Louis Hadley Evans Jr. was born June 20, 1926 in Wilmington, California. He died at the age of 82, on Oct. 29, 2008 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at his home in Fresno, California. Evans was one of four children of Marie Egly and the Rev. Louis Hadley Evans Sr., pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Louis graduated from Hollywood High School where he was A.S.B. President, before serving in the Navy during WWII.
Evans led the first World Deputation team to go out from Hollywood Presbyterian in June 1950. The early teams had the goal of taking the “message of Christ’s redeeming love to the war-weary students of Europe.” However, they were challenged by Corrie ten Boom: "The people of Europe do need to see the love and forgiveness of Christ. But the gospel team idea won’t work. You have not suffered as the people as the people in Europe have suffered, so what right have you to speak? If you want to make a vital witness to the power of your faith, go to a city destroyed by American bombs. Identify with the people. Work with them. Eat what they eat. Sleep where they sleep.