Does the name Edir Macedo ring a bell? Right here stands a testament to his vision. This is Igreja Universal Do Reino De Deus.
Igreja Universal Do Reino De Deus began its journey in 1977. Edir Macedo and Romildo Ribeiro Soares founded it in Rio de Janeiro. The church started modestly in a former funeral home. It was located in the Abolicao area of Rio de Janeiro.
Edir Macedo is a key figure. He leads Igreja Universal and Record Communication Group. His religious path began in the Catholic Church. Later, he explored Umbanda cults. At 18 he turned to the Protestant Church.
In 1975 Macedo started a church called Cruzada do Caminho Eterno. This translates to The Eternal Path Crusade. His brother-in-law Romildo Ribeiro Soares joined him. Roberto Augusto Lopes and brothers Samuel and Fidelis Coutinho were also founders. After disputes Macedo and R.R. Soares parted ways. In 1980 R.R. Soares established Igreja Internacional da Graca de Deus.
Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus grew quickly. Macedo invested in media early on. He rented airtime on radio and TV. In 1984 he bought Copacabana AM Radio in Rio. Then in 1989 he acquired Record TV in Sao Paulo.
In 1992 Igreja Universal founded Folha Universal. This is a free weekly newspaper. It now has a circulation of 1.8 million copies.
Igreja Universal’s influence extends into politics. Politicians connected to the church moved to the Brazilian Republican Party PRB. Marcelo Crivella Macedos nephew became mayor of Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
In the 2000s Igreja Universal started building large temples. In 2014 it opened the Templo de Salomao in Sao Paulo. This temple can seat 10000 people.
Today Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus has a global presence. It operates in about 200 countries. The church engages in various sectors. These include media education food finance and health. Its radio network Rede Aleluia covers much of Brazil. The church also uses online platforms to distribute content.
So next time you hear about Edir Macedo remember his profound influence. Igreja Universal Do Reino De Deus stands as a symbol of his leadership and vision. Its story is one of growth media influence and global expansion.