The pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Dr Tony Evans announced his engagement to his fiancé Dr Carla Crummie to his congregation, with family members joining him on stage.
The 74-year-old pastor, author and broadcaster lost his late wife Lois Irene Evans just before the global pandemic of 2020, after over 49 years of marriage.
Dr Evans described it as a "tender time" coming up to the fourth year since Lois' passing, and thanked his church family for grieving with him and allowing him to grieve with them in their losses since.
In the announcement, which was televised, he said that he was "aware that this might invoke some grief in some people", which he said he could understand.
Dr Evans praised God for bringing Dr Crummie into his life, someone who, in his words, "had walked a similar path", referring to the fact that Dr Crummie's husband had died shortly after Dr Evans's wife - in fact as the couple were travelling to Lois' funeral. Both Dr Evans and Dr Crummie had also lost a parent within a year of losing their spouses.
He told the congregation: "as I've tried to share my the ups and downs of life with you, I wanted to share this and give you the opportunity to meet new my fiancé Miss Carla Crummie", who was then met by rapturous applause and cheers.
Dr Evans acknowledged that it was "a sensitive time because during times like this you're also reminded of loss." He asked his church for "sensitivity as you pray for me, as we walk through this journey".
