ELYRIA – People should do their best to bring out the best in themselves and other people, said the keynote speaker for a four-day event celebrating diversity.
Minister Lawrance Lee Evans, national minister of First Community Interfaith Institute Inc. in Rochester, N.Y., returned to his native Lorain County for the 35th annual FCII Festival.
The event is hosted by the Lorain County chapter of the First Community Interfaith Institute, which hosted events at Kanisa House, its headquarters at 142 Cleveland St., Elyria, and at LCCC. Evans also is the twin brother of Gerald Johnson Evans, chief executive officer, minister, instructor and counselor for FCII in Elyria.
In his faith-based presentation to a group of more than 40 people, Lawrance Lee Evans said people should not use God as an excuse to sit by and wait for something good to happen.
Instead they should thank God for the blessings they have and accept the responsibility to make themselves the best they can be, and to help other people do the same, Evans said.
‘Make God be the reason and not an excuse,’ he said.
Describing lessons from his grandmother and love of his wife, Evans said people are interdependent and have an obligation to help each other under God’s commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.
Evans wore a cap with the word ‘Doology,’ a philosophy he began formulating as a teenager and that teaches positive actions in a community or organization are valued more than just complaining.
The speech was part of four days of events ranging from talent and fashion shows to seminars on anger management and domestic violence. There also were children’s crafts and signing performances by those attending.
FCII also presented special awards including:
* Family of the Year: Zoila and Jose Coralles with Out Reach Ministers in Lorain
* Organization of the Year: Lorain County Community College
* Humanitarian Award: Donny Starcher
* Man of the Year: Eric Petrus
* Businessman of the Year: Mario Kirk
* Retail Store of the Year: Staples
* Bank of the Year: First Federal Savings of Lorain, with recognition to bank Vice President Dennis Muzilla for helping with FCII banking
* Woman of the Year: Ellen Jean Bailey-Wrice of Lorain
* Businesswoman of the Year: Holly St. Cyr
* Elizabeth L. Coleman Christian Service Award was given to Evelisse Atkinson
Special recognition also was given to Marcus Evans of Cross Community Church; Leslie Evans of Cross Community Church; and Cecilia H. Render, executive director of the Nordson Corporation Foundation in Weslake.
