Brian Evans of
5point7 Community Church will be speaking at this year's conference on
The Good News of Justification. We asked him some questions so you could get to know him better.
What’s your wife’s name, how long have you been married, and how many children do you have?
My wife's name is Shannon Evans. We have 5 children together.
Share a little about your educational background.
To prepare for ministry, I attended William Tyndale College in Farmington Hills, Michigan from 1998 to 2004. I did a 2 year Church Planting residency at First Presbyterian Church of Trenton, Michigan where I received further theological training and coaching in church planting.
How long have you been in your current position?
I have been working as a church planter in Detroit for over 2 and a half years now. We had our soft launch and began worship services on February 5th of 2017.
What have been some of the best lessons you’ve learned in your role as a pastor/teacher?
Some of the best lessons I've learned have been, first, the necessity of prayer. I am constantly being reminded of my inadequacy for these things and am learning to depend more and more upon God. It has been amazing to see God answering our prayers throughout this journey. Secondly, the importance of shepherding people. As a church planter, it's tempting to get absorbed in trying to grow the church in terms of numbers, all while neglecting the real spiritual needs of our people. I am learning that God's people need constant spiritual oversight, and as a Shepard, I must stay on my watch.
Who are some of your greatest spiritual influences?
My greatest spiritual influences have been:
- My Uncle Alan Evans, who was also my first Pastor. I learned the basics of Christianity and of Christian living from him.
- The late Dr. Benjamin Wilkinson of Atlanta Ga., an old Evangelist in the PCA. He helped convince me of my call to plant a church.
- John Calvin, Martyn Lloyd Jones and John MacArthur. These 3 men helped me to develop a deep reverance for the Word of God and an appreciation for Expository preaching. They have had a tremendous influence on me as a Pastor and Preacher.
What would you most like your church to be known for?
I would love for 5point7 Community Church to be most known for faithfulness in proclaiming sound doctrine, and for showing genuinely Christian love towards all.
If you could spend an entire day with one person of your choosing from the Bible (not including Jesus), who would you choose and why?
I would choose to spend a day with the Apostle Paul above any other biblical person. I would love being able to hear his insights on biblical doctrine and on Pastoring.
What are some of your hobbies/interests apart from the Bible/theology?
Apart from the Bible, my interests include learning history. Especially the history of Western civilization. I also love listening to classic soul music. I am obsessed with trying to understand the cultural factors involved in causing the American cultural revolution of the 1960s and 70s, especially pertaining to the black inner-city.
Is there anything else we should know about you?
The only other thing I think you should know of me is that for almost the last 20 years or so, I have been driven by the singular passion of finding a way to make reformed theology known within the inner-city. Planting 5point7 Community Church within the EPC is a 20 year dream come true for me.
