Marilyn Gazowsky
 

I'm a little surprised that there's been no mention of the passing of Sis. Gazowsky. Her influence on many in the Apostolic realm is incalculable.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Didn't know of her passing but this is what I found on line.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2391420&type=3


REST IN PEACE - Sister Marilyn Gazowsky PASTOR, AUTHOR PREACHER
By Teologo Felipe Agredano · Updated about 3 months ago · Taken at Voice Of Pentecost Academy

Rev. Sister Marilyn Gazowsky founded her church the Voice of Pentecost in San Francisco in the late 1960's during the "Jesus Movement" at the same time as Anton LaVey started the Satanic Church in San Francisco and when Jim Jones started the People's Church also in San Francisco. Sister Marilyn Gazowsky's church still stands today, and it is pastored by her son Richard Gazowsky, a United Pentecostal Church International, UPCI.

I was honored to have personally met Pastor Marilyn Gazowsky in 1992 during the inaugural celebration of the new sanctuary of Union City Apostolic Church. All the prominent Oneness Apostolic Bay Area pastors where invited as guest speakers for this joyous occasion. Most pastors where male, except for Sister Gazowsky. All male pastors were invited to seat up on the platform, except for Gazowsky. She was the only female pastor, so she sat with the rest of us lay people off the platform.

I knew exactly who she was; my friend Louie had identified her for me. She was the female pastor of the largest congregation in the Bay Area and unquestionably the most prominent Apostolic church in San Francisco Bay Area region. Quickly my intrigue turned into confusion. I wondered, why had she had been invited yet not given her proper role as the religious leader of the most distinguished Oneness church. She was relegated to sit with the rest of us common folk, yet she was not visibly upset, she respected the decision and patiently sat with the lay folk.

One by one, all dignitaries were invited to speak and offer congratulatory words to the pastor and congregation present. Finally, Rev. Marilyn Gazowsky was invited up to address the congregation. She walked up the stairs to the platform. She positioned herself behind the pulpit, firmly grabbing the pulpit with both hands and leaned forward into the microphone with all the authority and command of a preacher and spoke. I was amazed and mesmerized with her ease on the podium. As a young student at UC Berkeley--familiar with feminism and equality yet unaccustomed with female preachers--I was stunned with her command of the sacred space and of her role as a preacher, speaker and religious leader.

I must confess, at first I was hesitant to having a women speak, up on the pulpit. I was not used to seeing women preachers, this was rare for me. Growing up in a Latino male-dominated Pentecostal church, women were not allowed to speak period. Banned from the pulpit, they were banned from all ministries. Years later, I learned women had indeed been a vital and central role in the church in the early years. Machismo crept back into the church somehow; perhaps the old remnants of Catholicism.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Thanks for posting. I just pulled a book off of my shelf titled, "Anatomy of The Soul" by Sis. Gazowsky. It's an easy read, but full of gold. What an inspirational testimony of evangelism. I would love to read her story.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

I think for most of us who don't live in Claifornia what little we knew about her was because of her son's er....ah.....interesting ministry.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Her ministry will always be linked to her son's.
Which in my opinion is not a good thing.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Thankfully, it is God's estimation that counts in the end.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

CCI - I find that interesting. If I remember correctly, you were raised UPC. She was well known for her music ability and talents and directed choirs several times at General Conferences. I was raised in a small UPC church in the south and even I had heard of her before I ever traveled to California.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

True, although I must admit this made me chuckle, seeing it posted on AFF where all of us have opinions!

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

It was different church then typical oneness even back in 1981, my only visit there, but then again SF is a different place. I attended across the bay on the east side. Most UPC churches back then where pretty conservative in that area.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

its like Dejavue all over again

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

My aunt attended a Ladies retreat in Chicago area in the 1980s. Marilyn Gazowski was the featured speaker. My aunt enjoyed it and was impressed with her ministry.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

I would not have paid attention to who was directing choir at GC. I was raised in UPC churches in Alaska, then the Deep South, then Texas and had never heard her name until the 90's in conjunction with her son.

