A Mexican Riviera cruise with Dr. Tony Evans that was scheduled for Nov. 9-16 will no longer take place. The news about the cancellation follows an announcement from Evans and his church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship (OCBF) in Dallas, that the pastor has stepped away from his pastoral duties for a time of repentance and healing from sin.
On Sunday, June 16, Pastor Bobby Gibson addressed Evans’ leave of absence from the stage during morning worship. “I want to be true to [Evans], and we thank God for him. We are yet praying for him, and we just believe the best for him,” said Gibson prior to reading a statement from the OCBF elders. Congregants applauded, and when Gibson added that God will get glory out of this situation, OCBF members emphasized their support by standing.
Tony Evans’ Elders Issue Update
Dr. Tony Evans is a widely respected pastor, author and speaker. He has pastored OCBF for over 40 years and has a radio broadcast titled, “The Alternative With Tony Evans.” He is also the founder and president of The Urban Alternative, “a Christian Bible teaching and resource ministry” that aims “to spread the teaching of God’s Word through Christian media with the goal of transforming lives.”
The Mexican Riviera cruise had been planned for the second week of November and featured Chrystal Evans Hurst and Anthony Evans Jr., two of Evans’ children. Bookings started at a cost of $1,198 per person. The trip had been marketed as a “fantastic voyage filled with God’s Word, God’s people and God’s glorious creation.”
“Throughout the cruise, we’ll experience powerful teachings, encouraging messages from Chrystal Evans Hurst and uplifting music from Anthony Evans, Jr,” said a webpage advertising the cruise. “We will also find moments of pure relaxation as we soak in the beauty of God’s creation.” That webpage is no longer live.
Heather Hair, a spokesperson for The Urban Alternative, confirmed the cruise’s cancellation in a statement to The Roys Report. ChurchLeaders has reached out to The Urban Alternative for comment.
A statement on the OCBF website last week said that at both church services on June 9 Evans announced the news he was stepping away from his duties as pastor: “This difficult decision was made after tremendous prayer and multiple meetings with Dr. Evans and the church elders.”
In his own statement, Evans referred to his failure to live up to God’s standard and said, “I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me. While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions.”
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The pastor said he is “submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders. This will afford me a needed time of spiritual recovery and healing.”
Sunday morning, Gibson read a follow-up statement from the OCBF elders, noting that the church had committed to keeping the congregation informed. “Dear OCBF church family, the board of elders appreciate your love, support and prayers during this very challenging time in the life of our ministry and church,” Gibson said. “We understand that many of you are stunned, confused, and even uncertain about the direction of our church in light of recent events.”
