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“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end” Jer. 29:11
Overseer Elinor Lee Bowers life began July 17, 1941, when the Lord sent her as a gift to her parents, Rev. Elijah and Mrs. Ida Will Bostic, here in Columbus, Ohio. It was at that moment that the world changed for the better. A realized force in the Earth was born, and destined to make a difference in every life that she came in contact with. She was the baby girl of Rev. Elijah and Mrs. Ida Bostic, and after only 6 short weeks Rev. Bostic passed from labor to reward. The widow Mrs. Bostic later married the late Mr. Alexander Scott, and to this union 3 more children were born, and one big happy family they were.
In January 1958, Elinor married the love of her life, Mr. Robert Bowers. Elinor and Robert were happily married, and he took great care of her like the Queen that she was. There was nothing that he would not do to make her, and the children happy. To this union Seven children were gifted. It was in 1987 that Mr. Bowers passed away after a brief illness, and from that day to this Elinor remained a widow.
Elinor was raised and reared at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church where her mother was a faithful member. Elinor attended a service at Rehoboth Temple Church of Christ, where she made a conversion and joined under the leadership of Bishop Kenneth L. Bligen. With a strong desire to please the Lord, that same week she attended a revival at the Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith (Brentnell), that was being conducted by Evangelist (Mother) Estella Boyd. It was during this revival that she was drawn to the altar to make this life changing decision, and it was then that she received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and was later baptized in Jesus name at her home church.
While at Rehoboth Church of Christ, in 1978, her pastor Bishop Bligen recommended that she became a licensed Missionary at the International Convention by Bishop William Lee Bonner, and the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, where she had the privilege to serve as a National Missionary, traveling the width and breath of the country. It was during this time that the Lord was calling her higher. This was at a time when women in ministry was not being accepted. Apostle Fred Sanders of Brooklyn, New York was at her church for a revival, and it was at this time that he dared her to trust God and say what the Lord was saying and publicly spoke the word. He began calling her out and telling her that she was a Prophetess, and that the Lord had need of her and he was going to use her to preach the Gospel and lead many souls to the Lord.
During this time Overseer Bowers was very active in Deliverance Ministry, praying and laying hands on individuals and demanding that the unclean spirt come out. She ministered so heavily at this point that her husband, who seen the gift in her, turned their basement into a prayer room, a place that she could come and work and do the will of the Father. Many individuals were delivered and filled with the Holy Ghost under her ministry in her home.
In April of 1992, The Lord allowed Overseer Bowers to travel to the Holy Land. It was here that the Lord met her in Jerusalem the Holy City, and commissioned her to do the work of the Lord. Upon her return to the states, she began to establish a church to do a work for the ministry. Through much prayer and fasting the name was given to her and confirmed by two others, Intercessory Creation Deliverance Evangelistic Ministries, of which she was the CEO, and Pastor till the day she transitioned. Some would say that she had no building, however her ministry was beyond the four walls of the church. It was her desire to reach all those that were looked over, and cast aside. She would pour, and ensure that their gift was cultivated with no ulterior motives.
In April of 2000, during the United Fellowship of Churches of Christ National Meeting, under the Leadership of Bishop L. Jennings, Evangelist Elinor Bowers was appointed as Pastor of Intercessory Creation Deliverance Ministries. In June 2001 She was then ordained as Elder by Presiding Prelate Bishop G.W. Ayers. Later in 2001 Evangelist Gwendolyn Hines, compelled Mother Bowers to come hear a Man of God, Bishop Melvin L. Goolsby. She was tired and did not want to go, but she went to please Evangelist Hines, and after attending that service, by the leading of the spirit she began to follow his ministry. It was in 2007, that the Lord lead Bishop Goolsby to establish the New Beginning International Fellowship, and Pastor Bowers along with Bishop Romel Johnson, Elder Rickey C. Baker II were founding Board members. During the first Convocation in Columbus, Ohio Pastor Bowers was consecrated as the National Overseer of the New Beginning International Fellowship of Covenant Churches.
Overseer Bowers was an accomplished Woman of God, and we honor her for each one, and if they were all captured, we would be writing a novel. But one of the major accomplishments that she held in high esteem was that in July 2013 she received her Bachelors of Arts Degree from Ohio Christian University, in Circleville, Ohio.
In November 2011, Overseer Bowers had a fatal tear in the main aorta in her heart. While out taking care of some business with her daughter, and singing one of their favorite songs: “OH THE BLOOD OF JESUS”, she was led to pull over as a feeling came over her. As soon as she pulled over getting the car out of harm’s way she slumped over the wheel. Tt was the leading of the Lord that helped Donna to make the right call, and the paramedics were able to find them in record time. After getting to the hospital and the doctors began to run test, they came to the family presenting them with news and a decision that had to be made on her behalf. They stated that due to her age and current condition the surgery that she needed they stated that there was only a 30% chance that she would come off the table, and if she did, she would be a vegetable, needing to have total care for the rest of her life. BUT GOD, he brought her out of the surgery in less time than they said it would take. She continued to defy all odds, by going to the rehab early. She was doing so well there that she left he rehab early. She was a determined and STRONG Woman of God.
2014, after washing the dishes, her phone rang causing her to leave her kitchen. While on the phone in the bedroom, she heard a loud collision, coming out of the room to find that there was a car sitting in the middle of her home. The car entered the house in the place she would have been standing just moments before. Shortly after this happened due to the stress from this traumatic event, she suffered a small stroke. The enemy was fighting but she was fighting back each time.
In 2018 after attending a mighty revival at the Victory Deliverance Church of Christ, after arriving home and settling in the devil tried it again. A drunk driver’s car jumped the curb a ran in the side of her home again. This again was a very stressful time for Overseer Bowers, not understanding why the devil was trying so hard to take her out. While on the phone with one of her Spiritual Daughter, Pastor Mae White, she noticed that her speech was impaired, and responded quickly by sending someone to check on Overseer, only to find her laying on the floor having another stroke, when getting to the hospital they discovered that there was a blood clot on her brain causing her left side to be paralyzed, they provided some strong medication to break up the blood clot, the doctors again told the family that because of the lack of oxygen to the brain for a long period of time that part of the brain may not recover, and she may not be able to communicate or walk again. Overseer Bowers said not so, before leaving the hospital, she was able to lift the left hand and leg. THE DEVIL LOST AGAIN!
Overseer Bowers was a woman with strong faith, and there was nothing that she did not believe the Lord for, she prayed for all her children. She seen the power of God move through them, she was used to prophecy into many people’s lives and it came to pass. She was an example of an authentic Prophetess, who moved with the Voice of God.
On Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 4:10 a.m., Overseer Bowers on her own terms, went from suffering, and living in the world to be in the arms of the one she preached about, and looked forward to seeing since she received His Spirit. We, the family had one plan, but her and the Father had a conversation, and she went when she was ready. It hurt us to let her go, but right now she is in Heaven running around praising the I AM, that I AM.
Overseer Elinor Bowers was preceded in death by her husband, Deacon Robert Bowers Sr., parents, Rev. Elijah Bostic, Mrs. Ida Will Scott; stepfather, Mr. Alexander Scott; brothers, James Scott Jr., Dr. Nathaniel Bostic, Reginald R. Bostic; sister, Brenda Scott; daughter, Felicia Yuill; son, Larry Bostic; niece, Natalie Bostic; nephews, Marlon Milner, Tracy Corbin; great granddaughter, Ivi’Ani Sams; special friend, Mother Shelia Love.
She leaves to carry on her legacy, Children, Bishop Jerome (Linda) Bostic, Donna Bostic, Monica Johnson, Andrea Bostic, Robert (fiancé; Monica Edwards) Bowers Jr.; God-Children, Overseer Rickey (Tyese) Baker, Deacon Cedric Hale, Ms. Dena Dunson, Ms. Carol Head, Minister Whitney Little, Mr. Jordan Sheifled, (And Many More) Sisters: Delores Banks-Polk, Yvonne Corbin, Mary Milner; Grandchildren, Iesha Graham, Antwan Bostic, Joshua Bostic, Caleb Bostic, Honesty Bowers, Shaska White, Yolanda (Ivie) Sams, Robert (Jessica) Bowers III, Lashay Bowers, Jaila Bowers, Da’Miah Bostic, Sasha Bostic, Quatauna Bostic; Great Grandchildren, Daniel Bostic, Alexis Bostic, Jovanni Bostic, Jacarri Bostic, SaRyiah Bostic and a host of nieces and nephews.
Chief Apostle Melvin L. Goolsby, and the NBIF Family; Best Friends, Pecolia Dunson, Mother Willa Jordan, Mother Vicky Richmond, Mother Loretta Leonard, Ms. Oliva Mitchell, and a host of others.
It does not end here, but to those that are left behind let’s do what she taught us, let us carry on her Legacy….
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