Dr. Tony Evans, celebrating 50 years of preaching ministry, is one of America’s most respected Evangelical leaders. Evans’ ministry enjoys deep Texas roots, yet his Bible teaching served a larger purpose, a Kingdom Agenda. Today, Tony Evans’ name is synonymous with strong Biblical teaching and a high view of Scripture.

Dr. Evans was the first African-American student to complete a Doctor of Theology degree at Dallas Theological Seminary. And as his ministry reaches its fiftieth anniversary, Evans becomes the first African-American scholar to author a complete Bible commentary and the first African-American to publish a study Bible. Lifeway published the Tony Evans Bible Commentary and the Tony Evans Study Bible  this fall.

“Lifeway is honored to introduce the Tony Evans Bible Commentary and the Tony Evans Study Bible  as we mark Dr. Evans’ five decades of pastoral ministry,” says Trevin Wax, director for Bibles and Reference at Lifeway Christian Resources. “Tony is of the most beloved and influential pastors in America, and these new volumes will help readers around the world discover and pursue God's Kingdom agenda.”

To find out more about both the Bible and one-volume commentary, visit csbtonyevansstudybible.com.

Dr. Evans has served as Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, since 1976. As of 2019, the congregation numbers 9,500 souls. Evans is also the founder of The Urban Alternative, a media ministry designed to enable people to live all of life underneath the comprehensive rule of God. The reach of Tony’s preaching now spans the world with broadcasts airing on over 1,400 radio outlets and in over 130 countries, reaching millions each week.

TIMELINE OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

1949 - Anthony Tyrone "Tony" Evans born.

1972 – Evans earns a BA and is chosen “Student of the Year,” Carver College, Atlanta, GA.

1973 – Tony Evans’ public broadcasting career begins. A local radio show producer from Houston (KHCB) contacted Dallas Theological Seminary, where Tony was a junior in the Th.M. program, asking for great preaching content to put on his program for free. One of Tony’s professors recommended him. Recorded in a tiny studio on the seminary campus, Tony spent the next few years faithfully preaching into a microphone for a crowd unseen in Houston.

1976 – Achieved Master’s degree in Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary. Receives “Outstanding Achievement Award” from DTS.

1976 – Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, founded with ten members meeting in the Evans home. By 2019, Oak Cliff will have over 9,500 members.

1981 – The Urban Alternative formed as requests for Dr. Evans’ sermons came in so frequently from his Houston and Dallas radio broadcasts that Mrs. Lois Evans, Tony’s wife and co-founder of the ministry, began fulfilling orders. Mrs. Evans used her business skills to organize, develop and expand the outreach and growth of the ministry. Now, in 2019, The Urban Alternative is heard on more than 1,400 radio outlets across 130 countries, reaching millions each week.

1982 - Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). The first African American to graduate with a doctoral degree from DTS. Dissertation titled “A Biblical critique of selected issues in Black Theology.” Also served as an associate professor in DTS Pastoral Ministries Department in the areas of evangelism, homiletics and Black church studies.

1986 - In 1986, Tony was invited to preach at the National Religious Broadcasters annual conference. This drew enormous attention and was instrumental in the expansion of his ministry.

Late 1980’s – Begins a three-decade long (and counting!) tenure as Chaplain of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, the longest standing NBA chaplaincy on record. He is also the former chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys, a position currently held by his son, Jonathan.

2006 - Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship listed in top 50 of America’s Most Influential Churches.

2017 – Launch of the Tony Evans Training Center, an online learning platform for in-depth biblical study and leadership.

2018 - Recognized as one of the 12 most 'effective' preachers in the English language by Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

2019 – Celebrates 50 years of ministry. Achieves the distinguished honor of being the first African American to author a Study Bible and a one-volume Bible Commentary in the history of our nation.