At the young age of 18, Tony Evans answered the call of God to give his life to full-time ministry. From that point forward, he made it his goal to study, practice and teach the truths found in God's unchanging word.

Known early on as a powerful preacher with an even more powerful voice, the response to Tony's sermons was enthusiastic. Soon, people outside of his newly founded church in urban Dallas began requesting his tapes. A young Lois Evans, while also caring for and nurturing four active children, began duplicating his messages in a make-shift office she set up in their garage. Lois, along with the children, made routine trips to the post office carrying bags of orders people had sent in. A woman of all seasons, she now serves as executive vice-president of The Urban Alternative, leading a staff of over 20 with an unwavering dedication to and endearing love for God's use of her husband's gifts and anointing.

While biblical teaching began to reach a wider audience early on, opportunities to air on the radio began to open. These opportunities, however, were limited due to the state of the nation which was still largely divided along racial lines. White stations targeting a white audience rejected the program saying that they felt a black preacher might offend their listeners. It wasn't until another young leader at that time, Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, made a bold move inviting Tony as a guest on his ministry program, and then later urged stations around the country to air Tony Evans' sermons in their broadcast schedule that the broader market began to deliver the ministry and teaching of this gifted, young man.

Listeners quickly showed their support and validation of this decision by making The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans one of the most popular and listened to Christian teaching radio broadcasts of all time.