Picture the scene It’s 1927. A lone missionary Daniel Berg arrives in Sao Paulo. He carries little money but a powerful faith. He seeks to establish the Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus. He finds a humble home in Vila Carrao. There in a sparsely populated area he holds the first service of the Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus.
The Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus in Sao Paulo wasn’t built overnight. It was a seed planted in humble beginnings. It grew slowly yet surely. Four months later three souls were baptized. This small act marked a turning point for the Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus. The burgeoning congregation soon outgrew its first home. They moved to a larger hall on Avenida Celso Garcia. The growth of the Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus was unstoppable.
The Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus found itself relocating repeatedly. Each move reflected its expanding reach. The church moved to Rua Candido Vale then Rua Vilela in the Tatuapé neighborhood. Then to Rua Chavantes in the Brás district. By 1934 it had found a home in Vila Independencia. The Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus continued its journey of growth and expansion.
The leadership of the Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus changed hands several times. Pastor Daniel Berg led the church in its early days. He was followed by other devoted pastors. Samuel Nystrom Samuel Hudlund Simon Lundgren Silvio Brito Francisco Gonzaga da Silva and Bruno Skolimovski each guided the Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus. In 1946 Cicero Canuto de Lima took the helm.
In 1980 Pastor Jose Wellington Bezerra da Costa took charge of the Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus. He inherited a church with 500 congregations 70000 members and 1300 ministers. It was a significant undertaking. Under his guidance the Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus flourished. Today in Sao Paulo and the surrounding area the Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus boasts 500000 members 2000 churches and 15000 pastors. Its influence is far-reaching. Its roots however are firmly planted in that first humble service in Vila Carrao. The Igreja Evangelica Assembleia de Deus continues to grow. It thrives as a testament to enduring faith and unwavering devotion.