ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH

ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH. The Assembly of God is a Pentecostal denomination which began locally in 1955. The first services were held in the YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.M.C.A.). In 1969 the faith had 8,506 churches in the United States and over 500,000 members. In that year, the local church was located at 17th and Iowa STREETS. (1) The current church at 3939 Pennsylvania Road was constructed in 1984. With a growing congregation, the local church in 2004 was considering a second service in the near future, collecting a building fund to expand, and had thirty-two ministry positions. (2)

To attract people to its weekly message, the congregation in 2004 distributed backpacks with school supplies to children who attended a brief service in August and turkeys to families who attended a service in November. Annually on April 1st, area students were invited to a Giga Party and every June the church set up a service under a tent on the Hawthorne Street boat ramp during the Catfish Festival. (3) Reverend Terry Bemis and a congregation member constructed a plywood base and decorated it with evergreen branches to be used as a frame for 25 singers who performed a play's cantata. "The Living Christmas Tree" was first used in 2003 for a free program dedicated to a Dubuque teenager who was waiting for a heart transplant. In 2005 the program, which had become a tradition, was moved from the church on Pennsylvania to the GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The church covered all the costs so that all of the $2.50 spent on a ticket could go to the Salvation Army. (4) In 2012 the Assembly of God was a participant in Bible-study classes at the Dubuque County. (5) Jail.

The 2017 Dubuque City Directory listed 3939 Pennsylvania for The Journey Assembly of God.

The 2017 Dubuque City Directory listed 2501 Jackson for the DUBUQUE PARADISE ASSEMBLY OF GOD. (Marshallese)

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Source:

1. "Assembly of God Church," Telegraph-Herald, April 1, 1969, p. 15

2. Nevans-Pederson, Mary. 'The Spirit of God,' Telegraph Herald, March 27, 2004, p. 31

3. Ibid.

4. Voight, Sandye. "Christmas With Lots of Heart," Telegraph Herald, December 15, 2005, p. 1

5. Nevans-Pederson, Mary. "A Ministry for Troubled Souls," Telegraph Herald, February 26, 2012, p. 1