Founded in 1980 the Igreja Internacional da Graça de Deus stands as a testament to faith. Its origins trace back to 1968. Missionary R R Soares’s life changed after reading T L Osborn’s book Cure the Sick and Cast Out Demons. This sparked his evangelical ministry. Three days after his decision on June 9 1980 the first Igreja Internacional da Graça de Deus temple opened. It was a temporary location on Rua Alfredo Dolabela Portela. Later it moved to Rua Lauro Neiva in Duque de Caxias. The church’s growth was phenomenal. It expanded rapidly opening temples across Brazil.
The Igreja Internacional da Graça de Deus is more than just a place of worship. It’s a media empire. It boasts a massive media presence especially on television. Missionary R R Soares once held the record for the most airtime on Brazilian television. His programs reached millions each week. Since 1997 the IIGD has broadcast its programs during prime time. The Show da Fé its flagship program airs on Band and RedeTV. But its reach is even broader. The church also operates Nossa Rádio a radio station with 18 retransmitters across Brazil. It even extended its reach to Florida in 2011.
The Igreja Internacional da Graça de Deus’s influence extends into film and publishing. In 2010 R R Soares established Graça Filmes initially a distributor of evangelical films. It later began producing feature films. Its first film Three Stories One Destiny was a significant achievement for the Brazilian evangelical film industry. The church also operates Graça Music a record label founded in 1999 and Graça Editorial a publishing house founded in 1984. These ventures produce the church’s publications including the widely circulated Show da Fé newspaper and magazine.
Education is another vital aspect of the Igreja Internacional da Graça de Deus. It maintains two educational institutions. The Academia Teológica da Graça de Deus AGRADE is a higher education institution focusing on theological training for pastors. The Faculdade do Povo FAPSP is a communications college founded in 2009. It received a high rating from the Ministry of Education.
The Igreja Internacional da Graça de Deus’s influence is global. Its international ministry began in 2003 in the United States. It started small in a Deerfield Beach hotel room. By 2005 it had acquired a proper temple. Today it has a presence in 11 countries including South America Europe Asia and Africa. This church with its headquarters in São Paulo is a powerful force in Brazilian religious life and international media. Its story is one of remarkable growth and far-reaching influence.