READ THIS: DARE TO BE A MAN The Truth Every Man Must Know…And Every Woman Needs to Know About Him by DAVID G. EVANS

You might wonder what Peachy Deegan has in common with a Baptist Preacher in New Jersey and the immediate response might be: "not much!" However, we were eager to review this book because of the ideals David Evans embraces and promotes. Whom You Know is all about quality: quality people being the best they can be! Therefore, in a nutshell, we think when everyone is doing their best and treating people the way they deserve to be treated, it creates a better world where everyone excels. Evans references the Bible quite a bit and we are not recommending or not recommending that: we recommend the overall ideals and if you think that leads you to the Bible, that is your option. (At Whom You Know we actively practice the religion of Boston College football.)

The problem is, there are many that do not stop to recognize their faults: in reading "Dare to Be a Man" we believe many men will identify issues through reflection that they can hopefully resolve so they can lead a better life and cease wreaking havoc in the paths of the lives of others they interact with. This is also true of women in general, but this book addresses issues of men predominantly. And when men have issues, they become women's issues!

Evans states early on: "Reflection is often a very harsh reality...My reflection had been shattered by all the negative, destructive, behaviors of [my father figure], disconnected from his purpose, brought into the lives of all those around him." Having a connection to your purpose in life is crucial! He goes on to smartly comment "Structure is a key element in the success of any endeavor...Excellence is intentional." Doing the correct thing is not always appreciated by the masses, however, so we would have to agree with Evans that you need to overlook those that don't have an appreciation for the pursuit of excellence-they are not qualified to be in a relationship with you- and instead surround yourself with people who do excel. 

We like the checklist compiled at the conclusion of this work. Overall, this is an interesting book to read for all and more helpful for men, of course! Whom You Know recommends Dare to Be a Man.

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David G. Evans, the bestselling author of Healed Without Scars, presents life-changing insight, encouragement, and advice for men and the women in their lives in DARE TO BE A MAN: The Truth Every Man Must Know…and Every Woman Needs to Know About Him (G. P. Putnam’s Sons; Publication Date: September 20, 2009; ISBN: 978-0-399-15494-2; Price: $23.95/$30.00 CAN). Through his roles as pastor of one of the largest churches in America, host of the nationally broadcast television show “Power of Revelation” and the radio show “On Pointe,” and sought-after speaker, Bishop Evans has touched the lives of millions. Now, he addresses one of the most critical issues of contemporary life––what it means to be a real man, and how changing conceptions of manhood have sown confusion and damaged relationships between men and women.

Bishop Evans speaks directly to men and women with frankness, understanding, and authority, as he both challenges them and celebrates what men can be. As Bishop Evans points out, definitions of acceptable masculinity have changed. Amid evolving cultural and religious expectations, it can be difficult for men and women alike to grasp a consistent definition of manhood. Is the “real man” the biggest, strongest guy around? The one with the most money, cars, and possessions? The man with the most respect? The hardened rapper who boasts that he is going to hell? Or the super-sensitive man who seems to want to be a woman’s best friend? “Men, we are suffering from an identity crisis!” Bishop Evans proclaims.

Bishop Evans also writes specifically for women, in a special section within each chapter. He shares man secrets––“stuff your daddy should have told you”––about their husbands, boyfriends, fathers, brothers, sons, friends, and coworkers. His purpose is to challenge both sexes, so that they can relate to one another better and grow together in love, harmony, and shared responsibility. He writes to women: “Perhaps through painful experience you have learned that a man can be very frail. Men are sensitive. We get hurt, but we often won’t cry. No tears may be visible, but we weep inside. A man’s hurts will cause him to be present and absent at the same time. Our inner scars may be hidden by pretense and denial. Women, you’ve experienced this but weren’t sure what to do. Machismo is the shield of a man’s hurts. But deep within the heart of every man hidden by hurts is a deposit of marvelous destiny imparted by a loving God.”

