Meet Evan Knight

Meet Evan Knight
by Evan Knight

If you have been going to Dawson for a few years you might already know me. I was born in October of 2000 in Birmingham, AL. My parents are Terry and Christy Knight, and at the time of my birth, they were attending Dawson with my older brother, Parker.

I was dedicated before the church family by Dr. Fenton as an infant. By six years old, I sat down with Ginny Glass, Dawson's Kids Minister at the time, and we talked through what it meant to be a believer in Jesus. Later, I was baptized at Dawson by Rev. Tom Cleveland who also baptized his granddaughter, Mary Katherine Cleveland, that same day.

From that point on, whenever the doors of the church were open, I was there. I took part in the children’s choir, Royal Ambassadors, Scripture Seekers, and everything else the church had to offer. In the 7th grade, at a student beach retreat, I felt a deeper call for the first time on my life to live for the Lord. At that particular moment, I did not know exactly what that would look like, but I began to pray that I would fully trust Him and obey His command in my life no matter what it was.

During my middle and high school years, I was heavily involved at church and at school. I was on the track and cross-country teams during my middle school years before I knew how hard and not enjoyable running was. As I got into high school, I decided that soccer would be more fun. So, I played goalkeeper for my high school team. I was very involved with the Christian organization Young Life throughout high school and college. During my senior year of high school, I served as the Chapel Choir President at Dawson. It was such a joy to be a part of that group and especially to lead during a year when we would travel internationally. That year we went to Ecuador to sing and serve alongside Steve and Carol Thompson.

I graduated from Vestavia Hills High School in 2019 and attended The University of Alabama for my undergraduate studies. Though I entered college in the School of Business, I was not exactly sure what it was that I wanted to do once I graduated. After just one semester, I knew that the world of business was probably not in my future. I changed my major to Communications because I felt that gave me the tools I might need to one day work in a ministry capacity. The summer after my freshman year, I interned with a church in Decatur and began to look into what full-time ministry might look like. This was also the summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, and so simultaneously, it felt like my social life was fated to take a big hit as well.

But God would not be stopped by the world being stopped. I was able to take part in starting "The Chimes Retreat," which is a retreat for incoming freshmen at Alabama to meet pastors from the local churches and learn how to get involved. It was at this event that I would meet my future wife, Abby. I can honestly say that it was love at first sight (for me at least). I immediately told my parents that I had met the girl I would one day marry. Needless to say, in a time where the world shut down, God was opening a lot of doors for me.

Abby and I began dating in September of 2020, and we navigated life through masks, social distancing, and online school. During this time, I began serving part-time on Young Life's staff in Tuscaloosa and on the leadership team for The Chimes Retreat. I had a lot of hesitancy towards full-time ministry at this time, but God kept calling me out of my comfort zone. He kept opening doors I never could have imagined would be opened.

Over the next two years, as I pursued my degree, I continued to serve in different ministry roles. I got involved in my local church in Tuscaloosa by serving in kids ministry on Sunday mornings. I also got the opportunity to serve at Dawson as a summer intern in the Student Ministry over the summers of 2021 and 2022. I was able to grow professionally and spiritually throughout this time as well as build meaningful relationships with the staff and students. I graduated in May of 2023, but had proposed to Abby on March 3, 2023, just two months before we both graduated. She said, "Yes!"

Though I had prayed for clarity years before, I was still hesitant to go into full-time ministry. I knew that God had given me certain gifts and there were times that I felt strongly that He called me to it, but I was afraid of saying "yes".

I was also in a season of my life when Abby and I would soon be getting married, and she still had another year of grad school. Fortunately, I was able to find a job that allowed me to be in Tuscaloosa with her during that year.

On December 16, 2023, we got married in a beautiful historic church in Huntsville AL. It was the greatest day ever! We had a winter wedding and then headed off to the Caribbean to get away from the cold. Upon our return, we lived in Tuscaloosa for a few months as Abby finished her Master of Accounting (she is way smarter than me). During this season in Tuscaloosa, we began to talk about moving back to Birmingham when school was over and what my career might look like at that point.

We started to pray, asking the Lord to open doors in ministry or seminary or wherever it might be that He wanted us to go. I knew that it was time to answer His call for my life. Once Abby had completed her degree, we moved back to Birmingham, and God answered our prayers almost immediately. Bryan Howard, Dawson's Minister to Students, and I met for lunch one day to catch up. I also wanted to discuss my plans and get his advice on pursuing a career in ministry. It was at this exact same time that the role I would soon fill was about to become available.

Looking back now, I can truly see how God was using His timing and my circumstances to grow and develop me prior to opening doors for me that I never thought possible.

So, in August of 2024, I started working at Dawson, the very same church that I was raised in. I have found so much joy in ministering to our Middle School students these past months. Although I am only 24 years old, they make me feel even younger, if that’s possible. But, I have found joy not only in ministering to students, but also in serving alongside the staff at Dawson. Not many people can say that they get to work where they grew up, and even fewer can say they work alongside some of the most caring and humble people they know, but I get to do that every day.

I am thankful for all the many people who prayed for me over the years at Dawson, and for those who continue to pray for me, my marriage, and my ministry. Abby and I are so grateful to be able to serve with our family of faith here at Dawson.

Evan Knight serves as Dawson's Associate Minister to Middle School Students. He lives in Homewood with his wife Abby. He enjoys golfing, spending time at the beach, traveling to new places, and cheering for his two Boston teams: the Celtics and Red Sox.