Have you ever wondered about a religious movement born from Italian immigrants’ faith? Right here stands the Congrega\u00e7\u00e3o Crist\u00e3 no Brasil. Its story started with deep roots in both the United States and Italy. It began in Chicago in the late 19th century. Luigi Francescon an elder in the First Presbyterian Church embraced adult baptism. This separated him from his Presbyterian roots. He and others formed a free community. It later became the Assemblea Cristiana Italiana di Chicago.
In 1907 Francescon learned about the Pentecostal Mission. William Durham led this mission. It was an extension of the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles. There, people experienced the Holy Spirit baptism. Speaking in tongues characterized this experience. Francescon visited the Pentecostal Mission. He believed that the work there had divine approval. Francescon and his companions started attending the meetings. Many received the Holy Spirit baptism.
On September 15 1907 Francescon returned to his congregation. That day marked the start of the Italian Pentecostal Movement. This movement then spread to Brazil.
Luigi Francescon traveled by train in Brazil. He learned about Votorantim a district with many Italian immigrants. He met Angelo de Ciene in Votorantim. Francescon planted the seeds of faith there. He left a hymnal and a Bible. When Francescon returned in 1918 he found a group of believers. The Ribeiro family also embraced the new faith. These families formed the first prayer group. The first Congrega\u00e7\u00e3o Crist\u00e3 in the S\u00e3o Paulo state was born.
Due to noise complaints the group moved. They met at Benedito Ribeiro’s home. Later they gathered at Piero Bozzon’s house. They followed Francescon’s teachings. They sang hymns only in Italian. The village was mostly Italian immigrants. Jos\u00e9 Thomaz da Costa a talented soccer player joined the church. He was later ordained by Louis Francescon in 1931.
Other Italian-American Pentecostal figures joined the mission. Giacomo Lombardi and Lucia Menna were among them. Francescon made ten more trips to Brazil. His last trip was in 1948. The movement was initially known as the “Igreja dos Gl\u00f3rias.” In 1922 it adopted the name “Congrega\u00e7\u00e3o Christ\u00e3.” In 1928 it became the Congrega\u00e7\u00e3o Crist\u00e3 do Brasil. The name changed again in 1962 to Congrega\u00e7\u00e3o Crist\u00e3 no Brasil.
In 1927 a convention defined the “12 Articoli di Fede.” These articles were adopted by congregations in Argentina Italy and Brazil. Until the 1930s the church was mostly Italian. It then expanded to include other ethnicities. By 2010 it had 2289634 members in Brazil. Most members lived in S\u00e3o Paulo Paran\u00e1 and Minas Gerais.
The Congrega\u00e7\u00e3o Crist\u00e3 no Brasil has its administrative headquarters in S\u00e3o Paulo. The Assembleia Ministerial Geral takes place annually. The temple here in Br\u00e1s is the fourth largest in S\u00e3o Paulo. It covers 19028 square meters.
Today the Congrega\u00e7\u00e3o Crist\u00e3 no Brasil stands as a testament. It shows the enduring power of faith. It began with Italian immigrants. It grew into a major evangelical presence in Brazil. It has spread across the globe. It has maintained its unique identity and practices. The story of the Congrega\u00e7\u00e3o Crist\u00e3 no Brasil is a remarkable chapter. It is a chapter in the history of Pentecostalism. It highlights the contributions of Italian immigrants.