KANSAS CITY, Mo—This past October, nearly 10,000 ministry leaders and church members entered their pastors for a chance to win Midwestern Seminary’s $10,000 giveaway for Pastor Appreciation Month. From this year’s entries, Zachary Evans was randomly selected to win the $10,000 giveaway. Evans serves as the pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Newalla, Oklahoma, where he has served since 2022.
The pastor who is randomly selected receives $5,000 to use on a family vacation and another $5,000 to use for church needs. In addition to the cash giveaway, Midwestern Seminary offered several others, including prizes for the pastor who has served the longest and the pastor who is newest to ministry.
“Being a pastor entails incredible joys but also incredible challenges,” said President Jason Allen. “That is why I am so thankful that Midwestern Seminary celebrates pastor appreciation month. Ministers should be reminded of the eternal consequences their ministries can have and should be encouraged to persevere in the calling that the Lord has placed on their lives. I’m grateful for the anonymous donor who made this gift possible, and I want to extend a congratulations to Zachary Evans for winning our giveaway this year. I pray the Lord blesses you and the ministry that he has entrusted to you.”
Receiving the News
Reflecting on his reaction when he learned he had won, Evans said, “We were certainly surprised and a bit overwhelmed when we found out we won. This gift was a huge reminder of God’s kindness in a time that we needed it.”
Zach is married to Erica, and they have a daughter, Hadley. The Evans family plans to use half of the giveaway funds for a vacation to rest and enjoy time together amid the demands of ministry.
Regarding the portion dedicated to their church, Evans said, “The money comes at a critical time for our church. We have some maintenance in our small-group spaces that this will help with. We will also use half of it to help fund our food pantry.”
New Life’s food pantry—run by volunteers and held every Saturday—provides essential resources for families in difficult circumstances, allowing members of the church to minister to those who come for help.
“This funding will help us continue to serve people in the community in a time of need,” Evans said.
Evans’ Call to Ministry
Evans shared that God used his family’s faithfulness to draw him into ministry. From a young age, he observed what ministry involvement looked like as his parents served in music ministry for more than three decades. Through their example, God planted an appreciation and desire to serve the Church in him.
As a teenager, the Lord drew Evans to himself, and he sensed a call to preach. He wasted no time following this call, beginning to supply preach at age 13, accepting every opportunity presented to him. As he grew older, these opportunities increased.
After graduating high school, Evans attended Oklahoma Baptist University.
During his junior year, Trinity Baptist Church in Oktaha, Oklahoma, contacted him after finding his name on the pulpit supply list. In February 2020, after several months of supply preaching at their church, Trinity called him to be their pastor.
“I cannot say enough good things about my time at Trinity,” Evans said. “They knew how young and inexperienced I was and chose to love on and invest in me.”
After serving at Trinity for two years, Evans sensed the Lord calling him to New Life Baptist Church, where he continues to serve. Following the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, New Life endured a challenging period as several members passed away. Then, the following year, the church’s fire suppression system froze, burst, and flooded the building, forcing the congregation out for a season.
By the time Evans arrived, the chaos had begun to settle, and the church was ready for a new chapter. “In 2022, I came to a church eager to forget what lies behind and press forward to what lies ahead. The Lord has been faithful these last few years, and I am convinced that our best days are ahead of us,” Evans said.
A Passion to Preach and Worship
As evidenced by his early call to preaching ministry, Evans is deeply passionate about the preaching of God’s Word.
“A mentor of mine said that the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to do the work of God,” Evans stated. “I believe what he said, and I strive to preach in a way that reflects that belief.”
Having grown up around music ministry, Evans also cares deeply about congregational singing. He pointed to Colossians 3:16 as central to New Life’s approach to worshiping through song, noting, “We aim for the Word not only to be communicated through the sermon, but through the songs as well.”
Drawing from these convictions, Evans offered this exhortation to pastors seeking to minister faithfully: “Don’t lose sight of Jesus’ mission to make disciples of all nations. That starts with you and your church. It is easy to settle into a mode of maintaining what has been, but Jesus has promised that He will build His Church, so we must press forward for His purpose.”
Several members of Evans’ church wrote notes of thanks to him for his faithful service. One member wrote, “In just a few years, Pastor Zach has helped our congregation grow, strengthened our ministries, and guided us with wisdom and genuine care. His passion for God’s Word and his heart for people are evident in everything he does.”
Pastor Appreciation Month
Pastor Appreciation Month is a time to recognize the long hours and faithful labors of those who shepherd and care for God’s Church. This year, thousands of pastors were honored—not only through various giveaways, but also through personal notes of appreciation submitted as part of the giveaway process.
To learn more about Midwestern Seminary’s efforts in celebrating Pastor Appreciation Month, click here.
By Jonathan Lumley
