Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Pastor Tony Evans recently confessed an unaddressed sin and announced he would be stepping down from his leadership at the Dallas-based church. Subsequently, Evans’ ministry, the Urban Alternative, also canceled its highly anticipated Mexican Riviera cruise, which he was set to lead in the fall.
A spokeswoman for The Urban Alternative, Heather Hair, told The Roys Report that it was determined it would be “best” to cancel the cruise following the controversial announcement that sent shockwaves throughout the Christian community.
“Following the announcement that Dr. Tony Evans will be stepping away from his senior pastoral duties at OCBF (Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas), and as he pursues the healing and restoration process established by the elders, The Urban Alternative has decided it would be best to cancel the Mexican Riviera Cruise with Tony Evans,” Hair said.
Furthermore, it appears that Inspiration Travel, the company that was set to host the Mexican Riviera cruise, has deleted the former page that hosted the information about the trip. When attempting to access the page, an error message reads, “You are not authorized to access this page.”
The Christian Tribune originally reported the shocking news that Evans would be stepping down from his pastorate following his sin confession. The prominent Christian leader did not specify what sin he had committed but noted that he and the elder board at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship determined that he needed to be held accountable.
“Dr. Evans and the elders agree that when any elder or pastor falls short of the high standards of scripture, the elders are responsible for providing accountability and maintaining integrity in the church,” the elder board continued. “We serve a God that is merciful to forgive and gracious to restore. In the days ahead, Pastor Bobby Gibson and the elders will provide more information regarding interim leadership and the next steps for the future of our church.”
Moreover, Evans only clarified that he did not commit a crime, leading to further speculation about he nature of his sin. He maintained that in light of the moral shortcoming in his conduct, he would be seeking time for healing and restoration as prescribed by his elders.
“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. I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me. While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions. In light of this, I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders.”
“I have never loved you more than I love you right now, and I’m trusting God to walk me through this valley. Thank you for your love, prayers, support, and forgiveness as I continue my spiritual healing journey. As we walk this journey together, keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,” the pastor added.
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