“Have you ever considered how a small seed of faith can blossom into a widespread movement? That’s precisely what happened with the Assembleia de Deus Ministério Pescando para o Reino.
Let’s delve into the story of this vibrant church. The Assembleia de Deus is a Pentecostal church with deep roots in Brazil. It all began with Swedish missionaries Daniel Berg and Gunnar Vingren. They arrived in Belém Pará in 1911. These missionaries started the Missão de Fé Apostólica. Later in 1918 the name changed to Assembleia de Deus.
The Pentecostal movement was already stirring in Brazil. An Italian-American missionary named Louis Francescon founded the Christian Congregation of Brazil in São Paulo in 1910. While the Christian Congregation of Brazil grew in the south, the Assembleia de Deus expanded. It reached Amazon villages and the northeast. Migrants eventually carried the church to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in the late 1920s.
Initially the Assembleia de Deus had close ties to the Scandinavian Pentecostal movement. Lewi Pethrus led the movement. He provided financial support and sent missionaries to assist Berg and Vingren. In 1932 the Swedish Pentecostals granted autonomy to the Brazilian Assembleia de Deus. From that point the American Assemblies of God increased their presence in Brazil. They influenced doctrinal and teaching aspects. However the church maintained independence from its American counterparts.
The Assembleia de Deus has experienced schisms and splits since 1911. This led to the formation of many independent conventions and ministérios all using the same name. Despite their independence they are separate organizations. Some significant denominations include the Convenção Geral das Assembleias de Deus no Brasil CGADB. It is considered the only authentic convention of the pioneer church in Brazil. The National Convention of the Assemblies of God Madureira Ministry CONAMAD is another. Pastor Paulo Leivas Macalão founded it.
The Assembleia de Deus has consistently sent missionaries abroad. It began in 1913. A returning Portuguese immigrant was sent to Portugal. Today Brazilian missionaries serve in Latin America and Portuguese-speaking Africa. There are also Assembleias de Deus in Brazilian immigrant communities. These communities are in North America Japan and Western Europe. These churches do not always have relationships with local World Assemblies of God Fellowship-affiliated denominations.
The Assembleias de Deus have a non-territorial episcopal polity called ministério. A mother church leads each ministério under a pastor-president. Affiliated congregations and preaching points are also part of the ministry. The mother church manages finances. It assigns pastors to local congregations. Pastoral leadership has a strong influence on decision-making. Members typically support the ministry’s decisions.
Doctrine varies within the Assembleias de Deus in Brazil. However they share core beliefs. These include the Bible as the ultimate source of doctrine. They believe in Christ’s death for humanity. They practice adult baptism by immersion. They celebrate Holy Communion with grape juice instead of wine. They are obligated to tithe. They recognize the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They anticipate the premillennial return of Jesus.
In Brazil the Assembleias de Deus have a growing influence in politics. The Partido Social Cristão PSC is seen as its political arm. Pastor Everaldo Pereira leads the PSC. However other politicians connected to the Assembleias like Benedita da Silva and Marina Silva hold different views than the PSC.
As you stand here at Assembleia de Deus Ministério Pescando para o Reino remember its connection to a larger story. It is a story of faith expansion and cultural impact. This church represents a branch of a movement that transformed Brazil’s religious landscape. It continues to evolve and spread its message.”