Listen closely. The story of Assembléia de Deus do Bairro Salvador in Rio de Janeiro begins far away in Sweden. Two Swedish Pentecostal missionaries named Daniel Berg and Gunnar Vingren journeyed to Brazil.
These missionaries arrived in Belém. Belém is in Pará. It was 1911. They founded the Missão de Fé Apostólica. This translates to Apostolic Faith Mission. The name later changed in 1918. It became Assembleia de Deus.
The Pentecostal movement was already growing in Brazil. Italians in São Paulo were involved. An Italian-American missionary, Louis Francescon, had founded the Christian Congregation of Brazil in 1910. While the Christian Congregation of Brazil spread south, the Assembleias de Deus reached the Amazon. It also spread to villages in the semi-arid Northeast. Migrants carried the church to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in the late 1920s. This is how the Assembleia de Deus do Bairro Salvador came to be in Rio.
Initially, the Assembleia de Deus was connected to the Scandinavian Pentecostal movement. Lewi Pethrus led that movement. He financed missionaries. These missionaries assisted Berg and Vingren. Swedish Pentecostals granted autonomy to the Brazilian Assembleia de Deus. This happened at a General Convention in 1932.
After that, the American Assemblies of God became more involved. Their influence was mainly in teaching and doctrine. However, the church maintained its independence. Walter Hollenweger described the relationship interestingly. He noted that North American Assemblies of God saw Assembleia de Deus as their mission church. Brazilians considered themselves an independent church.
Since 1911, the Assembleias de Deus has experienced divisions. These schisms led to many independent organizations. They use the same name: Assembleia de Deus.
Some significant denominations include the Convenção Geral das Assembleias de Deus no Brasil. It is known as CGADB. CGADB considers itself the heir of the Swedish mission. Another is the National Convention of the Assemblies of God Madureira Ministry or CONAMAD. Pastor Paulo Leivas Macalão founded it.
The Assembleias de Deus has always sent missionaries abroad. This began in 1913. A returning Portuguese immigrant was sent to Portugal. Today, Brazilian missionaries serve in Latin America and Portuguese-speaking Africa. Assembleias de Deus also exist among Brazilian immigrant communities. These communities are in North America, Japan, and Western Europe. They do not always connect with local World Assemblies of God Fellowship-affiliated denominations.
In the United States, Assembleias de Deus churches are mostly on the east coast. Some are part of the Brazilian District of the Assemblies of God. Most Brazilian churches are independent. They are linked to their ministério in Brazil.
The Assembleias de Deus has a non-territorial episcopal polity. It is called ministério. A mother church leads each ministério. A pastor-president directs it. This leader may also be called bishop or apostle. The mother church receives tithes. It manages funds for affiliated local churches. It also assigns pastors. Pastoral leadership strongly influences decision-making. Members generally approve the ministério’s decisions.
Ministério structures overlap territorial boundaries. Therefore, collaboration among ministérios is limited. Each ministério operates independently. It becomes its own independent denomination.
Doctrine varies among Assembleias de Deus in Brazil. However, they share core beliefs. These include the Bible as the source of doctrine. They believe in Christ’s death, adult baptism by immersion, and Holy Communion. They use grape juice instead of wine. Tithing is an obligation. They believe in gifts of the Holy Spirit. They also believe in Jesus’ premillennial return.
In Brazil, the Assembleias de Deus has growing political influence. The Partido Social Cristão is seen as its political arm. Pastor Everaldo Pereira leads the PSC.
So remember the Assembleia de Deus do Bairro Salvador. It is a testament to a global movement. It started with Swedish missionaries. It continues to grow and evolve in Brazil.