This doesn't mean others like yourself had not but in the UPC churches I was around not a peep. For one thing I don't think most of the churches I was around approved of female pastors so she would not have been talked about except maybe in the privacy of their homes.

I also don't recall a single meeting in Alaska, Mississippi, Lousiana, or Texas that I knew of her speaking at. She was a West Coast personality.

I have heard wonderful things about her from UPC acquaintances who traveled in ministry within the UPC and were familiar with the West Coast and her work in SF.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

That's why what's said here doesn't amount to very much when the day is over. :lol

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Marilyn's mother was my first piano teacher. Marilyn can best be described as eccentric and flamboyant but she towed the UPC line. She was quite musically talented.

Now her son Richard......

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Sister Gazowsky's passing was mentioned in the obits section of this website.

She was a remarkable lady !! I first met her in 1979. But since I have not lived in California for many years, I have lost touch with anyone who lives in SF.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

My father had her speak many times.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

RD - good to see you posting here.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Thanks!

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

You are probably very correct in the fact that lots of churches didn't approve of female pastors / ministers and you were raised in that environment, therefore, no mention was made of her. That was not the case in the area of the south that I was raised. :heeheehee MANY female evangelists came through our area - and even some female pastors. That could change the whole dynamics of what we learned and knew of the UPCI. :nod I never attended a General Conf, but my mother's close friend went to almost every one. That is where I learned of her directing the choirs. I think you have mentioned being at the GC in Ft Worth ? If I remember correctly, she directed that choir - but my memory is often incorrect. LOL! That is why I thought you may have heard of her or have seen her.

Reformed Dave's comment of her being eccentric is absolutely correct. I met her personally in the 90's and found her to be very sweet and kind - but yes, a bit eccentric - but very loving and loveable.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

I'm from Flint, MI, and she came here in the 50s for a music thing...I sang The Holy City for her, and I must have been may 7 or 8, but this 64 year old remembers it like it was yesterday.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

It was quite common for women to be pastors, evangelists and Bible school teachers before the war (WW2). How that aspect of early Pentecost changed is worthy of a full investigation.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

I appreciate your insight Scott. I guess that's why Sis. Gazowsky struck such a chord in me. I never had the privilege of meeting her. But from everything I've read and heard about her, she seemed like a Pentecostal Renaissance woman. Poet, musician, preacher, evangelist, and the list goes on and on.
I've also enjoyed reading yours and Elder Epleys historical accounts of early 20th century Apostolic Pentecostalism.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Yes, as a 16 year old I traveled by bus alone to the 1975 Ft. Worth General Conference. It was my first!

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

Not a lot to investigate. For many decades old time Pentecost was heavily tilted towards a female demographic. A lot of women went to church without their husbands attending.

Of course those women taking leadership roles other than teaching Sunday School were at odds with a patriarchal society and those who believed the New Testament biblical admonition for women to keep quiet in church prohibited women preachers (I am not quite sure how they reconciled having women Sunday School teachers except they were not behind a pulpit in a sanctuary but in a classroom).

For the record I oppose women preachers in old time Pentecost only not Chistianity as a whole for a very simple non biblical reason. My experience with old time Pentecostal female preachers is that they try to emulate male old time Pentecostal preachers in style of delivery (a lot of screaming and yelling) which from a woman usually results in a lot of high pitched screeching. Let the fireworks begin!

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

CC - I think Sisters Freeman, Holmes and Wendell would take exception to this!

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

That is entirely possible! :happydance:icecream

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

I Knew Marilyn Gazowsky Personally, I Also Personally knew 3 people that she encouraged to get abortions, saying the fetus was just tissue. That the breath of life comes into a person at their birth and not before that.

SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK SHE WAS A RIGHTEOUS, GOD FEARING WOMAN, THINK AGAIN. She was a BABY KILLER, and had no remorse or caring.

