IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH INVITES AUTHOR TO SPEAK

Article on March 6, 2014 from South Sentinel Newspaper, Urbanna,Va.

 

Lowell G. Evans

 

Author to Present Program on

Epilepsy Sunday at Immanuel

 

Lowell G. Evans will present a program on his new book, "The Village," and his experiences with epilepsy on Sunday, March 9, at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church in Saluda. The public is invited to attend.

"I have written this novel and created a character named 'Mr. Kevin Bolden' to represent epilepsy," said Evans. "This idea has been very successful as I have been asked to speak at schools, churches, and organizations all around the area. I was also a guest on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) show ‘Joy In Our Town.’ This was a 30-minute talk show in which I was asked questions about my book and the epilepsy.

"Bolden was a man sure of many things but when his corporate job found out that he was diagnosed with epilepsy, the fate of his career and family became questionable," continued Evans. "Once 'The Village,' Kevin’s neighborhood, got a whiff of the inequality and unsatisfactory response of his job, it felt an obligation to rally together in efforts to help save his lifestyle and others that could be affected by the unfairness. For him, dealing with epilepsy was one thing, but getting people to understand the effects that it has on the person and their environment was a battle in itself. It would take 'a village' to win his life back.

"Kevin Bolden has epilepsy, but epilepsy does not have him; especially with the help of The Village!" he said.

He was born and raised in Gloucester. He is a member of the Middle Peninsula Epilepsy Support Group that meets once a month in Gloucester.

Evans has a passion for poetry as he refers to his works as “words from the heart” because God places the words on his heart, making it easy for him to put them on paper. He always believed in the old African American proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” With that in mind he was fortunate to have been raised in society where others believed the same.

After developing epilepsy during his college years at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk from a fall while playing basketball, Evans was faced with some very “negative” thoughts about his future by his classmates and others who learned about his epilepsy. He was questioned about how he was going to complete school, how he was going to continue to play basketball, and how he was going to work and go to school at the same time.

Evans said what bothered him the most was "the fact that all of the questions and statements that were being made were made by people who had no knowledge of epilepsy.”

After years of dealing with the “lack of knowledge” of epilepsy, Evans decided he "would make a difference in the lives of others." His goal, starting with this novel, is to educate on an international level about epilepsy and to make life better for not only those with the condition but those who may one day come in contact with someone who is experiencing it.

With “The Village,” Evans plans to start a scholarship for high school seniors, using the theme of the book to help raise epilepsy awareness. “For decades, society has made life challenging for individuals who have epilepsy. Now it is time for an individual with epilepsy to take on that challenge for the lives of others!” he said.

"The Village" is available online at www.barnesandnoble.com and www.lyrical4cast.com. The book was published by Lyrical4cast Publishing of Newport News.