In 1911 a pivotal moment in Brazilian religious history occurred. Two Swedish Pentecostal missionaries Daniel Berg and Gunnar Vingren arrived in Belém Pará. They established the Missão de Fé Apostólica. This later became the Assembleia de Deus. The Assembleia de Deus’s impact spread rapidly. It reached Amazon villages and the northeastern semi-arid region. Migrants then brought the church to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in the late 1920s. The Assembleia de Deus in Rio de Janeiro thus became part of a burgeoning movement. This profoundly shaped Brazil’s religious landscape.
The Assembleia de Deus wasn’t a monolithic entity. It experienced numerous schisms and splits. This resulted in many independent conventions and ministries. All used the same name Assembleia de Deus. The most significant include the Convenção Geral das Assembleias de Deus no Brasil (CGADB). This is considered the authentic historical convention from Belém do Pará. It considers itself the heir of the Swedish mission. Another prominent group is the Convenção Nacional das Assembleias de Deus Ministério Madureira (CONAMAD). This was founded by Pastor Paulo Leivas Macalão. He led the ministry until his death in the late 1980s. These different groups show the dynamic nature of the Assembleia de Deus’s growth.
The Assembleia de Deus also engaged in foreign missionary work. It began in 1913 when a returning Portuguese immigrant was sent back to Portugal. Brazilian missionaries later spread to Latin America and Portuguese-speaking Africa. Assembleias de Deus also appeared in Brazilian immigrant communities. These were in North America Japan and Western Europe. However they did not usually connect with local Assemblies of God organizations. The Assembleia de Deus in Rio de Janeiro demonstrates this global reach. It shows the influence of this Brazilian Pentecostal movement.
The Assembleia de Deus follows a non-territorial episcopal polity. Each ministério is directed by a mother church. This is under a pastor-president also called a bishop or apostle. The mother church receives tithes. It manages funds for affiliated local churches. It also assigns pastors to congregations. The ministério structure overlaps territorial boundaries. This lack of collaboration among ministérios is common. Each operates largely independently. This leads to independent denominations. The Assembleia de Deus in Rio de Janeiro reflects this complex organizational structure.
Despite its internal divisions the Assembleia de Deus shares core beliefs. These are the Bible as the ultimate authority. They believe in the vicarious death of Christ. Adult baptism by immersion is practiced. They practice Holy Communion using grape juice instead of wine. Tithing is obligatory. They believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the premillennial return of Jesus. The Assembleia de Deus in Rio de Janeiro embodies these shared theological principles. It exemplifies the diversity within Brazilian Pentecostalism.