Her own Grand-daughter killed herself after an Abortion that Marilyn Gazowsky forced her to have against her will because she was under aged.

Truth is Truth, and for those of you out there praising her life, you need to know who she really was behind the scenes, as I did. I lost all respect for her after knowing personally what kind of person she really was. There is no excuse for making young girls have abortions, some against their will… namely her grand-daughter. A real woman of God would NEVER have DONE that! Sorry to pop your fantasy bubble of all the glitz and glamor of Marilyn Gazowsky and what a SAINT she was. We’ll She WASN’T !!!

She was a WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING, and a TEACHER OF FALSE DOCTRINE OF DEVILS. THIS IS WITCHCRAFT!

She caused men to be spineless, and woman to be rebellious and Jezebel in spirit, like she was. I don’t say these things lightly, but it makes me sick to know the REAL TRUTH, and to hear others give her so much praise, WHEN IT IS ALL A BIG FAT LIE.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

I Knew Marilyn Gazowsky Personally, I Also Personally knew 3 people that she encouraged to get abortions, saying the fetus was just tissue. That the breath of life comes into a person at their birth and not before that.

SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK SHE WAS A RIGHTEOUS GOD FEARING WOMAN, THINK AGAIN. She was a BABY KILLER, and had no remorse or caring.

Her own Grand-daughter killed herself after an Abortion that Marilyn Gazowsky forced her to have against her will because she was under aged.

Truth is Truth, and for those of you out there praising her life, you need to know who she really was behind the scenes, as I did. I lost all respect for her after knowing personally what kind of person she really was. There is no excuse for making young girls have abortions, some against their will… namely her grand-daughter. A real woman of God would NEVER have DONE that! Sorry to pop your fantasy bubble of all the glitz and glamor of Marilyn Gazowsky and what a SAINT she was. We’ll She ISN’T !!!

She was a WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING, and a TEACHER OF FALSE DOCTRINE OF DEVILS. THIS IS WITCHCRAFT!

She caused men to be spineless, and woman to be rebellious and Jezebel in spirit, like she was. I don’t say these things lightly, but it makes me sick to know the REAL TRUTH, and to hear others give her so much praise, WHEN IT IS ALL A BIG FAT LIE.

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

She's dead.

Tell you what.

Forgive her, move on, be free, and live your life in Christ. ;)

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

I have forgiven, moved on, me sharing TRUTH about someone that people have placed on a high pedal-stool, because they didn’t know her the way I did,

I feel people have the right to know the truth that’s all. It has nothing to do with bitterness, moving on, or forgiveness. I am just sick and tired of Fake people, especially people in Spiritual Leadership that lead others astray. That is exactly what Marilynn Gazowsky did, and that is why there is now NO FRUIT at the VOICE OF PENTECOST CHURCH, that she established. Now that church is closed down, because of MIS-MANAGEMENT OF GOD’S PEOPLE, CHURCH FUNDS, LIES, and COMPROMISE.

The Voice of Pentecost Church had become a den of thieves, a place of spiritual whoredoms and wickedness, all for the glory of satan, in wanting to make a ridiculous Hollywood movie. Such compromise and so sad, that they had fallen so short, however, maybe that foundation started back in the day, when Marilyn Gazowsky, had girls kill their babies, and maybe that is why today the church has been brought down to nothing. I will NEVER AGAIN BE APART OF ANYTHING SO FULL OF LIES AND DECEIT AGAIN, ABORTION IS WRONG PERIOD.

NO ONE has the right to TERMINATE a LIFE but God. The VOP is a place of great deception, SEE for yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yqe...eOrchardMovies

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/a...se-6832369.php

Re: Marilyn Gazowsky
 

I had an opportunity to stay in her home with an other ministers wife. she encouraged me to write my books which I finally did. like all humans she had a faults and her good points. did not know she had passed.