Jonathan Evans, son of Dr. Tony Evans, was installed as lead pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship (OCBF) in Dallas on Sunday, Dec. 7. Tony Evans, who stepped down as pastor in 2024 because of an undisclosed sin, was restored by his church on Oct. 5 but not to serve again in a leadership role at OCBF.
“What we’re going to do together, we have to do it together as if we want to experience what God has already done, and from this day forward, we got to go tread on it,” said Jonathan Evans after being installed as lead pastor. “And so I’m calling myself, my family, the congregation—this is not an installation for one person.”
“It’s an installation for the church, the future, and to go across the Jordan,” he said. “It’s time for us all to go tread in the place that God has for us so that we can let this community know there’s a church in the neighborhood.”
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Jonathan Evans Installed as Lead Pastor
Dr. Tony Evans is a widely respected ministry leader, author and speaker. He pastored OCBF for 48 years, is the founder and president of The Urban Alternative, and has a radio broadcast titled “The Alternative With Tony Evans.” During his son’s installation service, Evans thanked the congregation and acknowledged the past “challenging year,” saying that “God wastes nothing.”
He gave the sermon that morning, drawing parallels between himself and his son and the biblical account of Moses passing his mantle of leadership to Joshua prior to the Israelites entering the Promised Land. Scripture recounts that God did not allow Moses to enter the Promised Land because Moses did not honor God at the waters of Meribah.
“Joshua had grown up with Moses. As a young boy, he became Moses’ servant,” said Evans. “He walked by Moses’ side. He was by Moses’ side at the tent of the meeting. He was one of the two who hung with God when the other 10 spies wouldn’t go into the Promised Land.”
“He was there with Moses. He spent years with Moses. He learned from Moses. He had become Moses’ spiritual son. And the good news, Oak Cliff, today is, I have a son,” Evans said. “A son who’s grown up with me, walked with me, talked with me, cried with me, loved me, and served the church of the living God, who’s paid the dues to be in this space.”
Jonathan Evans, son of Dr. Tony Evans, was installed as lead pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas on Sunday, Dec. 7.Click to PostEvans told OCBF not to “feel bad” for him. “I believe God still got something for Tony Evans down the line that I ain’t seeing yet, ‘cause he still has a purpose for my life and gifts as long as he has me here,” said Evans. “So don’t feel bad for Moses and don’t feel bad for me because Joshua is going to lead you.”
