Robert Kent Evans

It is with sadness at our loss but with great rejoicing at his homecoming that we announce Robert Kent Evans went home to heaven on September 2, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. at the age of 70 while surrounded by his loving family.
Robert was born and raised in Albany, Indiana, graduating from Albany High School in 1972. Robert began working with his father in the building business at the age of 10 and had the ability to do all facets of the building trade from drawing the plans to finish carpentry. Robert also did maintenance work in apartment communities, building and reconstruction in his own business "Bob Evans Construction" and in later years he drove a school bus for over 16 years before finally retiring. He loved the outdoors, camping and hiking but his first and most precious love was always Jesus.
Robert, known by some as Bobby, Bob, or Bob Kent over the course of his lifetime, accepted the Lord as his personal Lord and Savior at the early age of nine and a half during a church revival. From that moment, his life changed forever. He often said that even at such a young age, when he went to the altar and gave his life to the Lord, it was as if a huge weight had been lifted off of him. Robert never missed an opportunity to witness to whomever he came in contact with, and his greatest heart's desire was to be an example of and show those he came in contact with the love of God. Robert preached his first sermon at the age of 16. He was always a leader not a follower. During his teenage years he was president of the youth group, sang in both junior and adult choir, as well as participated in and taught Sunday school classes. Robert knew there was a call on his life to ministry at a young age and finally answered that call in his mid-twenty's. He, along with his wife Dee, attended Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma where they received training in Pastoral ministry. He always strove to teach the uncompromised Word of God refusing to be side-tracked from the vision God had given him and endeavored to "grow people up" in the Word so they could go forth and do likewise. After graduating from Rhema, Robert moved his family to North Carolina where they pioneered a church in Durham for the Foursquare Gospel. In 1998, he answered the call, and they moved once again to Browns Mills, New Jersey, where they pioneered a church as the first church plant for Faith Covenant Ministries. Then in 2013, the call to move again came. This time to Bakersfield, California, where he assumed the pastorate of Greater Bakersfield Ministries when the previous pastors retired. A few years later the church was renamed "Kern Christian Ministries" and relocated to a new facility in the central part of Bakersfield where it continues.
Robert is joined in heaven by his parents, Robert (Bob) Evans and Ann Louise (Kingrey) Evans and a sister, Patricia Gay Evans. Robert is survived by his wife, whom he referred to as "my best friend," of over 47 years, Daphne Dee (Dayton) Evans, son Kent Patrick and wife, Aiko Evans, and their two children Ashley Tomomi (17) and Kaylee Misaki (11), son Robert Nathan Evans and his three children Robert William (23), Caitlyn Renae (21), and Jack Nathan (20), and daughter Grace DeAnn (Evans) and husband Joseph Commiso, and their two children Joseph David (12) and LilyAnn Grace (8). Additionally, he is survived by his two brothers: Philip Dean and wife Nancy Evans, Gary Eugene and wife Wanda (Cheeseman) Evans, two sisters: Pamela Kay (Evans) and husband Michael Rees and Barbara Ann (Evans) and husband DeWayne James and several nieces and nephews.
A service will be held at Greenlawn Funeral Homes Southwest, 2739 Panama Ln., Bakersfield, CA 93313 on September 9, 2024. Viewing and memorial service will be held 4-7pm (first hour family
only). Memorial service will begin at 5:30p. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Faith Covenant Ministries to further the spreading of the gospel. https://faithcovenantministries.com/