- Debra Evans
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Debra Evans Born January 28, 1953
Pontiac, MichiganResidence Austin, Texas Nationality American Occupation Author Years active 1971-present Debra Evans (born 1953) is an American writer known for her books on issues related to contemporary Christian spirituality, reproductive health, women's wellness, and family relationships.[1][2] She has written over 22 non-fiction books.
Contents
Biography
She was born to John Cleve Munger and Nancy Allen Munger at St. Joseph Hospital, Pontiac, Michigan. In 1968, Evans created and edited an alternative newspaper, The Zeitgeist, and poetry magazine, Cinnamon Crust. Shortly after completing studies at Royal Oak's Kimball High School in 1969, Evans entered Justin Morrill College at Michigan State University as an Art and English major. She met David Evans in 1969 and married him in 1970. Following David's graduation in 1970 from MSU, the couple returned to Oakland County.
While studying at Wayne State University in early 1971, she embraced faith in Jesus Christ. Between 1971 and 1974, Evans and her husband founded and managed Predmore Farm, a residential Christian community located in Oakland Charter Township, now the centennial site of Cranberry Lake Farm, a 207-acre (0.84 km2) park where members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra perform an annual summer concert.[3] After giving birth to her first child at home on the farm in 1972, Evans became a childbirth educator and breastfeeding advisor, later working as one of the nation’s first paid lactation consultants through her employment with Dr. David Gustafson at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Until her retirement from the field in 2003, she remained involved in health education and midwifery advocacy. Evans taught classes as a part-time instructor at Lansing Community College (1978–1981) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1984–1988). She also served in Michigan as state coordinator of the International Childbirth Education Association (1979–1981) and member of the Department of Health’s Task Force on Perinatal Education (1980–1981); in Nebraska as member of the Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department Task Force on Children and Youth, Teen Pregnancy Subcommittee (1983–1984) and the State of Nebraska Breastfeeding Promotion Task Force (1988–1990); in Georgia as member of the DeKalb County Disabilities Council (1991–1993) and president of Atlanta Bethany Christian Services (1991–1993); and in Texas as board member and chair of the State of Texas Midwifery Board (1998–2003). As a founding board member of the Firelight Foundation, Evans also advocated for the needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.[4]
In 1978, she developed and taught Parents Preparing in Christ (PPC), a class series for expectant Christian couples in Michigan (1978–1981) and Nebraska (1982–1990). Immediately after her graduation in 1983 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (BA, University Studies in Family Wellness and Reproductive Health), Evans wrote her first non-fiction book, The Complete Guide to Childbirth, based on her research for the PPC curriculum. Following the book’s publication in 1986, she has continued to author many additional works, including Beauty and the Best, Kindred Hearts, and Blessing Your Husband.
In 1988 and 1989, Evans was a finalist for the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Gold Medallion Awards in the Marriage and Family (The Mystery of Womanhood) and Inspirational (Fragrant Offerings) categories, as well as for Christianity Today’s 1990 Critics’ Choice and Reader’s Choice Awards (Without Moral Limits). Reviews of her books have appeared in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, The Austin American Statesman, Christian Herald, First Things, The Lincoln Journal, Marriage & Family Living, Publishers Weekly, Religion & Society, Southwestern Journal of Theology, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Today’s Christian Woman. From 1989-1996, Evans served as contributing editor of Christian Parenting Today.
Since 1986, Evans has appeared as a featured guest on over five hundred radio and television interviews. Her participation in the panel discussion on reproductive technology and embryonic stem cell research (taped on March 7, 1990 by Family Christian Broadcasting Network–KFCB, Concord, California) was awarded the 1990 Angel Award for Best Network Documentary.
Her seventh book, Without Moral Limits, resulted in invitations for Evans to serve as a member of the Colloquium on Medical Ethics held at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1989) and the Christianity Today Institute Forum on Birth Control (1991), with subsequent statements and articles published in the New England Journal of Medicine (1990) and Christianity Today (1991).[5][6][7] She was a signatory of the statement, “On human embryos and medical research: an appeal for ethically responsible science and public policy."[8]
Evans relocated to Texas in 1993, where she resides with her husband in Austin near their four grown children and four grandchildren. Since completing her latest book, Evans continues to serve and support her local church community as a mentor, leader, and prayer partner.
