Five things to know about pastor Tony Evans after he stepped down

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.

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

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.

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