Andrew Evans
Encyclopedia
Andrew Evans OAM
(born 17 June 1935, in India
) is a Pentecostal
Christian
pastor
in the Assemblies of God
and a politician in the South Australia
n Legislative Council
. Evans is most notable for pastoring Paradise Community Church
for 30 years and founding the Family First Party
.
. From 1958 to 1960, Evans studied for Christian Ministry at the Assemblies of God Commonwealth Bible College in Brisbane (now known as Southern Cross College
in Chester Hill, Sydney). He graduated with a Diploma in Theology in December 1960 and was ordained to the Ministry in 1963. He then served as a credentialed missionary with AOG World Missions in the East Sepik
province of Papua New Guinea
from 1963 to 1969.
For 30 years, Pastor Evans served as Senior Pastor of Paradise Assembly of God in Adelaide
, now known as Paradise Community Church
. He was National Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Australia
, before being succeeded by Pastor Brian Houston
of Hillsong Church
, who changed the title to National President. Andrew Evans then started the Family First Party
and was elected into the Legislative Council at the 2002 state election. He retired from service in the Legislative Council 3 July 2008.
on 5 August 1981. He was also awarded a Doctor of Ministries on 20 September 1994 from the School of Theology in California. He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal OAM
for his service to the Christian Church 26 January 2003.
In the South Australian Parliament from 2002 to 2008, the Hon Andrew Evans MLC:
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 17 June 1935, in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) is a Pentecostal
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
in the Assemblies of God
Assemblies of God in Australia
Australian Christian Churches , also known as Assemblies of God in Australia , is a Pentecostal Christian denomination and the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world...
and a politician in the South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n Legislative Council
South Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
. Evans is most notable for pastoring Paradise Community Church
Paradise Community Church
Paradise Community Church is a multi-campus Christian church, located in Paradise, situated in north east Adelaide, South Australia, affiliated with Australian Christian Churches. The church was founded in 1907 by British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth. In 1969, Andrew Evans became its first...
for 30 years and founding the Family First Party
Family First Party
The Family First Party is a socially conservative minor political party in Australia. It has two members in the South Australian Legislative Council...
.
History
Andrew L. Evans was born to missionary parents in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. From 1958 to 1960, Evans studied for Christian Ministry at the Assemblies of God Commonwealth Bible College in Brisbane (now known as Southern Cross College
Southern Cross College
Alphacrucis is a Christian tertiary college and is the official ministry training college of Australian Christian Churches, the Assemblies of God in Australia. The College has several campuses however the main campus is in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia...
in Chester Hill, Sydney). He graduated with a Diploma in Theology in December 1960 and was ordained to the Ministry in 1963. He then served as a credentialed missionary with AOG World Missions in the East Sepik
East Sepik
East Sepik is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Wewak. East Sepik has an estimated population of 343,180 people and is roughly 42,800 km square in size.-History:...
province of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
from 1963 to 1969.
For 30 years, Pastor Evans served as Senior Pastor of Paradise Assembly of God in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, now known as Paradise Community Church
Paradise Community Church
Paradise Community Church is a multi-campus Christian church, located in Paradise, situated in north east Adelaide, South Australia, affiliated with Australian Christian Churches. The church was founded in 1907 by British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth. In 1969, Andrew Evans became its first...
. He was National Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Australia
Assemblies of God in Australia
Australian Christian Churches , also known as Assemblies of God in Australia , is a Pentecostal Christian denomination and the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world...
, before being succeeded by Pastor Brian Houston
Brian Houston (pastor)
Brian Houston is a pastor in the Australian Christian Churches. He is currently the Senior Pastor at Hillsong Church which has locations in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia, London, Cape Town, Kiev, Germany, Paris, Moscow, Stockholm and New York City. He was also the National President of Australian...
of Hillsong Church
Hillsong Church
Hillsong Church is a Pentecostal megachurch affiliated with Australian Christian Churches and located in Sydney, Australia. The church's senior pastors, Brian and Bobbie Houston, began the church in 1983 as the Hills Christian Life Centre in Baulkham Hills...
, who changed the title to National President. Andrew Evans then started the Family First Party
Family First Party
The Family First Party is a socially conservative minor political party in Australia. It has two members in the South Australian Legislative Council...
and was elected into the Legislative Council at the 2002 state election. He retired from service in the Legislative Council 3 July 2008.
Awards and achievements
Evans received a Doctor of Divinity from the unaccredited California Graduate School of TheologyCalifornia Graduate School of Theology
The California Graduate School of Theology is an unaccredited American institution of higher learning in La Habra, California. It was founded in 1968 as an interdenominational graduate school and has been attended by over 5,000 students...
on 5 August 1981. He was also awarded a Doctor of Ministries on 20 September 1994 from the School of Theology in California. He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal OAM
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for his service to the Christian Church 26 January 2003.
In the South Australian Parliament from 2002 to 2008, the Hon Andrew Evans MLC:
- introduced the Bill that abolished a feature of the South Australian legal system, his Bill removing the bar to prosecuting people for sexual offences committed before 1 December 1982
- introduced the motion that established the Select Committee into the Status of Fathers in South Australia
- Spearheaded the defeat of the Equal Opportunity (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill which restricted freedom of speech and association
- Compelled the State Labor Government to include an interim 2020 target for its climate change legislation