Pastor Alan R. Evans is a spiritual father, trusted advisor, holiness preacher, student and teacher of The Word, and a lover of people. Born and raised on Detroit’s eastside, he was bred in holiness under Pastor James M. Maclin Sr. After many years of service as the minister of music, van driver, ordained elder, and faithful member, he received the call to ministry. In 1991, he and his wife went into pastoral ministry and founded The Open Door Church of God in Christ-Detroit. As Pastor Evans continued to preach The Word of God souls were saved, delivered, added, and anchored in the church. In 2018, Pastor Evans and The Open Door church family purchased a 44,000 square foot church building. Currently the Open Door serves the community through twice monthly food distribution in the parking lot, providing weekly free COVID testing and COVID vaccines (since September 2020), engagement with local Detroit Public Schools and many other community and family services.
Pastor Evans is a son of The Church of God in Christ and lifelong member and pastor within the Historic First Jurisdiction of Michigan. Under the late, spiritual giant, Bishop P.A. Brooks Sr. he was promoted to national adjutant, superintendent, and then Administrative Assistant. He was also given the esteemed opportunity to preach during the Holy Convocation at Mason Temple (2001) and at the St. Louis America’s Center (2018). Presently under the leadership of Bishop Zachary N. Hicks, he was promoted to AIM Chairman in 2021. Pastor Evans’ academic preparations include American Institute of Banking, C.H. Mason Bible College, and Southwestern Christian University.
Pastor Evans is the son of the late Deacon J.W. Evans and Mother Annie Ruth Evans, the husband of Lady Shernetta (Upshaw) Evans- who is also an anointed psalmist, father to 4 children who serve with him in ministry, and grandfather of 6 grandchildren. Pastor Evans’ vision is clear, to preach Christ, live a life of holiness, promote sanctification, to admonish to highly esteem God’s Word, to reach our neighbors and community by Christ’s love, and to equip the people of God to walk and live the life of faith.