SHOCKING NEWS: Pst Tony Evans Son ‘Jonathan Evans’ Accused Of Rape And Was Arrested
Five things to know about pastor Tony Evans after he stepped down from Dallas megachurch
Evans helped found Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in 1976.
Tony Evans, the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, announced Sunday that he was stepping down from his pulpit after nearly fifty years to go through a “healing and restoration process.”
The announcement came in a statement that was posted on the church’s website.
“The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives,” Evans’ statement read. “When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God. A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others.”
Evans added that associate pastor Bobby Gibson and church leadership will keep congregants informed on the future of the ministry.
A representative for the church told The Dallas Morning News it would not give any further comment on the situation.
Here are five things to know about Evans following his sudden departure.
1. Evans helped found the church in 1976
Evans is a founding pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, a predominantly Black nondenominational church with more than 10,000 members, according to its website.
Evans helped start the church in 1976 with 10 members. Services were held at the home of Evans and his late wife Lois. Early church leaders included the Rev. Crawford Loritts and the Rev. Martin Hawkins.
Six years after the church’s founding, Evans became the first Black student to receive a doctorate in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.
2. Evans is a popular author and radio personality
Evans is a prolific author, having published more than 150 books, booklets and Bible studies, according to his website. Some of his most popular books include Oneness Embraced and The Kingdom Agenda.
Evans also hosts a daily radio show called “The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans” that his website says is broadcast on more than 2,000 radio stations in over 130 countries.
His media presence has been amplified by his teaching and broadcast ministry called The Urban Alternative. The ministry was formed in 1981 when Evans’ wife Lois began fulfilling requests for his sermons that were broadcast by Houston and Dallas radio stations.
In 2017, Evans launched the Tony Evans Training Center, an online learning platform that offers seminary-style courses to more than 2,000 students, his website says.
3. Evans has had political ties
Evans has had connections to political figures, including former President George W. Bush. Bush credited Evans as an inspiration for his faith-based initiatives in remarks to urban leaders in 2003.
“Tony Evans first kind of woke me up to this. We were in Greenville, Texas, together. And he said, the best welfare programs already exist on the street corners of inner city Dallas …,” Bush said.
Later that year, Bush delivered a speech at the dedication of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Youth Education Center.
In 2011, Evans spoke at then Texas governor Rick Perry’s prayer rally in Houston. The week after the rally, Perry announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
4. Evans has had connections to Dallas sports teams
Evans has had relationships with a couple major sports franchises in Dallas.
He is the former chaplain of both the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks. He also co-officiated former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo’s wedding in 2011 at Lee Park in Dallas.
5. Evans’ family has been involved in ministry
Evans’ family has long been involved in ministry. His first wife, Lois Evans, served in numerous positions in The Urban Alternative before her passing in 2019.
Their oldest child, Chrystal Hurst, co-wrote the 2013 book Kingdom Woman with her dad. She also writes a faith-based blog called “Chrystal’s Chronicles.”
Evans’ second daughter, Priscilla Shirer, is a Christian author with two New York Times bestsellers: The Resolution for Women and Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer, according to her website. Shirer also co-founded Going Beyond Ministries with her husband Jerry Shirer.
Evans’ second daughter, Priscilla Shirer, is a Christian author with two New York Times bestsellers: The Resolution for Women and Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer, according to her website. Shirer also co-founded Going Beyond Ministries with her husband Jerry Shirer.
Anthony Evans Jr. is a contemporary Christian and gospel singer with eight studio albums, including 2014′s Real Life/Real Worship, which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s gospel chart. He also competed on NBC’s The Voice in 2012.
Evans’ youngest child, Jonathan Evans, played football for the Baylor Bears before becoming an undrafted free agent in 2005. He bounced around several NFL practice squads, including the Dallas Cowboys’, before retiring from the game. He pivoted to ministry, and he now serves as the Cowboys team chaplain and co-chaplain of the Dallas Mavericks, following in his father’s footsteps.
Evans married Carla Evans, formerly Carla Crummie, in November 2023. According to her bio on her husband’s website, Carla Evans worked as an educator for two decades and “continues to work in ministry to help women and widows heal, learn, serve and discover the unshakable confidence found only in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
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