Pastor Tony Evans Announces Engagement
By Church News
The senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, Pastor Tony Evans announces his engagement to his fiancé Dr. Carla Crummie.
Pastor Evans announced in his church recently during his 74th birthday celebrations service. Joined with him on stage during the announcement were his four children: Priscilla Shirer, Jonathan Evans, Anthony Evans Jr., and Crystal Evans Hurst.
The author and broadcaster lost his wife to biliary cancer nearly 50 years after their marriage on December 30, 2019.
“As I come up to the fourth year of the loss of Lois, my wife of 49-and-a-half-years, it is a tender time. There are reminders everywhere of her life and her influence on me, my family, and this ministry,” Evans told his church in a video shared online.
“As I worked through the ups and downs of singlehood, God in His sovereignty has brought someone into my life. This someone has travelled this similar road,” Evans explained, referring to the fact that Dr Crummie’s husband had died shortly after Dr. Evans’s wife.
“Carla Crummie and her husband were on their way to Lois’ funeral when “her husband died,” he said.
While Evans lost his father, followed by his wife in succession, Dr Crummie lost her mother and husband in the same manner.
“As I’ve tried to share the ups and downs of my life with you,” Evans continued. “I wanted to share this and give you the opportunity to meet my new fiancée, Miss Carla Crummie.”
His announcement was met by met by rapturous applause and cheers. The senior pastor however redirected the congregation, reminding them that it is “a sensitive time because during times like this, you’re also reminded of loss.” He urged his church for “sensitivity as you pray for me, as we walk through this journey”.
Anthony Tyrone “Tony” Evans Sr. is an American Christian pastor, speaker, author, and widely syndicated radio and television broadcaster in the United States. Evans serves as senior pastor to the over-9,500-member Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas.
Pastor Tony Evans founded the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, in 1976 with 10 members meeting at his home. He also founded The Urban Alternative, a national organization that seeks to restore hope and transform lives through the proclamation and the application of the Word of God. The Urban Alternative radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can be heard over 1,400 outlets daily throughout the U.S. and in over 130 countries worldwide.
Pastor Evans has served as chaplain for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and is a former NBA chaplain with the Dallas Mavericks.
He taught evangelism, homiletics, and black church studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, and serves on its Board of Incorporate Members.
Evans was named one of the 12 Most Effective Preachers in the English-Speaking World by Baylor University.
In 2017, Evans launched the Tony Evans Training Center, an online learning platform providing seminary-style courses to equip Christian leaders who cannot attend a seminary.
Evans holds the honour of writing and publishing the first full-Bible commentary and study Bible by an African American. He is also the author of over 100 books, including Oneness Embraced, The Kingdom Agenda, Kingdom Man, The Tony Evans Study Bible, and The Tony Evans Bible Commentary.
His oldest child, Chrystal Hurst, is a worship leader, Christian speaker, and writer. She co-authored the book Kingdom Woman with her father. She has also written books titled She’s Still There and Show Up For Your Life.
His daughter Priscilla Shirer is a New York Times Best-Selling Author, Christian speaker, and founder of Going Beyond Ministries.
His son Anthony Jr. is a contemporary-Christian musical artist. He has collaborated with Grammy Award-winning singer Kirk Franklin and was a contestant on season two of The Voice