Marilyn Gazowsky

[LifeGuide]

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.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by LifeGuide

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.

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.

[LifeGuide]

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.

[Praxeas]

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...light=gazowski

[CC1]

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.

[Sweet Pea]

Originally Posted by CC1

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.

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.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Sweet Pea

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.

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.

[Sweet Pea]

Originally Posted by CC1

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.

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. 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. 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.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Sweet Pea

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. 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. 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.

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

[Barb]

Originally Posted by CC1

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.

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.