Here stands Igreja Evangelica Assembleia De Deus. This church is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a living testament to faith hope and community in Sāo Paulo.
Igreja Evangelica Assembleia De Deus has a fascinating history. It is intertwined with the larger story of the Assembleias de Deus in Brazil. Two Swedish missionaries Daniel Berg and Gunnar Vingren founded the Assembleias de Deus. They arrived in Belém Pará in 1911. There they established the Missão de Fé Apostólica. Later in 1918 it was renamed Assembleia de Deus.
The Pentecostal movement had already begun in Brazil. It started among Italians in Sāo Paulo. Louis Francescon an Italian-American missionary founded the Christian Congregation of Brazil in 1910. While the Christian Congregation of Brazil spread south the Assembleias de Deus expanded. It reached Amazon villages and the semi-arid Nordeste. Migrants from the North then brought the church to Rio de Janeiro and Sāo Paulo in the late 1920s.
Initially the Assembleia de Deus was closely linked to the Scandinavian Pentecostal movement. Lewi Pethrus led this movement. He financed and sent missionaries to help Berg and Vingren. In 1932 the Swedish Pentecostals granted autonomy to the Brazilian Assembleia de Deus. After this the American Assemblies of God increased their presence. This was mainly in doctrinal and teaching areas. However the church retained its independence.
The Assembleias de Deus is not a unified movement. There are variations in doctrine and practice. Despite this they share core beliefs. They believe in the Bible as the sole source of doctrine. They believe in the vicarious death of Christ. Adult baptism is by immersion in water. They celebrate Holy Communion with grape juice not wine. Tithing is an obligation. They acknowledge the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They believe in the premillennial return of Jesus.
The Assembleias de Deus has always 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 among Brazilian immigrant communities. These are in North America Japan and Western Europe. However they typically lack relationships with local World Assemblies of God Fellowship-affiliated denominations.
In the United States Assembleias de Deus exists mainly on the east coast. Some are affiliated with the Brazilian District of the Assemblies of God. Most Brazilian churches are independent. They are linked to their ministério back in Brazil.
The Assembleias de Deus has a non-territorial episcopal polity called ministério. Each ministério is directed by a mother church. A pastor-president leads it. This person is also called bishop or apostle. Affiliated congregations and preaching points are part of it. The mother church receives tithes. It manages funds of affiliated local churches. It also assigns pastors to local congregations. Pastoral leadership strongly influences decision-making. Members generally approve the ministério’s decisions.
Ministério structures often overlap territorial boundaries. This limits organizational collaboration among them. Each ministério operates almost independently. It becomes an independent denomination. One major ministério is the Assembly of God Bethlehem Ministry. It has about 2200 churches. These are concentrated in the south-central area. The headquarters are in the Belenzinho neighborhood of Sāo Paulo.
Today Igreja Evangelica Assembleia De Deus continues to thrive. It plays a vital role in the spiritual and social fabric of Sāo Paulo. It welcomes all who seek faith community and a connection to something greater than themselves. Its doors are always open.