As the son of a substance-abusing father and a Christian mother, Bishops Evans struggled to resolve his own identity as a man. But he found a blueprint in the Bible – ancient truths about what is right, good, and wholesome concerning relationship, responsibility, fathers, and manhood. He writes: “Your past doesn’t have to shape or define your manhood. Instead, you will discover that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Deep within the heart of every man, beyond the hurts, lies a marvelous destiny designed by a loving Father.” Within every man, Bishop Evans insists, there is a man God wants to release: a man of confidence, purpose, strength, consistency, power, sensitivity, accountability, and loyalty. A man who is spiritual and loving – a problem solver and a leader.

Step by step, Bishop Evans takes men on a journey of self-discovery and self-mastery, according to God’s principles. He dares men to have a vision and a voice, to lead, submit, obey, commit, forgive, accept consequences, exercise sovereignty, prosper, be disciplined, be vulnerable, be bold. Along the way, he candidly confronts the tough issues that men face every day in their families, workplaces, and communities, as he instructs men how to learn to be a leader by serving, how to lead without dominating, and how to take authentic authority.

Sharing colorful, real-world stories from his own life and his pastoral ministry, Bishop Evans also addresses the nitty-gritty problems that men and women encounter in their relationships. These include learning to speak the same language, understanding the true meaning of submission for both men and women, and finding freedom in responsibility. At the end of each chapter is a practical checklist that summarizes the lessons of that chapter and outlines the concrete steps that a man must take in order to move forward, change, and mature.

Bishop Evans concludes by calling on men to take the dare now – to make a radical change by boldly pressing into the victory that God has already assigned to their lives. “At your core,” he writes, “your manhood is not defined by who others think you are, or even by who you think you are. A man is who God says he is. God made every man to be a profound and complex, marvelous, mighty, valiant, prudent warrior for truth. Choose to believe the truth of God’s purpose for manhood. Dare to be a man!”

DARE TO BE A MAN 

By David G. Evans 

G.P. Putnam’s Sons 

Publication Date: September 20, 2009 

ISBN: 978-0-399-15494-2 

Price: $23.95

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About DAVID G. EVANS

“It’s not where you start, but where you finish.” There are few people this phrase epitomizes better than Bishop David G. Evans. Coming from a troubled home, Evans’ life was the perfect recipe for a statistic. But God had a plan for this young man, and through a series of ordained events, Evans has now become one of the most powerful and notable preachers of the day. A frequent Trinity Broadcast Network host, Prelate of the Abundant Harvest Fellowship of Churches, Pastor of the 27,000-member Bethany Baptist Church, author of Healed Without Scars, and CEO of David G. Evans Ministries, which produces the Power of Revelation T.V. Broadcast worldwide (including on StreamingFaith.com); Dominion Radio Ministries and “OnPointe,” a live call-in radio talk show, Bishop David G. Evans has set out to change the world and offer the same deliverance he received, through Jesus Christ.

As a youngster, Evans grew up in Philadelphia in a home with a mother who was a Christian and a father who was an alcoholic. “Fortunately, I had a very strong grandfather,” says Evans. “He was a strong example of a man in my life. I emulated him.” With the encouragement of his grandfather, he graduated from Lincoln University in 1973 with degrees in economics and education and pursued employment in the corporate world. Shortly thereafter, in September 1976, he accepted Christ into his life and found himself called into the five-fold ministry. He also was active in the gospel music industry as a partner of Sweet Rain Records with an artist roster of hitmakers such as Hezekiah Walker, The Wilmington Chester Mass Choir, Bruce Parham and the Southeast Inspirational Choir. He accepted his calling and the mandate to “pastor and grow the Church” and was licensed in the ministry by Reverend H.R. Lusk of Greater Exodus Church in Philadelphia, PA, eventually being ordained by the Bethany Association in 1989.