Works
Non-fiction
Blessing Your Grown Children: Affirming, Helping, and Establishing Boundaries (2012) ISBN 978-1589974791
Blessing Your Husband: Understanding and Affirming Your Man (2009) ISBN 978-1589974784
Blessing Your Husband (2003) ISBN 978-1589970038
Soul Satisfaction (2001) ISBN 978-1581342840
Without Moral Limits: Women, Reproduction, and Medical Technology (2000) ISBN 978-1581342017
The Christian Woman’s Guide to Childbirth (1999) ISBN 978-1581341041
Women of Courage (1999) ISBN 978-0310222231
The Christian Woman’s Guide to Personal Healthcare (1998) ISBN 978-1581340204
Women of Character (1997) ISBN 978-0310219217
Ready or Not, You’re a Grandparent (1997) ISBN 978-0781402446
The Christian Woman’s Guide to Sexuality (1997) ISBN 978-0891079491
Kindred Hearts (1997) ISBN 978-1561794379
Six Qualities of Women of Character (1996) ISBN 978-0310201533
Beauty and the Best (1993) ISBN 978-1561791781
The Woman’s Complete Guide to Personal Health Care (1991) ISBN 978-1561210756
Blessed Events (1990) ISBN 978-0891075554
Without Moral Limits (1989) ISBN 978-0891074724
Preparing for Childbirth (1989) ISBN 978-0842349178
Fragrant Offerings (1988) ISBN 978-0891075004
Beauty for Ashes (1988) ISBN 978-0891075011
Heart & Home (1988) ISBN 978-0891074649
The Mystery of Womanhood (1987) ISBN 978-0891074267
The Complete Book on Childbirth (1986) ISBN 978-0842304078Audiobook
Read by Debra Evans: Six Qualities of Women of Character (1996) ISBN 978-0310205197General editor
Christian Parenting Answers: Before Birth to Five Years (1994) ISBN 978-0781401821Books contributed to
Evans has also contributed chapters to several books, including:
Beyond Today (2000), edited by John MacArthur ISBN 978-1581341706
Breakfast for the Soul (1998) compiled by Judith Couchman ISBN 978-1562925314
One Holy Passion (1998) compiled by Judith Couchman ISBN 978-1578560387
Christian Parenting Answers: Before Birth to Five Years (1994) ISBN 978-0781401821References
- ^ Jan Johnson Struck, "Facing the Future," Today's Christian Woman," Sept./Oct. 2003, 43.
- ^ Jacqueline Mgebroff, "Biblical profiles offer encouragement to '90s superwomen," West Austin News, Dec. 4, 1997, 1.
- ^ Denise Letarte, "The farm's lifestyle . . . and those who lived it," The Romeo Observer, November 7, 2001, 1B.
- ^ http://www.firelightfoundation.org/ourstory.htm
- ^ CT Institute, "Is Birth Control Christian?" November 11, 1991, 34.
- ^ Debra Evans, "The Price of the Pill," Christianity Today, November 11, 1991, 39-40.
- ^ Debra Evans, "Contraceptives: How They Work–Why It Matters," November 11, 1991, 41.
- ^ Issues in Law & Medicine, March 22, 2001
External links
- Friendship in Marriage
- When to Wean
- Sex Ed at Home
- Building Friendship in Marriage
- Your Child Today: Birth to Twelve Months
- On human embryos and medical research: an appeal for ethically responsible science and public policy
- Daily Christian Quote
- Tyndale House Publishers
- Crossway Books
- Zondervan AuthorTracker™
- Cranberry Lake Farm
- Firelight Foundation
Categories:- 1953 births
- American non-fiction writers
- American religious writers
- Christian writers
- American family and parenting writers
- American health and wellness writers
- American medical writers
- American self-help writers
- Writers from Michigan
- Living people
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