History
Our Righ Legacy, Bright Future
1909
The fellowship at Parklawn Assembly of God began shortly after April in 1909 under the leadership of Cyrus B. Fockler. At the time, Parklawn, then called Milwaukee Gospel Tabernacle was located at 825 N. Eighth Street. Among the founding families were the Schrages, the Laukermanns, the Wustracks, the Erdmanns and young Alice Baumbach. Prior to the organization of the church, Alice was instantly healed of tuberculosis and of the spine while receiving prayer from Rev. Fockler at her home. This miraculous event was a catalyst in the organization of this fellowship.
1914
Rev. Fockler was one of the founders of the Assemblies of God and attended the first General Council which assembled in hot Springs, Arkansas from April 2-12, 1914. The Milwaukee Gospel Tabernacle became affiliated with the Assemblies of God from its beginning in 1914 and since the church’s inception has been a part of the Pentecostal movement.
1916
A church building was built at 728 W. Meinecke Avenue. This new location had a predominantly Jewish population and to the South there were African American families.
1926
Rev. Fockler made a missionary trip to Africa. In his absence, Edward A. Eggert served as temporary pastor. Upon Rev. Fockler’s return in 1927, the congregation which had grown significantly in his absence separated and formed two churched: the Milwaukee Gospel Tabernacle under the leadership of Rev. Fockler and the Milwaukee Gospel Center under the leadership of Rev. Eggert at a different location at Fourth and Center Streets. Among those who accompanied Rev. Eggert were the Laukermanns, the Bronns, the Erdmanns, the Pagels, the Riedys and the Egelseers.
1937
Another part of the original congregation left to form another fellowship. Most of these families were members or relatives of the founding members. The new congregation held its first meeting on January 16, 1938, in a rented Union Hall located at 1012 North Third Street under the leadership of Phillip Megna. The fellowship purchased and remolded a theater building and dedicated it on June 19, 1938, as Glad Tidings Temple.
1948
The congregations at Glad Tidings Temple and the Milwaukee Gospel Center merged. The building on North 22 nd and West Center Streets was sold and the new congregation worshipped in the building located on North Fourth and Center Streets. Many of the members from the Milwaukee Gospel Center were among those who left the original congregation with Rev. Eggert in 1927.
1957
In 1957, while in the process of building a new facility, the decision was made to rename the fellowship. The fellowship became Parklawn Assembly of God because of its new location in the Parklawn subdivision. The new location had a predominately Jewish population, as well as some German families.
1972
Under the leadership of Paul Baldwin, the congregation purchased a van and began its bus ministry. This was the beginning of new growth for the congregation. As the bus ministry expanded, a 66-passenger bus ministry was purchased to allow the ministry to pick up congregants of all raced from nearby housing projects and the East side. In the Spring of that same year, Gordon Seefeldt became Parklawn’s first youth pastor.
1974
Under the leadership of H. Ray Collver, African Americans began regularly attending and working in the ministries of Parklawn Assembly. In December of 1974, the congregation received its first African American members into the fellowship. At its 1975 Annual Business Meeting, the congregation elected its first African American deacon, Lawrence A. Drake. Several years after completing his studies, Rev. Drake joined the pastoral staff of Parklawn.
1990
Upon Rev. Collver’s retirement, Michael T. Dudley was elected as the fellowship’s first African American senior pastor. At the time Parklawn was, and continues to be, the city’s largest inter-racial congregation.
1993
Bishop Walter F. Harvey and Lady Judy Harvey began leading PAOG. A gifted visionary, he facilitated the growth of Parklawn as it became one of the fastest growing churches in Wisconsin and within the Assemblies of God. He is a deeply humble and caring leader who is devoted to the Word of God and the people God he has been called to serve. Additionally, he founded Parklawn Christian Leadership Academy, a church sponsored Christian school for children K4-8 th grade. Parklawn completed a multi-million-dollar renovation an expansion in 2009. Choosing to remain at our current location on Sherman Boulevard, this expansion allows us to accommodate and better serve our growing fellowship and the community with a new state of the art Children’s ministry, café, prayer room, music wing, administrative offices, renovated sanctuary, and allow more space for the needs of the ministry. Throughout its history, Parklawn Assembly of God has been a spiritual oasis where thousands of souls have come in needy and gone out refreshed, delivered, restored and healed. Parklawn Assembly of God is truly a place of worship for all people of all races and nationalities, uniting in one accord to the glory of God.
2020
Bishop Harvey passed the baton to Dr. Marcus L. Arrington who serves as the current senior pastor. Along with our anointed and compassionate pastoral team, Dr. Arrington guided and prepared God’s people to share the light, life and love of Jesus Christ as we were thrust into a world-wide pandemic one day after his installation. Dr. Arrington is the husband of a beautiful, loving, godly wife, Crystal and the father of two outstanding, godly children, Jacen and Makaila.
Over the last 10 years, the faith community formerly known as Parklawn Assembly of God has received multiple prophetic words that have revealed His plans and purpose for the ministry. Through much prayer, reflection, and wise consultation, the Lord’s dream for the ministry has become clearer. The Covid-19 pandemic required the church to pivot in ways that hadn’t previously been considered. It signaled the need for the ministry to shift in critical areas, to effectively meet the needs of the congregation and community, both presently and in the future.
2022
PAOG shifted from a local church mentality to a kingdom church mentality and the name changed to The Embassy Center MKE. At The Embassy Center MKE, we embrace God’s mandate to be a launching space for families/ambassadors who are committed to God’s Original Commission for humanity. We are engaged in a diplomatic mission for the Kingdom of Heaven. All who believe in this sacred work are welcome here.