Tony Evans Continues Christian Cruise Partnership Despite Stepping Down from Ministry
- Milton Quintanilla Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
- Updated Jun 17, 2024
Update (June 17, 2024): Days after Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship announced that Pastor Tony Evans would temporarily step away due to an undisclosed sin, The Urban Alternative has decided to cancel the Mexican Riviera cruise he was set to headline this fall. Heather Hair, spokesperson for The Urban Alternative, stated that the decision was made in light of the announcement and Evans’ pursuit of the healing and restoration process. For more details on the cancellation, please refer to our updated article here.
Pastor Tony Evans, who recently stepped down from his pastoral duties at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship after confessing to committing an undisclosed sin years ago, is still scheduled as a headliner for a Christian cruise to the Mexican Riviera this fall. A representative of The Urban Alternative, the ministry founded by Evans over 40 years ago, also hosting the cruise set for Nov.9-16, told The Christian Post Wednesday that the event will continue as planned despite Evans stepping down from ministry earlier this week.
One agent with Inspiration Travel, which is administering the cruise that includes suites costing up to nearly $4,000 per traveler, told CP that the cruise is still going because Urban Alternative is a separate entity from Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and that the Urban Alternative has a contractual obligation to continue with the cruise.
Evans will headline the cruise with his eldest child, Chrystal Evans Hurst, as well as his son, musician Anthony Evans.
“Throughout the cruise, we’ll experience powerful teachings, encouraging messages from Chrystal Evans Hurst, and uplifting music from Anthony Evans, Jr. We will also find moments of pure relaxation as we soak in the beauty of God’s creation,” a note from Evans on the Inspiration Travel website says. “We’ll visit exciting and vibrant Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta ports and take in the hospitality and elegance of the Holland America Koningsdam.”
In another video on the website, Evans says the cruise will be “a great time of fun, food, fellowship and strengthening our faith.”
On Sunday, Evans confessed that he fell short of the biblical standards enforced by his ministry “a number of years ago,” implying it was “due to sin.”
“The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God,” Evans said in a written statement.
“A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others. I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me,” he added. “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 and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders.”
Evans, 74, is the first African American to earn a doctorate in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Additionally, he was the first African American to write and publish a full Bible commentary and study the Bible.
When asked whether Evans will complete the “healing and restoration process” before the cruise this fall, a spokesperson for The Urban Alternative did not respond Wednesday.
Related: Tony Evans Steps Away from Pastoral Duties After Acknowledging Past Sin
Photo Credit: Facebook/Tony Evans
