A Conversation with Kenny Evans

CNG radio for today's culture and timeless truths come together is reason relevant content apologetics worldview and answers to the questions that you need to know need to know from Alex McFarlane ministries. This is true for a new generation radio and now the man who preached in 50 states and 50 days speaker, writer, and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarlane in Ephesians 411, 12. God says this that God raises up pastors, teachers and evangelists for equipping the saints for the work of the ministry hi everybody, Alex McFarland, you're welcome the addition of truth for a new generation radio you know on the road traveling as I do you meet a lot of people. Some make more of an impression than others.

And right now I'm so blessed him with a friend that you want to meet you do not want to miss the next few minutes because were visiting with the musician and evangelist Kenny Evanson here at First Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He recently gave a concert gave a powerful sermon people are talking about it and we're just sitting around visiting and talking about ministry and winning people to Christ and how Jesus absolutely transforms lives when he is allowed in because Kenny and I both know he transformed each of our lives brother Kenny. I want to say thanks for all you do for the kingdom. And thanks for taking a few minutes to visit with us at truth for a new generation is a blessing to be here and and just to spend this time with you brother. It's it's it's a blessing and I'm honored to be your what you know, one of the things you and I have in common. In addition to loving the Lord and we both love music and you were telling me about. You were on the fast track to become a country superstar you sang and toured with a lot of the names everybody knows but yourself that that was your your goal in your plan to be a country superstar wasn't absolutely country music at one time in my life was my God I was raised in a musical family actually been performing professionally since I was eight years old house. I was racing in a family gospel quartet and then when I became a young man, but not 10 or 20 years old, I decided to go to Nashville and try to make my mark in the country's business. Yeah, it was a fast-paced life that a lot of people have a goal like that. I meet a lot of young people that want to do that on the glitz and glamour. The same is it to a yellow brick road or does it have a dark underbelly will not. I know for me personally I never reached that level of an Alan Jackson or George Strait, but you know I did have the opportunity to get very familiar with the business I work with a lot of people in the business that a lot of recording in Nashville as we were talking earlier I spent over 200 days a year on tour and I got to meet and work with a lot of the biggest names in country music in the mid to late 90s I was the opening act for Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Charlie Daniels. Now this was it up in a fairly low level, the stars, who I was and of these guys started head out hit records and I was chasing that is a situation that neon rainbow but I did a lot of studio work in Nashville had producers. As I mentioned to you that together produced my records was a founding member and lead guitar player for the man Sawyer Brown and course. My manager was a man that worked for country superstar Aaron Tippin so you know I was climbing that ladder and I know will get to this, but my my career and my story, takes a tragic turn but but it's not all glitz and glamour unit. You can imagine sleeping in a hotel every night. You know, and again the that the my dad told me this when I told my dad I was leaving our family group to pursue a career in country music.

My dad sat me down like any father would do to a son, and he warned me about all the things the world had to offer and I come to find out I mean everything he said was true because I did I did I get pretty heavily involved with the alcohol use, drug abuse, and you know I was unfaithful to my wife and I it's just a very dark, it's a very dark night and I say this everywhere I go now as an evangelist, not on the road preaching all of the United States. It's a very dark world out there and and the country music business is I say everywhere I go another's good people in Nashville. I want this to be taken the wrong way, but the country music business. I mean, it is a very dark worldly but it's all driven by money and when you're not making the money they're done with you that that's true in any of course rock 'n' roll is the same way in and I wanted to be a musician when I was in college and thankfully found the Lord Jesus. But you know it's interesting. I was recently on the road in Texas and whenever I go down to the Lubbock area. There are so many great people down there devout Christians, Silverton, Texas. There is a man that was with Bob wills and the Texas playboys you you probably heard of Western swing Bob wills right all absolute matter fact I tell you absolutely know exactly who Bob wills is I did a concert in Greensboro, North Carolina. You mentioned Greensboro my hometown.

Actually, there you go. Yet why did a concert, I was the opening that door was a real popular country star in the 90s by the name of Tracy Byrd. He had a huge hit called watermelon crawl will my booking agent that booked me to to open for him. One night, and probably my favorite segment of his part of the show casino is the opening act. I would go on for about an hour and 1/2 and then they would get my stuff off the stage and then they bring the headliners stuff on but anyway my favorite part of Tracy Byrd's show was he did about a 20 minute segment segment of a Texas swing music and it was awesome. Well, I've got a dear friend down there in Silverton, Texas, who played with Bob wills new Bob wills and he said you know, near the end of his life and end.

