Albert Randall Evans

Albert Randall Evans, age 63, Joplin, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007, at St. John's Regional Medical Center.

Bro. Al was born May 29, 1944, in Kansas City, Mo., son of Albert C. Evans and Virginia Smith Evans of Nevada, Mo. He graduated from El Dorado Springs High School, and then received a BA from Southwest Baptist University in Boliver, Mo., he also attended the University of Missouri in Kansas City, received his Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling from Anderson Baptist Seminary, Camilla, Ga., and later completed the Basic Police Course at Missouri Southern University, Joplin. He was a certified Temperament Counselor, Licensed Clinical Counselor, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor, was member of the National Christian Counselors Association and Professional Clinical Member with the American Association of Christian Counselors.

He served on the Nevada Baptist Association as Chairman of the Executive Board, the Nominating Committee, and was the Mission Chairman, he was on the Nominating Committee of the Baptist Student Union at MSSU, Joplin Sociology Committee, and served as advisor to Board of Directors for the Rural Missouri Incorporated, Jefferson City.

He served as the Pastor of several churches during his ministry which began in 1962, including Olive Branch, Milo, Mo., First Baptist Church, Arcadia, Kan., City Mission of Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y., Milo Baptist Church, Milo, Mo., Taylor's Memorial Baptist Church, Aberdeen, N.C., Macedonia Baptist Church, Fayetteville, N.C., and from 1982 to present, Friendship Baptist Church, Joplin.

In addition to pasturing these churches, Al worked for Job Search Assistance, Inc., Joplin, as an office manager, West Central Missouri Rural Development in Appleton City, Mo., as office manager, Offenders Aid and Restoration in Fayetteville, N.C., as a counselor, Human Services Coordinator, Region H, in Troy, N.C., as a counselor and educator, and Manpower, West Central Missouri Rural Development in Appleton City, Mo.

In addition to his parents, Bro. Al is survived by his wife, Debbie Evans whom he married Oct. 19, 1984, in Joplin: sons, Andre' Evans and wife Kristie of Creedmore, N.C., a, Justin Evans and wife Katrin of Haaren, Germany, Shawn Hofer and wife Amy of Rutledge, Ga.: daughter, Michael Thomas and husband Briant, of Kansas City, Mo.: 11 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Friday, Nov. 23, at 10 a.m., at Friendship Baptist Church with Keith Jackson and Jim Lidberg officiating. Interment will follow in Osborne Memorial Cemetery with Frank Knorpp, Bud Cox, Tom Cox, Melvin Myers, Dick Sharp, and Robert Bradford serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at Parker Mortuary on Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kidney Foundation, Transplant Organization, or to Friendship Baptist Church.