Reverend Loversier Lewis is the pastor of Second Baptist Church in Lorain, where he has served as the shepherd for 21 years. Second Baptist has been a pillar within the community for over 120 years by impacting lives for Christ as well as helping to meet the needs in the community where we serve. Reverend Lewis has a Master's Degree in Black Church Studies from Ashland Theological Seminary. He has worked as an insurance agent for more than 20 years, educating and helping families and businesses protect themselves from the risk and perils that come upon them, by alleviating the grief that comes with their loss; whether it be the loss of a loved one or property. At this time, my primary focus is the Senior Market, where I help them understand and maximize their Medicare benefits.
Who do you look up to most, and why?
It is difficult to name one person how I look up the most because I have had many individuals who have poured themselves in my life. I have come to realize that we are the sum of the five closest people in our life. With that being said, I would have to say, my father, Richard L. Lewis, Sr. is the one that I look up to the most. It was his work ethic that I found myself embracing the most from. He did what he needed to do to take care of his family, and there was nothing he would not do to make it happen. I watched him work two and three jobs to make sure that we had a place to stay and food to eat, and sometimes that wasn't enough, but he keeps ongoing. He was a quiet man and even when things did not seem to line up, I never heard him complain, he just kept going. So, if there was anyone I look up to, certainly it is my Father.
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go? What would you do there?
If there is any place in the world I could go right now, I would have to say Egypt. I have been fascinated with the history, culture, pyramids, and its influence on the world all of my life. Egypt has such a rich history; it is the place where the first Gospel was written from, also it is considered the cradle of education and wisdom. So, Egypt for me is not just looked upon from a biblical perspective, but also from a historical one.
What's your favorite book and why?
One of my favorite books is Race Matter, by Cornel West. In a climate where we are experiencing racial tension and social unrest, West speaks to us today almost in the same voice as Martin L. King Jr. and Malcolm X. His book is a warning to us today, although things seem to have gotten better than they were fifty years ago, that we should not become too comfortable, because the reality is they really haven't. The fight for social justice continues.
What does "paying it forward" mean to you?
I believe that "Paying it Forward" means to help those whom you can, achieve their hopes and dreams, who do not have the means to do so on their own, because of their limited resources. We don't know the impact Paying it Forward will have on an individual’s life, but I believe that they will never forget it and will reciprocate the kindness shown toward them, to others.
