The ministry of prominent pastor and radio preacher Tony Evans has cancelled a cruise Evans was set to headline this fall, following disclosure that Evans is “stepping away” from the pulpit due to past “sin.”
In a statement to The Roys Report (TRR), Heather Hair, spokesperson for Evans’ ministry The Urban Alternative, said: “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.”
As of mid-day Thursday, Evans was still featured as headline teacher for a week-long Christian cruise on November 9 – 16 to the Mexican Riviera. The cruise, with suites as high as $3,900 per traveler, has been managed by Inspiration Travel, a Christian company which has partnered with Evans on multiple past similar events.
Multiple promotional videos online stated, “Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Dr. Tony Evans is taking you on a cruise . . . Immerse yourself in his sermons. Experience the serenity of life at sea. (And) embark on lively excursions along the coast of Mexico.”
Two of Evans’ adult children—his eldest, speaker Chrystal Hurst Evans, and his son, singer-songwriter Anthony Evans—had been promoted as co-leading the inspirational Christian cruise.
Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Give a gift of $50 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of “Ghosted: An American Story” by Nancy French. To donate, click here.
According to a story published this morning by The Christian Post, a spokesperson for The Urban Alternative told the outlet that the cruise “remains on track” but “did not respond . . . when asked if they expect Evans to complete his restoration process before the cruise this fall.”
That report also quoted an agent of Inspiration Travel who emphasized that The Urban Alternative is a “separate entity” from Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. “The agent noted that The Urban Alternative has a contractual obligation to continue with the cruise,” the article stated.
TRR reached out to The Urban Alternative this morning and received notice of the cruise’s cancellation this afternoon.
We also asked The Urban Alternative and Inspiration Travel if the cruise will be rescheduled, or if ministry supporters who booked the cruise will receive a refund. We received no response as of publication time.
Several posts promoting the cruise currently remain on Evans’ social media channels. However, a link used to promote the cruise – tonyevans.org/cruise – is no longer live.
Addressing his congregation last Sunday, Evans, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, stated: “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 . . .” The statement did not specify the nature of Evans’ past actions.
Evans’ daily radio program, The Urban Alternative, continues to be broadcast on over 2,000 radio outlets in more than 130 countries, according to his bio online.
Two major Christian radio networks—Salem Radio Network and Moody Radio Network—are continuing to broadcast The Urban Alternative.
TRR reached out to representatives of Moody and Salem for comment but did not receive a response as of publication time.
Evans’ wife of 49 years and the mother of his four children, Lois Evans, died in 2019. Tony Evans remarried in November, and the church announced his marriage to the former Carla Crummie in December, introducing her as “Mrs. Carla Evans.”
For over 40 years, Evans has been senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, which has grown to more than 10,000 congregants.
Evans also authored the first full-Bible commentary and study Bible written by an African American. And he is also a former chaplain for the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Cowboys sports teams.
In the statement on Sunday, Evans indicated that he is “submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders” of the Dallas megachurch.
Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith, culture, and public policy for several media outlets. He and his family live in the Washington, D.C. area.
English 
Spanish
20 Responses
The LORD is revealing truth & cleaning out His church.
Yes.
This prosperity preacher is a mega hypocrite.
Thank God for shutting his defiled mouth!!
Dr. Evan’s has led his ministry for over 40 years and he is well past retirement age. Why all this drama about some undisclosed “sin” that happened so time ago when all he had to do was admit he’s old and tired and ready to do something else? Does stepping down and regrouping mean that he intends to retake the reins once he has healed? SMH
Because it involves gay sex?
Jennifer, let’s please remember the power of our words. That is quite the accusation put out there. Do you have any proof that is what the sin is? If not, I would advise caution. It’s one thing to be disappointed. It’s another thing to viciously slander.
Why bring this up now? What galvanized Evans to speak now? Was someone else about to bring this all to light–whatever “this” is?
this is why the handwavy vagueness makes me think this is much more about image and brand than actual repentence. A true leader answer those questions before they are asked, and not just behind closed doors to a small group bound by an NDA
“A true leader answers those questions before they are asked, and not just behind closed doors to a small group bound by an NDA.”
Is there anything to indicate that Mr. Evans is a true leader?
This mega hypocrite , & many more like him, will be exposed & fall like dominoes.
I praise God for cleaning the image of Christianity from fools like this.
Do we know anyone is bound to an NDA? Or is this more assumption and speculation simply because our own curiosity for each and every detail isn’t being satisfied?
Scripture makes is abundantly clear that repentance cannot ever be repeated. So it is a once-in-a-life-time event. Can u imagine the saints of old ever going through that agonizing experience a second time? I can’t, & I cannot imagine ever repeating it myself. It was FAR TOO emotionally traumatic, to ever face again. James offers us some clue as to how dramatic repentance is for us under the New Covenant. Js, 4:7-10
It is impossible for those who have been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God & the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, bc to their loss, they are crucifying the Son of God all over again & subjecting Him to public disgrace. Heb. 6:4-6
While several sound like Tony done some horrible sin himself based on how he “handled something unrighteously” makes me wonder if it dealt with sin in his own church! I am saying it is or it is not. But I believe some sins do need to be severely dealt with as we read in 1 Cor.5. Because it was the man involved in it repented in 2 Cor.2!
If that be the case I hope it will be an example to all pastors who allow sins like adultery, fornication, Homosexuality and other such to go among the membership!
Please tell us where in any bible do you find any grades of sin? Sin is sin….period!! It all results in death!! 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Eph. 5:1-11, 26-27, Rev. 21:6-8, & 22:14-15 assure us that ALL sin results in hell just as Paul taught y’all. Rom, 6:23 What else are today’s preachers going to teach y’all?? It gets worse as time goes. on.
Fred Price’s son did the same thing. Stepped down due to “sin”.
PLEASE read REPENTANCE on Substack or on Facebook’s Life Abundant bc preachers do not know what it is today.
What is with those with PhD’s (including those with honorable doctorates) committing or being accused of committing violence and/or serious sexual sins? And, Evans has one from the premier Dallas Theological Seminary. Along with Evans, you have Mike Breen, Gilbert Bilezikian, Bill Hybels, Ravi Zacharias, Byron Yawn, Art Azurdia, Daryl Ray Stagg, Bruce Douglas Konold, Michigan Episcopal Bishop Prince Singh, SBC’s Johnny Hunt, Thomas Minar, John Robert Griffin III, Lawrence “Clay” Hopkins and Joseph M. Krol.
Evans wasn’t accused of anything. Evans voluntarily stepped away from ministry citing a vague past sin and specified that it was non-criminal in nature.
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Look it up; this is what God says about situations like this. Tony delights in the Lord but, more important, the Lord delights in Tony–a faithful witness and one of the most thoughtful Bible teachers on the planet. He will be restored, thank God, and you haters and accusers of the brethren will have to do some repenting of your own when you see what God will do for him.
Brothers and sisters IN CHRIST, I strongly suggest you read Romans 2. Be careful with your voices of criticism. The Bible says we pray, forgive and restore after repentance. Only God knows Dr Evans heart.
I have met and listened to Dr. Evans for over 20 years. He has never supported prosperity doctrine in that time, and, has, in fact preached against it on many occasions. I respect a Christian and co-laboror that can examine himself and take time, unencumbered by pastoral duties, to fix the iniquity he finds. The pertinent Biblical example in this case is King David.