By the way folks Bob wills was a huge composer just one of the Great American song San Antonio Rose faded law, but near the end of his life. He said that Bob agonized as a young man he felt called to be an evangelist and he he did know the Lord, but he lamented that he didn't give his whole life to the gospel and winning people to Jesus. And here's a guy that was a composers composer all around the world as Western swing jazz country Bob wills is revered. He has everything the world says should be success, but at the end of his life. Those closest to a new he wished that he had given his skills in his life to winning folks to Jesus. And so what we do for Jesus.

That's all that really lasted and we do for the gospel.

That's all that really matters is not Kenny a amen yeah you know my kids and my wife and I we have three kids will actually have two grandkids now but me and my wife not kids. We talk often about who I was before. Before I came to know Christ and in my kids they know about my career.

They go on YouTube and watch all the old bed videos and this this and I tell my kids this all the time you know I'll I will likely never be as rich horse famous as I would've been had I stayed in the music business, but you know Scripture says don't lay up treasures here on her flame up in heaven cannot tell my kids all the time. You know, I may never have the things that the world call success, but I live my life to take as many people have with me as I can. That's what I did say two more with Kenny Evans treats for new generation returns Tony Landau 10 for the first time since the covert shutdowns it's the 2021 truth for new generation national apologetics conference worldviews the battles you must win featuring Dr. Alex McFarlane Dr. Frank during Sandy Rios and EW Jackson talking about raising children to come to Christ and staying with Christ in the midst of the world. Critical race theory and Marxism in America October 15-17 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina conference and can't certify the bird saw PAG 2021 October 17 register Alex.com word with Bill Campbell new buddy once their dark underside to show I'm talking about that selfish sin nature that doesn't completely go away in this life. Mine began to come out one morning when I accidentally while I set the teapot on fire. It was embarrassing dangerous in the whole house.

Thank I'll tell you about my mistake and help point me to God's remake that is God's solution to our dark underside. Just go to Scripture awakening.com for the first date of a read through the Bible, it can brighten your day and change your life.

Are you to every man is wearing awakening.com for apologetics, resources, books by Alex McFarlane and to find out where Alex is speaking to visit Alex McFarlane.com welcome back to TNG Alex McFarlane.

What a great year. This is being I've been on the road traveling and speaking right on that first Baptist Church of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which is going to be the location of the fall 2021 truth for a new generation conference. This will be our as far as I can count are 48, the national apologetics conference folks you don't want to miss it. The theme is world views. The battles we must win and listen if you're watching the news, you know, we are in the battle for this nation.

Now, October 15-17 right here in Myrtle Beach, First Baptist Church Myrtle Beach were going to have Dr. Frank Turek, Sandy Rios, Bishop EW Jackson, Tracy Embree of Shepherdsville Academy more than a dozen speakers we would be talking about how to share the gospel here in the 21st century work in us what what are the origins of the welcome movement and how the woke movement not only threatens the souls of people even our nation were going to be talking about homosexuality and transgender is how do we share the gospel with those that are caught up in the transgender movement and mindset parenting. There's a youth track I'm working with Ground Zero youth ministries, a phenomenal youth ministry music by the bird songs and award-winning group out of Nashville you're gonna love it. Folks go to my website which is simply Alex McFarland.com you need to register. You need to be here. You will be equipped to share your faith confidently in any situation.

Truth in the generation October 15-17.

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Welcome back to my friend and this conversation with Kenny Evans you mentioned laying up treasures in heaven, that's all that matters to me. You could have everything in the world Kenny but if you don't have Jesus and eternity. Your bankrupt MRI exactly right. I'll tell you there was a time in my life where I thought that that fame of fortune would bring me satisfaction and when a person truly comes to faith in Christ. They understand that you and I and I've heard this a thousand times you've heard of the thousand times offered preacher after preacher after preacher say no. There is a God sized void in every person's heart. Money can't fill that fame can't fill that six can't feel that the long list of drugs.

The only thing that can fill that is knowing Jesus having a personal relationship with with the Lord and and I'll add I learned that the hard way. You know him and I will say this even after becoming a Christian. You know you know that the call of the babe in Christ years when I was first you know new in this walk with Christ. Like any infant we have to grow.

You know we have to nurture our ship went to get the word of God in us.

It took me a few years to learn that I was running from God.

You know, in the midst of this career as as we talked in the first segment about my career in country music Man I tell you I mean I lived that life. I was on the road.

