Alan was born and raised in rural Lapeer County, Michigan. He graduated from Maranatha Baptist Bible College in 1999 with a B.A. in Biblical Studies. He spent nine years teaching Bible, English, history, and PE at Maranatha Christian School and Ridgewood Baptist Academy, both in Joliet. He also ran youth programs at Fellowship Baptist Church in Lodi, Wisconsin and at Ridgewood Baptist Church. Alan most recently served as the Associate Pastor at Bible Baptist Church in Romeoville, Illinois from January of 2012 until July of 2019. 

Alan and his wife Erin have four children–Alana, Ava, Anaka and Grayson.