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20 BODY OF CHRIST NEWSMAY 2015 Blossom Lorraine Van Lowe Gholston March 241913 March 28 2015 Holy Ghost GetawayDisplays Unity in The Body of Christ I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith. II Timothy 47 Blossom Lorraine Van Lowe Gholston was born March 24 1913 to J. Milton Van Lowe and Leila Goodwyn Van Lowe in San Francisco CA. In 1933 she graduated with a BA degree from San Diego State University. She was a co-founder of the Woodsonians a group named after black historian Carter G. Woodson which served as a safe haven for black students to socialize and discuss issues of the day. She later would become a charter member and president of the local chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. More significant she achieved the long-cherished goal of educated blacks that of being hired as a regular school teacher at a San Diego City public school. This was accomplished on July 21 1942 after earning a Masters degree at Columbia University. Because of the agitation of local black activists she began teaching at Memorial Junior High where she had earlier been a pupil. Her achievement as the citys first black teacher has to be seen in the context of a region stubbornly resistant to social change. By the early 1940s San Diego City Schools were facing an influx of students because of the war industries and military located here. In 1941 alone 7000 new students entered schools in San Diego an 18.9 percent increase over the previous year.At the same time some teachers had been called away to military service. This teacher shortage coupled with the persistent effort of Mrs. Craft and the Womens Civic League forced the board of education and Will C. Crawford superintendent to review school hiring practices. On July 21 1942 Lorraine Van Lowe was hired on probationary status as an English and social studies teacher at Memorial Junior High. There was little publicity when she began working primarily to avoid angering parents. The staff and principal William J. Oakes accepted Van Lowe without much difficulty and many of her fellow teachers remembered her as a student there and at Franklin Elementary School. She attributed her smooth adjustment to Oakes support. He shielded her from the few parents who voiced opposition to her being hired. But her greatest praise was reserved for Rebecca Craft I shall never forget Mrs. Rebecca Craft who has meant so much in my life and I shall always be grateful to the valiant ladies of the Womens Civic League for their persistent and effective efforts. On Feb. 20 1954 she married Phillip H. Gholston in San Diego CA. She continued to teach in the San Diego district until retiring in 1971. She then moved to Denver CO with her husband who had accepted the call to pastor Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. She continued to labor beside her husband in the church while tutoring children in the Denver Public School District and serving as a substitute teacher. She truly had the heart of a servant caring for her mother during her declining years caring for her mother in law after surgery on her back left her a paraplegic caring for her daughter her granddaughter her great grandchildren and caring for her husband after complications during surgery in 2000. What do you say about someone who shows by example what Jesus means when He says we must die to self Someone who is strong in the Lord. Someone who is loving and caring toward others. Someone who keeps going when most people would throw in the towel. What can you say about someone who is a perfect lady a gentle spirit and who demonstrates total trust in God What can you say about someone who give so totally of self Someone who has a positive impact on everyone they meet. Someone who looks for the good in everyone. You say thank you Lord for allowing that loving gentle humble person to be a part of your life. You draw strength and encouragement from the memories. You strive to impact lives as positively as that person did for you. We thank God for Blossom Lorraine Van Lowe Gholston who taught us by example who loved us in spite of us who was patient as she corrected us and who made us and still makes us smile and rejoice at the goodness of God. She will forever live in our memories until we see her again in the kingdom. She passed from labor to reward on March 28 2015 having celebrated her 102nd birthday. She was preceded in death by her husband P.H. Gholston and her sister Sarah Cleora Fluckus. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter April E. Gholston her granddaughter Maiya N. Gholston six great grandchildrenMaijahna Maijahni Maijah Lee LaReyah Lee Evans DaShawn Gholston and Mahjong Maichai Johnson nephew Benjamin M. Fluckus Colette two grandnieces Vanessa F. Mlamba Andrew and Erica Fluckus first cousin Frances Jefferson a host of other relatives and countless friends. She will be deeply missed. She also leaves to cherish her mem- ory Kent Hoffarth and Kierre Thomas who lovingly provided care for both she and Pastor Gholston for the last eight years. They brought them to church every Sunday and also took them on trips to San Diego to visit friends and family there. Aunique and awesome display of true unity and fellowship was experienced by those attending the 2015 Spring Holy Ghost Getaway held March 3-5 at Glen Eyrie Conference Center in Colorado Springs. Over 30 pastors leaders and on-fire believers representing over 12 different churches in the greater Denver Metro area gathered to enjoy the five-fold ministry in action. Participants were overwhelmed not only by the powerful anointing on the guest speakers and praise and worship leaders but by the unusually close bond of family unity that was formed between themselves and believers they had never before met. Ministers who had never before worked together have since been invited as guest speakers and participants in each others regular meetings and special events. Holy Ghost Getaways whose mission is to promote unity and spiritual maturity among true believers are held each spring and fall hosted by His Voice Ministries a para-church ministry founded by Pastor Roxanne Ryan. Holy Ghost Getaways run Thursday afternoon to Saturday afternoon to allow the women to spend 3 days away and be able to return to share their refreshing with their home churches on Sunday. After days of soaking in Gods Word through anointed guest speakers seeking revelation and direction from the Holy Spirit and praising praying and fellowshipping with women of like spirit they come home both stirred and refreshed excited to share the testimony of all the Lord did during the Getaway. With a bevy of anointed speakers the entire five-fold- ministry is represented and manifested in many ways from recommitment to answered prayers to healings to confirmations to breakthroughs and revelation. 2015 Spring Holy Ghost Getaway speakers included Pastor Roxanne Ryan Dr. Gail Bailey Evangelist Juanita Maestas Evangelists Louise Smith and Pastor Polly Sanders-Peterson. CDs of the messages are available for those who werent able to attend or who attended and want to re-capture the powerful anointing. For those who missed this exciting event there is great news. The 2015 Fall Holy Ghost Getaway will be held September 3rd - 5th and is now open for registrations. It will again be held at the beautiful Glen Eyrie Conference Center in Colorado Springs. Cost for the four services two nights lodging and five meal package is only 270.00 per person double occupancy. Space is limited so early registration is advised. Non-refundable deposits must be received by June 5 2015 to guarantee space. Monthly pre-payment plans are available. Late registrations will be filled based on available space. FridaySaturday packages are also available for those whose work schedule prevents them from attending the entire Getaway. For additional information or to register calltext 720- 353-2555 or email hispenmsn.com and reference Holy Ghost Getaway. Our mission is to bring the five-fold ministry together with an ever-widening variety of on-fire lead- ers and believers from dozens of different churches in the Denver Metro area to promote unity and pro- vide prayer support for all Gods servants as we grow stronger and more Christlike in our own lives says Pastor Roxanne founder of His Voice Ministries. Speakers scheduled for the 2015 Fall Holy Ghost Getaway in September and their home church include Pastor Rita Franco Iglesia de Cristo Elim Dr. Gail Bailey Pastor Deliverance Tabernacle Bishop Donnann Taylor Faith and Love Outreach Deliverance Ministry Psalmist Dr. Sharon Wiley My Fathers House and Pastor Roxanne Ryan Word of Life Christian Center. OBITUARY Lorraine Gholston