I was doing the you know just doing my thing and then I got saved. God save me from a life of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, a restore my marriage after adultery and you know knowing Jesus living for Jesus loving the word of God is this truly the only source of hope and peace. In this messed up world were living in you in this world of celebrity and fame and I mean people can get online and went with the tick-tock videos suddenly there they can be 9 x 40,000,000 people. Do you think there really searching though to fill that God sized empty space in their heart I will. That's actually that's that can be a deep question with a deep answer now and I'll tell you what I know this.

I know there are some very successful people out there, truly, madly in love with Jesus.

There are people that there are people that this set goals. There are people that that have, you know, dreams and aspirations and they're able to reach those and in the midst of that they can still be madly in love with Jesus, the very generous on the personal friends.

I know that that have done very well in business and they're just generous.

So I guess the best way to answer that is I would say this, I would say there's probably a remnant of people out there that have shakes that dream found success and still love Jesus but I just, I guess there's a big side to me that would have to say you know most people out there. Most people that are chasing that thing whatever that thing may be a career in movies music that you know Internet fame I would have to say I personally might believe that yes a lot of those people are there trying to feel that God void with those things you know and where is home for you where you come from. We live in East Tennessee. My family and you know we live right outside of Knoxville.

You know I I'm actually not only do I travel as an evangelist preaching, but I'm also full-time entertainer in pigeon Forge, Tennessee on the male vocalist in the American old to show where a been for about 22 seasons now, so in a non-Covidien year Co. would messed up so much. But in a non-covert year. You know I probably do 75 to 80 shows a year in pigeon Forge and then I'm on the road 125 days preach and you know doing revivals and I like the bit Willis this past Sunday at first Baptist Myrtle Beach. I did the Sunday morning I brought the more message and then that night we attended a concert here at the church, and you can tailor the program to meet the needs of of any great can't. You will absolutely yeah and that's Dennis you know what a blessing that God put me there in pigeon Forge, you know it at our show in a we do everything from the old exhibits of Elvis Frankie Valley we do a strong, patriotic and gospel segment and I'll tell you another great thing and in you know in pigeon Forge for 22 years now.

The theater where I performed. They've allowed me to share my testimony and I've had the opportunity to personally lead people to Christ. People show up from other states and as I begin to share my testimony. The Holy Spirit of Jesus in John 644 no man comes to me and let in less the spirit draws immuno so you know, God uses that and he used my testimony have led people to Christ at our theater. To answer your question yes I mean I do everything from, you know oldies conserves a lot of church you know in the February timeframe they're looking for a banquet for husbands and wives. I'll go in and do an entire concert of nothing but the love songs of the 50s and 60s and 70s and then you know we do some country music. Of course, but it's it's all truly God honoring you know it's all about and I'm a firm believer Christians, even in church can have a good time. Amen. Amen. And you have really come back to that, we've got a brief break. Folks were talking with my friend and my fellow evangelist Kenny Evans is so the web is about the gospel and how we got to keep that message of salvation forefront. First and foremost in the church and in our lives don't go Weber back after this. America today is like a patient struggling to live yet is being forcibly euthanized by her quote doctors, the life force within the patient fighting for survival is the honest citizens like yourself team of quote caregivers are the local and national leaders actually contributing to the demise of patient economy is crashing crime is exploding. The Constitution is being abolished the assault on America how to defend our nation before it's too late by Alex Farland has one single purpose to get you prepared the real source of America's current problems that no one else is talking about and what you can do now to face tomorrow. Regardless of what tomorrow brings.

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You know, in Matthew 633 the word of God says seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things will be added to you. Hi Alex McFarland you're welcome back where I'm just having a great time fellowship with Kenny Evans before the break, you talk about how Christians can have fun and you know traveling and I 99.9% of everything I do is speaking once in a blue moon. I'll be somewhere and maybe the praise band. As I have a guitarist and I'll sit in or something like that and it's funny, I was sharing the gospel with this Jewish man who heard me speak and he mentioned something about the Beatles and I said what's your favorite Beatle to. I guarantee I'll know it and I did I played.

