On December 30, 2019, Tony Evans' wife of 49 years, Lois Evans, found healing in Heaven at the age of 70. And in the face of their devastating loss, Christian celebrity Tony Evans is asking everyone to pray for him and his family.
Lois Evans' health had been in decline due to gallbladder cancer, a rare condition in the U.S. In April of 2019, Tony Evans, a well-known pastor and Christian author, revealed his wife's cancer had returned.
RELATED: Tony Evans Family Comes Together, Honors Lois Evans with Deathbed Song: ‘Victory Belongs to Jesus’
Then, in October, Tony let everyone know his wife's chemotherapy was no longer working.
As many were preparing for the coming of 2020, the Tony Evans family was saying goodbye to Lois Evans.
Tony Evans's wife of 49 years died on December 30, 2019. And he announced the news on social soon after.
"Just before the sun came up this morning, the love of my life, Lois Irene Evans, transitioned from earth and watched her first sunrise from heaven. I had the privilege of holding her hand as she was lulled into eternity. Our four children surrounded her as well."
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Tony reflected on the incredible impact Lois played in ministry and in the family, saying:
"We are what we are because of her."
The Lord blessed Tony Evans and his wife with four children, all of whom are using their talents to serve the Lord in some capacity.
Tony Evans' daughter, Priscilla Shirer is a well-known Christian celebrity, speaker and author. His other daughter, Chrystal Hurst, is a worship leader and author. Anthony Jr. is a Christian musical artist and Jonathan is now the chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys after retiring from his career as an NFL football player.
As they grieve the loss of Lois, Tony Evans and his family are relying on God to pull them through. They combat their heartbreak by giving thanks for the blessing of Lois Evans in their lives.
RELATED: Tribute Sermon By Tony Evans Reveals His Wife Saw ‘A Glimpse of Heaven’ Before She Died
"God has been so kind to give us more time to make wonderful memories," he wrote. "While we know the coming days will be challenging, right now we are grateful for the life and love of a woman who planted seeds that will bear fruit for generations to come."
Losing a loved one is never easy. But because of the incredible sacrifice Jesus made for us all, we can grieve with hope.
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Tony's request as he mourns his earthly loss is for all of us to cover him and his family in prayer. He knows only God can ease the pain they are feeling.
"Pray for me and the entire Evans family," Tony shared on social as a way to help during the time of grief.
If you'd like to share some words of encouragement, cards can be sent to:
Evans Family, c/o The Urban Alternative, PO Box 4000, Dallas, TX 75208
(And if you aren't sure what to say, these 15 Sympathy Card Messages, Quotes and Verses to Express Condolences may help)
It's not the family's first time experiencing tragedy. After the sudden loss of Tony's niece in 2018, his 4 children joined Tony on stage at church to deliver a powerful message about relying on a good God through bad times. And those words still hold true as they now grieve the loss of Lois Evans.
h/t: Christian Headlines
Featured Image Credit: ©Getty Images/Cooper Neill
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!