It's not where you start, but where you finish." There are few people this phrase epitomizes better than Bishop David G. Evans. Coming from a troubled home, Evans' life was the perfect recipe for a statistic. But God had a plan for this young man, and through a series of ordained events, Evans has now become one of the most powerful and notable preachers of the day. A frequent Trinity Broadcast Network host, Prelate of the Abundant Harvest Fellowship of Churches, Pastor of the 27,000-member Bethany Baptist Church, author of Healed Without Scars, and CEO of David G. Evans Ministries, which produces the Dominion T.V. Broadcast worldwide (including on StreamingFaith.com); Dominion Radio Ministries and OnPoint, a live call-in radio talk show, Bishop David G. Evans has set out to change the world and offer the same deliverance he received, through Jesus Christ.
As a youngster, Evans grew up in Philadelphia in a home with a mother who was a Christian and a father who was an alcoholic. "Fortunately, I had a very strong grandfather," says Evans. "He was a strong example of a man in my life. I emulated him." With the encouragement of his grandfather, he graduated from Lincoln University in 1973 with degrees in economics and education and pursued employment in the corporate world. Shortly thereafter, in September 1976, he accepted Christ into his life and found himself called into the five-fold ministry. He also was active in the gospel music industry as a partner of Sweet Rain Records with an artist roster of hitmakers such as Hezekiah Walker, The Wilmington Chester Mass Choir, Bruce Parham and the Southeast Inspirational Choir. He accepted his calling and the mandate to "pastor and grow the Church" and was licensed in the ministry by Reverend H.R. Lusk of Greater Exodus Church in Philadelphia, PA, eventually being ordained by the Bethany Association in 1989.
Called by God to develop a multicultural congregation of believers, Bishop Evans accepted the pastorate of Bethany Baptist Church in Lindenwold, NJ, with 29 members in 1990. Today, more than 27,000 men, women, and children attend Bethany. When asked about the secret to the church's growth, Evans says that it's actually no secret at all. "Evangelism is the purpose of the church," explains the Bishop. "That combined with a very strong healing and deliverance ministry and a tremendous economical development tool has been a big part of the miraculous growth of the church."
In 1993, Bishop Evans followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and created Generations, Inc., a nonprofit community development corporation. Under the leadership of Bishop Evans, who serves as chairman of the board of directors, Generations, Inc., has taken steps to address the needs of southern New Jersey residents through economic development and a broad range of human services.
Then, in 1996, Bishop Evans was ordained as bishop and presiding officer of the Abundant Harvest Fellowship of Churches, an international fellowship with more than 175 churches in the United States, Africa, and India. In addition, Bishop Evans is a HUD YouthBuild USA partner for South Jersey, a Fannie Mae advisory board member, the chairman of the National Home Owner Initiative, and the originator of Harvest Transitional Homes for Women. He also spearheaded the South Jersey Foster Care Provider Program.