I forget what he wanted to hear something. I don't know what it was. I want to hold your hand or something. Anyway, he said that's amazing. I didn't know that you all were allowed to like listen to music and I said hey Jesus took away my sins not my not my musical taste and did you think we need to in a course I am all for godliness and standards but we as Christians can embrace the arts and have fun too. Can't wait. Amen. I tell you it's I shared the story. Sunday night I was presented that the opportunity to preach in Florida, probably 1214 years ago I met a pastor in pigeon Forge, you are my testimony asked me to come down for revival not remember. He heard me sing in the rock 'n' roll show and I shared my testimony so I get down to this church and this is a Sunday morning and were about to begin revival and literally maybe 10 minutes before service on Sunday morning he he comes to me and says would you sing a song today and I said sure.

What would you like to hear know this was the first Baptist Church of this particular town and and this was what I can.

I will call in an old school in a Baptist preacher and I was expecting something like how great thou Art or Beulah Lander. Whatever he said would you sing a song this morning and I said sure what you like to hear and he said only you buy the platters and I said I said no say that again. He's an exit only by the platters and I said we you realize it's a Sunday morning he says okay it's okay were going have a good time.

The family God, you know, we have the joy of the Lord and and he said this is what he told me he said that he said there's nothing ungodly about that and I thought you know what you're exactly right now. I'm a firm believer that you know when we come to the house of God worship on Sunday mornings that you know we are to come and be a blessing to God. So many people they want to come to church is a blessed me if you can I will bless the Lord, for who he is but anyway so I started singing only you that morning and and that there was a young lady in the church she was sitting off to my left as I was saying and she started weeping and and I didn't know really what was going on in her life, but I got to the second verse the song the keep in mind a lot of people will take a secular song, especially in the church.

I may take a secular country song or pop song and they much they may change the lyrics and try to make it a song of faith or Christian salt, but this is the way the song came out and and Motown's. The second verse is only you can make this change in me fortes true. You are my destiny and when ice when I sang those lyrics.

She just jumped her feet with both hands and in the air, worshiping God and I immediately thought what the Bible says in second Corinthians 517 if any man be in Christ, he becomes a new creature. The old things passed away and behold all things are become new. Because it is true you know.

Only you, God can make this change in me and Fort fortes true. You are my destiny. You know, so yeah, I mean I'm a firm believer just because we become a follower of Christ. We don't have to be a stick in the mud, we can have a good time. Amen and amen and in you know what I think about this that with the arts. We need to do things with excellence that the things we bring to God and this will attract people a little bit of church history folks during the Middle Ages.

Look, it was the church that led out in academics, literacy, and yes, the arts, theater plays, the first place really in the Western world were called morality plays, but there were Bible stories and so I think one thing we can do, especially to reach young people is to offer the, the arts, and even I've encouraged churches to have a strings program and teach music and music theory because you know really all the great poetry, literature, music, it really points to the one who is beauty himself, Jesus, our Savior doesn't pay a man yeah and and we need to be very cautious and we need to be very classy and we need to be very wise with what we bring into the church but it's okay.

It's okay to have fun. It's okay to do music with excellence. It's okay to do music that's upbeat where you can clap your hands even laugh and smile you. I believe Jesus was a cool happy guy.

You don't say I was just as I think G. I think our Lord was happy, joyful, tell us I want to change years of urine evangelist. What is that what does an evangelist do what what does an evangelist do I know this evangelist loves to preach to the church preach to the lost. See lives changed and that could be a Christian being revived that could be a will also come to faith in Christ.

Sometimes I use the term revivalist one last thing before just about out of time folks were we can talk with Kenny Evans and asked if you had one prayer for America if if the Lord said Kenny what is your request brother. What would be your prayer for the United States of America. I guess my prayer for America would be this. My prayer for America would be that the church wake up you know my prayer would be that the church finally stand up and speak up boldly when it comes to abortion. Stand up and speak up boldly when it comes to human sexuality, stand up and speak up boldly when it comes to that. The relationship between American Israel. You know I'm a firm believer that the meaning of the nation of Israel there still the apple of God signed Onset in Genesis to those that bless you all a blessed and those who curse you I will curse them. My prayer would be church wake up, wake up, stand up and speak up because the hope of America is in the local church and we are the hope of America working we will find you online and let me strongly encourage you as your planning events for the future. Bring this man to your city. He sings he preaches God uses him to bring people to faith in Christ and to build up the body. Working people find you. Kenny, the website is www.kennyevans.org Chuck Colson said the church is the conscience of the culture. Our job is.

Vince Hafner said we are to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. And that means telling the truth, even if it's not convenient or popular. So do that.

Ephesians 4 says that God give pastor's teachers and evangelist like any of and's and myself to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. So let's go out and do the ministry, but still the world about Jesus.

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