Encyclopedia Dubuque
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DUBUQUE PARADISE ASSEMBLY OF GOD
DUBUQUE PARADISE ASSEMBLY OF GOD. MARSHALLESE began arriving in Dubuque in 1992 to study. (1) By 2002 the community in Dubuque needed a larger place to worship. Among those leading worship services in private homes was John Henos. He went on to graduate from the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE Theological Seminary in 2003 and become an assistant pastor to his congregation. Rev. John Hulsizer of the CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE heard of the congregation's needs. He and his congregation agreed to allow the Marshallese congregation to begin holding Sunday services and weekly fellowship meetings in their church. In 2003 the fifty active members made up approximately half of the Marshallese community in Dubuque. One of the results of there being a church in Dubuque caused other Marshallese to relocate here. Among those was A. Lokeijak, whose father in 2003 led the Marshallese Assembly of God Churches in the United States based in Enid, Oklahoma. (2)
In 2004 the Marshallese congregation moved to 2155 Rockdale Road. The Marshallese First Assembly of God House of Praise was located in the former Dubuque Sign building. The relocation was in time to celebrate Christmas with other Marshallese from Waterloo and Cedar Rapids. (3)
In 2015 Pastor Stanley Samson of the Dubuque Paradise Assembly of God located at 2501 Jackson organized a neighborhood picnic and concert in COMISKEY PARK to promote Marshallese customs and encourage connections with the community. He also worked with MERCY MEDICAL CENTER, CRESCENT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, and the Dubuque Human Rights Department to address the Marshallese community's lack of health coverage. As a result of welfare reform in 1996, Marshallese immigrants became ineligible for federally funded benefit programs including Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. (4)
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Source:
1. Barton, Thomas J. "Pastor United Marshallese Community," Telegraph Herald, September 28, 2015, p. 3
2. Nevans-Pederson, Mary. "Spirit-Filled Worship," Telegraph Herald, November 8, 2003
3. Fuerste, Madelin. "Congregation Follows Signs Home," Telegraph Herald, December 26, 2004, p. 1
4. Barton