Remember Manoel de Mello. He had a vision. It led to the founding of Igreja O Brasil Para Cristo. In 1955, Manoel de Mello saw Jesus Christ. Jesus instructed him to start a spiritual movement. This movement should focus on revival, evangelization and divine healing. Jesus even gave him the name. It was to be called O Brasil Para Cristo.
O Brasil Para Cristo began in 1955. Manoel de Mello was a construction worker. He came from Pernambuco. He converted to the Assembleia de Deus. Later, he joined the Cruzada Nacional de Evangeliza\u00e7\u00e3o. This is now the Igreja do Evangelho Quadrangular. He became a minister there.
Manoel’s vision was clear. “In 1955, I had a spiritual vision. The Lord Jesus appeared to me. He ordered me to begin a movement in Brazil. It would focus on spiritual revival, evangelization and divine healing. The Lord Jesus himself gave me the name: O Brasil Para Cristo. I obeyed the order. Hallelujah. Without a doubt, the greatest movement of evangelization and spiritual revival in all of Latin America was beginning in Brazil.”
His radio program became famous. It was called A Voz do Brasil Para Cristo. It aired for two decades. Today, his son Pastor Paulo Lutero de Mello continues it. It is on R\u00e1dio Musical FM 105.7. He led meetings in public squares. He also used football stadiums. O Brasil Para Cristo grew in poor areas of S\u00e3o Paulo.
The church reached many. It stands out among Pentecostal denominations in Brazil. But it has a smaller presence abroad. The Minist\u00e9rio Casa da B\u00ean\u00e7\u00e3o originated in this church. O Brasil Para Cristo was once a member of the World Council of Churches.
Today, O Brasil Para Cristo has 2300 congregations. It has 180,000 members in Brazil. It also has a presence in other countries. These include Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and Chile. You can also find it in Uruguay, Argentina, Portugal and the USA.
The headquarters is in S\u00e3o Paulo. It is the Grande Templo in the Pompeia neighborhood. The address is Rua Carlos Vicari 124. Construction began in the 1960s. It can hold about 9000 people.
Brazil even has a special day for it. President Dilma Rousseff declared it in 2016. May 3 is the Dia Nacional da Igreja O Brasil Para Cristo. It recognizes the church’s importance.
O Brasil Para Cristo includes different groups. JUBRAC is the youth group. UFEBRAC is for women. UMASBRAC is for men. MENIBRAC is for children. ADOBRAC is for teenagers. Miss\u00e3o Desafio plants churches abroad.
Manoel de Mello’s work was significant. He was even on the cover of Veja magazine in 1981. He preached in 133 countries. He met important leaders. These included President Jimmy Carter. He was part of the World Council of Churches.
O Brasil Para Cristo continues to grow. It aims to “win Brazil for Christ”. It also works in other countries. Missionaries are in different nations. They are establishing churches. The church is present in 21 countries. Remember its history and its impact.