Dr. Tony Evans is giving fans an intimate look at the remarkable love story he never saw coming.
Nearly three years into his marriage to Dr. Carla Evans, the beloved pastor and author is opening up about the heartbreaking losses that brought them together-and the surprising moment a simple offer to pray became the first step toward a second chance at love.
During a deeply personal episode of The Unbound Podcast, Tony and Carla reflected on their journey from grief to healing, describing their relationship as the result of God's unseen hand at work.
"Our marriage has come out of a journey," Evans shared. "It's kind of been a mixture of grief and new chapters."
The couple revealed that their lives had been intertwined for years before romance was ever on the horizon.
Long before they became husband and wife, Carla had met her late husband, Dr. Robert Crummie, at Evans' church while he was serving as an intern. Years later, Robert became president of Carver College-the same school where Evans had completed his undergraduate studies-adding yet another unexpected connection between their lives.
Then, within weeks of each other, tragedy struck.
Evans was mourning the death of his wife, Lois Evans, in December 2019 after also losing his father just weeks earlier. At the very same time, Carla's husband unexpectedly died from a massive heart attack, turning what should have been a season of supporting the Evans family into one of unimaginable grief for her own.
Both families endured multiple losses during that difficult period, leaving them to navigate profound sorrow while trying to rebuild their lives.
Their paths crossed again at a Dallas Theological Seminary event, where Carla immediately recognized Evans. After offering condolences, the pastor did something she never expected.
He asked for her phone number.
But Evans insists there was no romantic agenda.
"I would like to pray with you," he told her.
"That was a real statement about prayer," Evans laughed during the podcast. "There were no ulterior motives."
A week later, he called exactly as promised and prayed with her.
As time passed, Carla occasionally reached out because Evans understood the unique pain of losing a spouse. Those conversations gradually blossomed into friendship as God continued placing them together through ministry opportunities.
The funniest moment came when Evans invited Carla to dinner while visiting Atlanta.
She was completely clueless.
"I thought Dr. Tony Evans wanted to talk about ministry," she admitted with a laugh.
Evans couldn't resist teasing her.
"I'm calling you and asking you for dinner because I want to talk about the ministry?" he joked.
Looking back, the couple now believes God had been orchestrating their story through a series of "providential connections" long before either realized what was happening.
For Evans, Carla's compassion stood out long before romance entered the picture. He said watching the way she cared for her aging father and treated people with kindness confirmed the character he was looking for.
Today, the couple hopes their story encourages others walking through seasons of loss, reminding them that even after heartbreaking endings, God is still capable of writing beautiful new beginnings.
