestock, Guided by Faith initiative include: Rev. Francois Ferdinand Murekezi – a key leader in Zambia who co-manages the distribution and accountability of the project. He works closely with the pastors and bishops to oversee implementation, training, and pastoral selection. Bishop Llama – assists in the selection of pastors and provides oversight for Empowered by Livestock, Guided by Faith in Zambia. Christian Veterinary Mission (CVM) – through their Animal Impact Special Project, CVM supports this initiative with financial and resource accountability, veterinary assistance, and alignment with their mission to express Christ’s love through veterinary medicine. These collaborators represent a holistic and strategic blend of church leadership, veterinary mission support, and financial stewardship.