Called by God to develop a multicultural congregation of believers, Bishop Evans accepted the pastorate of Bethany Baptist Church in Lindenwold, NJ, with 29 members in 1990. Today, more than 27,000 men, women, and children attend Bethany. When asked about the secret to the church’s growth, Evans says that it’s actually no secret at all. “Evangelism is the purpose of the church,” explains the Bishop. “That combined with a very strong healing and deliverance ministry and a tremendous economical development tool has been a big part of the miraculous growth of the church.”

In 1993, Bishop Evans followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and created Generations, Inc., a nonprofit community development corporation. Under the leadership of Bishop Evans, who serves as chairman of the board of directors, Generations, Inc., has taken steps to address the needs of southern New Jersey residents through economic development and a broad range of human services.

Then, in 1996, Bishop Evans was ordained as bishop and presiding officer of the Abundant Harvest Fellowship of Churches, an international fellowship with more than 175 churches in the United States, Africa, and India. In addition, Bishop Evans is a HUD YouthBuild USA partner for South Jersey, a Fannie Mae advisory board member, the chairman of the National Home Owner Initiative, and the originator of Harvest Transitional Homes for Women. He also spearheaded the South Jersey Foster Care Provider Program.

Stemming from Bishop Evans’ many roles as a ministry and civic leader, building projects in progress include Harvest Senior Housing, Harvest Recreation Center, and Next Generation Medical Center. The church has implemented ministry outreaches that are impacting the region, country, and even the world. With a goal of economic empowerment for church members, the church has instituted perhaps the largest faith-based mortgage lending institution in the country, licensed in all 50 states.

Through David G. Evans Ministries, Bishop Evans produces “The Power of Revelation” television program (broadcast distributed by cable and satellite), and “OnPointe”, a live call-in radio talk show (WFIL- 560 AM).

In 2005, Evans released the critically-acclaimed book, Healed Without Scars. Selling over 400,000 copies and making him the best-selling author in Whitaker House history, Healed Without Scars is a dynamic and practical book for those experiencing pain, loss, rejection and brokenness. Taking the lessons he’s learned from his own life, Evans provides encouragement and deliverance through the pages of the revelatory and deeply intimate writing. Abundant Harvest Entertainment, the church’s record label followed up the book with a CD and DVD of the same name with songs of healing and wholeness. 

In October 2008, Evans stepped back into the role of recording artist as he released his church’s second CD project, Bishop David G. Evans Presents Automatic Praise! Live. Leading off with the lead single “Let Go”, and its remix, Bishop David G. Evans Presents Automatic Praise! Live is a mixture of traditional and contemporary gospel along with a taste of Christian Contemporary Music with the addition of Sam Towns, a worship leader from Australia. Earnest Pugh leads a riveting rendition of Keith Pringle’s classic, “Perfect Peace (Why Should I Be Bound)”. Lonnie Hunter, Minister of Music under Evans, plays a prominent role as he sings VaShawn Mitchell’s composition “Dreams” and his own creation, the funky “Do Something”. It’s just an extension of the powerful gifting on the life of Evans. 

Bishop David G. Evans is passionate about serving Christ and leading others to Him. He’s also passionate about God’s people no longer walking in brokenness. “I realized that one of the biggest tricks of the enemy is telling people that they can manage success fully while being horribly fractured,” says Evans. “God wants us whole. Whole people manage promise better than fractured people.” Through his preaching, writing and music, this anointed and gifted teacher, preacher, and leader, seeks to make all God’s people whole and healed.

A Conversation with David G. Evans

Q: Why do men have such a hard time deciding who they really are or who they truly want to be?

The problem stems from the role models we choose and a man’s desire to re-create rather than improve himself in each new relationship he enters i.e. social, vocational or relational.

Q: Why did you title this book DARE TO BE A MAN? Why do you actually dare every man to become the man God wants him to be?

I believe many men spend their entire live never discovering their individual uniqueness and ability to be successful in every facet of their lives. There is a man in each man yet to be discovered. I am daring each man to maximize his ability and potential.

