Draft:Steven Lyn Evans


Steven Lyn Evans (born 28th August 1966, in Swansea) is a British archbishop within The International Christian Church Network. The Network is part of the international Convergence Movement and fosters fellowships across Christian denominations.

Early Life

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Evans grew up in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire and attended Pembrey Primary School. He then attended Glan-y-Mor Comprehensive School which was followed by London Bible College (now London School of Theology), and Cardiff University.

Biography

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Evans was born in Swansea, South Wales. He moved to London to become a singer when he was 20 years old and through a chance meeting with the Youth With A Mission training organisation, he received his first singing job at the London Palladium. It was there that he met and was initially managed by Larry Page and later Tony Calder. He trained at London Bible College from 1991-94 receiving a BA (hons) degree in Theology. In 1996 when performing with David Grant and Carrie Grant at the Royal Variety Show, a conversation with Sir Tom Jones[1] confirmed to him, that he should pursue a path towards Christian ministry.

Evans was given the ‘Charge to Preach’ by The Lord Reverend Dr. Leslie Griffiths of Wesley’s Chapel, London, in 2005. Following this he studied at St. Michael’s College, Llandaff (now St Padarn's Institute) where he received a M.Th. He was ordained in 2008 by leaders from the International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM). In 2009 Evans was featured on front page headlines because of several reported miracles at his church[2][3].  In 2012 he was consecrated as bishop by Patriarch John Githiga of All Nations Anglican Church at Word of Life Cathedral in Texas, USA[4] and in 2014 he was given the honour of a second consecration as bishop by the Apostolic Pastoral Congress at Manchester Cathedral in England, the lead consecrator being Archbishop Doye Agama[5].

Evans along with American Archbishop Metropolitan Doyle Volentine formalised their already existing Network of Churches into The International Christian Church Network in 2014. Alongside his colleague Bishop Tony Palmer, he worked within the Word of Faith movement and other believers and denominations as part of a Convergence Movement.

In 2019 Evans stood and won a seat on his local council representing the Conservative Party, he went on to lead the Conservatives in the Council and in in 2023 received an invitation to 10 Downing Street and met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak[6]. In 2023, Evans was awarded a knighthood from Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie for his work in training ministers[7]. Details of Evans’ training appear in the book Blown Away by Pastor Mick Fleming[8] who is a member of The International Christian Church Network. The book has a forward by HRH Prince William, Fleming was trained by, and currently works alongside Evans as bishop based in Burnley, England. In October 2023 Evans was consecrated as archbishop metropolitan of the International Christian Church Network in Texarkana, in the United States of America[9].

In May 2024 Evans accepted an invite, alongside Reverend Christopher Hughes a fellow minister of The International Christian Church Network, to a Sports Chaplaincy Conference in the Vatican City[10]. This took place ten years after the death of his colleague and Pope Francis’ friend, Bishop Tony Palmer. Evans recalled Bishop Palmer’s words to further encourage their Convergence Movement’s cause, “Diversity is Divine, division is diabolic.”

References

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  1. ^ Bevan, Nathan (2022-01-09). "Tom Jones convinced me to quit rock and roll to become a priest". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  2. ^ Walker, Natalie (2009-05-15). "Miracle Rev Made Our Legs Grow".
  3. ^ Davies, Laura (2009-05-20). "Prayer Made My Leg Grow". South Wales Evening Post.
  4. ^ Crowder, David (2012-02-27). "EL PASO, TX: Pastor who led recall to be ordained Anglican bishop of All Nations | VirtueOnline – The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism". virtueonline.org. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  5. ^ "Archbishop Metropolitan Dr. Steven Lyn Evans". The International Christian Church Network. 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  6. ^ Pennington, Matt (2023-04-08). "Former Wigan bishop visits Downing Street to meet Rishi Sunak". Wigan Today. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  7. ^ Graham, Charles (2023-07-02). "Wigan-based evangelical archbishop receives a knighthood from the grandson of Haile Selassie". Wigan Today. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  8. ^ Fleming, Mick (2022-09-15). Blown Away: From Drug Dealer to Life Bringer. SPCK Publishing. pp. 162–166. ISBN 978-0281086634.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ^ "Archbishop Steven Lyn Evans and Bishop Steven Bellant Consecrated at TICCN Conference USA". TICCN. 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  10. ^ Clarke, Gaynor (2024-05-24). "Wigan archbishop travels to Vatican City for sports chaplaincy conference". Wigan Today. Retrieved 2024-05-25.