Charities &
Progress Faith SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 • ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
Simon Dhol, right, stands with Kaway Goy in First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea. Dhol is the pastor of South Sudanese services at the church, and Goy is the president of the Sudanese Nuer Christian and Lutheran Church of Minnesota. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
In South Sudanese worship services, everyone can
PLAY A ROLE Leaders aim to create a community where South Sudanese can support each other in their daily lives By Colleen Harrison
colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com
I
t’s a frigid Sunday morning in people. “We do God’s work and we’re Albert Lea, and while an im- here to worship God, and everything pending snowstorm has kept we do in life together.” away some churchgoers, singGoy, 39, moved to Albert Lea in ing can still be heard coming 2003. Dhol, 46, moved to the area in from a lower level room of First 2010. Both hailing from Upper Nile, Presbyterian Church. South Sudan, Goy and Dhol are now A group of about two dozen South both United States citizens. Sudanese community members sing Both men said it’s important for along in a worship song, sung in their their community to support each native Nuer language. Some read other as they navigate their lives. from pamphlets or books, while Keeping loyal to their faith helps others know the song by heart. them remember right from wrong, Each week, the Rev. Simon Dhol and also helps them pass on their is a part of leading South Sudanese culture to the next generations. church services at First Presbyte“We want to keep a community, a rian. While he is a pastor, the roles united community,” Dhol said. in South Sudanese worship services The local South Sudanese commuare shared among worshippers. nity does not have the resources to “We want everyone to play a role,” buy its own building for worship, but he said. has been lucky to be able to use space One woman reads from the Bible, at both Zion Lutheran Church and before the room breaks into song. First Presbyterian for free. Services Then a man comes up and talks to the at Zion started in 2003, with First congregation, before Presbyterian services there’s more singing, starting in 2011. and eventually Dhol “Without them, we stands up in front of wouldn’t have a serhis congregation. vice. We wouldn’t have The shared efforts a home,” Goy said. are a custom for Dhol said he has South Sudanese, Dhol always felt God’s callsaid, and the service ing, which in part led resembles ones they him to getting his bachattended back home — Simon Dohl elor’s degree through a growing up. seminary to be a pastor. One of the other speakers at the “All people, God calls them,” he service is Kaway Goy, a fellow said, going on to say he has long had member of the local South Sudanese a strong feeling inside of him leading community, president of the Suda- him to help others. nese Nuer Christian and Lutheran Dhol has helped lead efforts to Church of Minnesota, and Dhol’s collect money to send to congregasecond cousin. tion relatives still in South Sudan, About once every two months the and to send clothes and bring mediregional South Sudanese population cine while on missionary trips back, — from as far north as St. Cloud and where he has helped build churches as far west as Mankato — meets to and helped lay piping for villagers worship together and to celebrate to access clean water. Churchgoers their community. have also raised money for mem“We’ve been Christians a long time, bers locally who might be going we know God is the most important See ROLE, Page 2 thing,” Goy said of South Sudanese
“We want to keep a community, a united community.”
WHAT’S INSIDE?
Movers and shakers
A new space
‘Called to heal a broken world’
A new life
Meet three Albert Lea nonprofit leaders making a difference. Page 3
First Lutheran Church youth room moved, renovated for use. Page 4
United Methodist pastor serves as chaplain for local law enforcement. Page 4
Zion Karen Baptist Church now owns its building on Clark Street. Page 6