Q: What is the type of man that God wants to release?

A man of consistency, commitment and success who is spiritual, creative, loving, intimate welcomes responsibility.

Q: What does the Bible tell us about how to be a man?

He is distinct, different from women, and revealed in relationships. Created to be a difference maker, a weight bearer, a source of strength to those he is associated with, and the voice of reason and security in his environment.

Q: You say that you’ve written this book for women as well as men. Why?

I don’t know much in life that is more important to women than the men in their lives except God and children. Since men occupy such an important and often pivotal position understanding and insight is needed to figure out the men around them. I wrote it to reveal to women the inside information so they can understand how men are wired and get the best out of him.

Q: How have women been misled about what a real man is?

Over simplifying men based on the misconception that simplistic means simple is a mistake. Men are consistent, but tend to be complex. Boiling a guy down to sex, food and work is often a mistake with a contemporary man. 

Q: What special features of the book do you address to women?

I am excited about the message to women in the book. I help women decipher a man’s feelings. I talk about learning to speak his language so the communication gap is dramatically narrowed, translating the unspoken messages in a man’s responses. Things like finding a man who is easy to love as well as safe to love.

Q: How can women identify a man who lives up to God’s design?

Men are uniquely designed to be revealed in relationships. If a woman will listen in the initial stages of the relationship without revealing too many personal belief principles she will usually learn if the man is a man of principle, commitment and maturity.

Q: What should a man look for in the person he wants to have a lifetime relationship with?

He should identify life principles that are compatible and supplemental to his own. There should be great similarities and positive contributing differences.

Q: What was the basis for this book? How did it come about?

There is a biblical story where a search for a man in the kingdom is initiated. The search causes the question to be raised, “Is there a man?”

Q: How is the book set up? Do you offer practical advice?

The book is set up to offer practical advice to women and men, insights both will find interesting and enlightening as well as a list of challenges for personal improvement.

Q: How do you address the negatives most people avoid, the problem areas where men are hardly challenged? What are some of those areas?

The book is very straight forward as it relates to relationship challenges men and women face. Consistency, commitment, communication, intimacy are a few of the issues the book attacks from a very different perspective that has proven successful.

Q: Why is responsibility not something to run from, but something to be embraced?

Adults are actually created or wired to develop maturity, strength, purpose and integrity under the weight of responsibility.

Q: Why is sovereignty something that can happen only when a man becomes obedient to God?

When a man begins to imitate his designer, understand his designer’s intention for him there will be the discovery of his ability to exercise positive loving authority in all aspects of his life.

Q: What does submission mean in the context of marriage, for both men and women?

Loving, purposed cooperation between two adults.

Q: Why is a man’s relationship with his family not about limitations, but about freedom?

It is the responsibility that develops him and frees him to become a next dimension man.

Q: How did your own journey to manhood inform this book?

I have always observed my surroundings and how I interacted with them. Then I would grade the interaction evaluating which of my responses added or subtracted from my legacy.

Q: Have you used the approach in this book in your work as a pastor?

Much of the counseling experiences I have had during the past 19 years have given great insight for the book. The approach in the book is the result of refining my technique during that time.

Q: You describe how your obedience to God has sometimes led you into some very gritty places like strip clubs and crack dens. How would you respond to those who say that your faith is too unrealistic or not appropriate to the situations many people face in the real world?

One of the realities often overlooked in the bible is the obvious faults and shortcomings of its characters. The bible uses flawed individuals in real life situations to reveal the power and the integrity of faith.

Q: How does a man motivate himself to take the action he needs to take to become the man he wants to be, and that God is calling him to be?

First he must understand his purpose in life i.e. what he has been born to achieve and the impact he is to make during his lifetime. Secondly, there is a rule of thumb that may help every man achieve more success in his life; if you don’t feel like doing it, it is probably important.