On January 5 1967 a pivotal moment unfolded. The Igreja Metodista Wesleyana was born. This wasn’t just another church. It was a movement. It began in Nova Friburgo Rio de Janeiro. Ministers and lay people who had been part of the Igreja Metodista do Brasil broke away. Their reasons? A deep belief in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They embraced Pentecostal practices. This included speaking in tongues spiritual songs and prophetic gifts. They also valued revival services prayer for the sick and worship free from rigid liturgy.
The Igreja Metodista Wesleyana’s founding meeting was unique. It took place on a bridge in the patio of the Fundação Getulio Vargas. Pastors Idelmício Cabral dos Santos and Waldemar Gomes de Figueiredo led the gathering. They established a centralized government structure. This followed the Methodist system with a General Council. The first council members were elected. Waldemar Gomes de Figueiredo became superintendent-general. Gessé Teixeira de Carvalho became secretary-general. Idelmício Cabral dos Santos took on the role of treasurer-general.
The Igreja Metodista Wesleyana’s growth was rapid. A Constituent Council convened in Petrópolis in February 1967. New ministers joined. Evangelists were elected. The church’s statutes were approved. The General Council members were officially elected. Gessé Teixeira de Carvalho became secretary-general of missions. Oriele Soares do Nascimento was appointed secretary-general of social action. Idelmício Cabral dos Santos continued as secretary-general of finance. Francisco Teodoro Batista became president of the Patrimonial Board. Gessé Teixeira de Carvalho also became editor of the Voz Wesleyana newspaper.
The Igreja Metodista Wesleyana has full communion with the Iglesia Metodista Pentecostal de Chile and the International Holiness Pentecostal Church in the United States. This illustrates its global connections and shared beliefs. The church’s founding is a testament to the power of faith. It showcases the dedication of individuals who sought a different path. They sought a richer more expressive form of worship. The Igreja Metodista Wesleyana stands as a vibrant legacy. It’s a symbol of spiritual renewal in Rio de Janeiro.