MANSFIELD—Michael Evans, senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield, will be nominated for a second term as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Carlos Francis, youth pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church for the past decade, will nominate Evans at Texas Baptists’ annual meeting in Waco, Nov. 17-19.
‘Don’t think God is finished with him’
Francis praised Evans as “an amazing man of God” and his mentor in Christian ministry, as well as “a great father, great husband and great family man.”
“He is a father figure to me, in my life and ministry,” Francis said. “He is a friend to me, a friend to anybody he interacts with, and especially a friend to pastors.”
Evans deserves another term as BGCT president because “there are more relationships to build” as he represents Texas Baptists around the state, Francis added.
“I don’t think God is finished with him in that position,” he said.
‘Share our good news stories’
Evans agreed to allow his nomination to continue the unfinished business of being a “goodwill ambassador” for Christ and for Texas Baptists.
Texas Baptists hold a distinctive position “not too far to the left and not too far to the right” as they seek to be guided by a commitment to obey Scripture, he said.
“We need to continue to share with the state of Texas and with those who don’t know us yet our positive agenda as people committed both to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment,” he said.
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“Texas is a big state, and you can only cover so much in one year. In the coming year, I hope to have the opportunity to share our good news stories with the other half of the state.”
Evans added he wants to help connect ministers to the resources available through the BGCT Executive Board staff.
“I want to encourage those who are trying to do ministry who don’t see the opportunity to fulfill their own sense of mission,” he said.
Leader in church and community
Evans is a Houston native. He served nine years in the U.S. Navy as a reserve chaplain and also worked in chaplaincy at Dallas Children’s Hospital.
He has led Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield more than a quarter-century. From 2001 to 2006, he worked on the BGCT Executive Board staff as director of African American ministries while continuing to serve his church in Mansfield.
In July, the congregation marked the grand opening of Bethlehem’s Pioneer Place—an affordable housing complex for senior adults that is located across the street from the church campus.
Evans has served in his community as an administrator with the Tarrant County College District and on the board of trustees of the Mansfield Independent School District.
He founded several community service organizations—the BBC Educational Enrichment Corporation, the Hope House Community Service Network and the Historic West Mansfield Texas Community Development Corporation.
He also directs Life Touch Cottage Ministries, which serves children and youth in West Africa.
Evans earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, a Master of Divinity degree from Texas Christian University’s Brite Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary.
He is the author of Leadership in the Black Church: Guidance in the Midst of Changing Demographics.
He and his wife Lisa have two adult children.
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