Jonathan Evans, the chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys and son of Pastor Tony Evans, has opened up about the moment he learned his father would be stepping away from ministry due to an undisclosed sin. Jonathan described it as a “punch to the gut.” The older Evans, led the 11,000-member Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship before he stepped down. The sin has not been revealed.
“It was a shock to us … he told us that he’s going to take a step back from ministry, go to a time of healing and restoration — a time that he needs,” Jonathan Evans said. “We’re all praying for his restoration and recovery and for him to be fully back doing what he loves to do and what he’s called to do.” He also explained how his father’s decision to step back from ministry in June was a “sharp change” for him personally and caused him to “recalibrate.”
“He has been doing [ministry] since I was born, so I don’t know anything different,” he added. “So I need you to understand that God is with you. He’s with you, even though you don’t feel like He’s with you,” he stated. “When my dad stepped back from ministry and stepped down from the pulpit, I needed this. I needed to know God is my refuge. God is my strength, and He’s very present.”
“So yeah,” he went on to say, “when my dad stepped down, it was a punch to the gut for me [and] my siblings. … God says, ‘Be still. I’m still God. Do not fear. Do not be afraid. I’ve already won.’ Just because there’s bumps along the way doesn’t mean victory hasn’t already been had.” Jonathan explained “Be still doesn’t mean don’t move. Be still doesn’t mean be physically irresponsible, be still means that you can be emotionally steady. Be still doesn’t mean stop stepping. It means stop stressing. But do what God has called you to do with an unwavering confidence that He is God.”
Earlier this year, we reported that the church’s elders posted a statement on its website announcing Evans would be pulling away from his pastoral duties while maintaining that the church must be governed by Biblical principles. The message read, “On Sunday, June 9, at both services, Dr. Tony Evans announced that he will step away from his senior pastoral duties at OCBF. This difficult decision was made after tremendous prayer and multiple meetings with Dr. Evans and the church elders.”
“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.”
Evans did not specify the sin that entered his life, leading to his stepping down at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. However, he stated that he hadn’t committed any crimes, but had fallen short of biblical teachings. He said, “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. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God.”
Jonathan Evans addressed this issue in a Father’s Day sermon shortly after his father announced his retirement. “Let me tell you, let me put it this way, my dad has been there for all of my challenges. Yes, sir, he’s been there for a lot of y’all[s] challenges, whether it’s counseling, whether it’s preaching, radio, some of y’all YouTube, whatever medium [it] has been, he’s been there, so it’s an honor for me to return the favor,” Jonathan explained.
Featured image: The Urban Alternative, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons