July 19, 2012
Lorinda Mae Robinson entered into the presence of her Lord on Thursday, July 19, 2012, after a year’s battle with cancer. She was 54.
Lorinda was born on November 16, 1958, in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. In 1976 she graduated from Ambridge High School and attended St. Paul Bible College, graduating with a B.S. in missiology. Upon her graduation, Lorinda served as the Christian Education director and the church secretary at Calvary Gospel Church of the C&MA (East Brunswick, New Jersey) from 1982–1986. She also worked part time at Peddie, a private boarding school.
Lorinda graduated from Wheaton Graduate School in 1987 with a master’s in missions and intercultural ministries.
In August 1987, Lorinda left for Albertville, France, for a year of French language study before traveling to Cote d’Ivoire to begin her first term in the town of Sinfra, learning the Baoule tribal language. Lorinda was gifted in the areas of Christian education, training Sunday school teachers, Theological Education by Extension, and leadership training. She was also involved with women’s ministries and exercised her gift of hospitality, serving as the assistant guesthouse and station hostess.
Because of the coup and political instability in Cote d’Ivoire, Alliance international workers and International Christian Academy students were evacuated stateside in 2002. Lorinda was then relocated to serve in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. One of her responsibilities was to work at Dorcas House, a home offering care and spiritual nurture to young women who would otherwise be on the streets.
Lorinda arrived back to the United States in summer 2011 for a year of home assignment; shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with cancer.
Lorinda is survived by her parents, Dorman and Florence, and her brother and sister.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 4.