Members of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church are confident that senior pastor Tony Evans will make a powerful return to the evangelistic ministry he has led for 48 years.
Hundreds of people attended a service at the church, located at 1660 Camp Wisdom Road in Dallas, on Sunday, June 16, to await more news about the congregation’s future after Evans announced he was stepping down.
“I know he’ll be back,” said Mary Smith, who has been with the church for more than 20 years. “I don’t think a lot of people can take a step back and make the effort to move in the right direction. A lot of people say they’re going to do the right thing but don’t do it. But he is.”
Evans, who helped found the church in 1976, announced to his congregation on June 9 that he was stepping down as pastor “because of sin” and “the process of healing and restoration.”
“The foundation of our pastoral ministry has always been to accept God’s Word as the absolute highest standard of truth and we are to live by it,” Reeder said in a statement. “When we fall short of that standard because of sin, we must repent and restore our relationship with God. A few years ago, I fell short of that standard, so I need to apply to myself the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration that I have applied to others.”
Church members are confident that Evans has made the decision befitting a true leader.
“His resignation is the right thing to do according to biblical standards,” said Natalie Rodriguez, who has been attending the church for several years. “It’s a good sign when someone with such theological savvy stands by the standards he preaches and submits to the Lord.”
The atmosphere at Sunday’s service was one of anticipation, as people waited to learn more about next steps and receive reassurance that church activities would continue as normal.
“I’m excited to see what happens next. I’m just trying to keep an open mind and not get defensive,” said Shauna Flaherty, who has attended the church for four years. “No matter what happens, I respect all of them. [the elders of the church]I know that if there is something serious going on, it will be taken seriously.”
Those who attended the service acknowledged that this is a challenging time for church members and agreed that it speaks to the integrity of Mr Evans’ leadership and sets a precedent for trust in church authorities.
“He’s a great pastor and I think his willingness to humbly step aside and correct his course is a great sign of spiritual maturity. We’ve all made mistakes,” said Ed McGrew, who has been a member for four years. “I think the church will come out of this more united and stronger.”
In a statement read by Pastor Bobby Gibson at Sunday’s service, church elders acknowledged these are difficult times but said they are prepared to lead the church.
“We understand that in the wake of recent events, many of you are surprised, confused, and even anxious about the direction of our church,” Pastor Gibson said. “Please be assured that we are prayerful and working diligently to provide you with the spiritual and practical support, guidance and healing you need as we move forward.”
Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church began with 10 members in 1976 and now has more than 10,000 members and more than 100 ministries, according to church records.
