Salvation Numbers: Spiritual Shift in Brazil’s Catholicism
Summary of the Brazil Religious Revival article:
This CBN News article details the critically importent and rapid growth of evangelical Christianity in Brazil. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
* Explosive Growth: Evangelical churches in Brazil are experiencing phenomenal growth, with numbers jumping from 7,000 congregations in 1990 to nearly 110,000 today, and now estimated at 550,000. A study found 17 new churches opening every day.
* Large Churches & Leaders: Several mega-churches are leading the way, including:
* Community of the nations Church (Brasília): 12,000 members in Brasília, 15,000 in Fortaleza.
* Assembly of God victory in Christ (Rio de Janeiro): Over 100,000 members.
* Political Influence: Evangelical Christians are increasingly involved in politics. Over 30% of Brazilian legislators (140+ deputies and 20+ senators) are evangelical. They hold regular prayer meetings in Congress. Celina Leão, the vice governor of Brasília, also holds monthly prayer meetings in her office.
* Return to Biblical Practices: A contributing factor to growth is a return to small group meetings in homes,mirroring the early church model.
* Rooted in Prayer: Leaders like Ezenete Rodrigues emphasize the crucial role of sustained prayer and intercession in fueling this revival. She believes consistent prayer has finally “sprouted” into a widespread movement.
* Future Projections: Silas Malafaia predicts evangelicals will become the majority population in Brazil within the next seven years,currently representing around 35% of the population.
In essence, the article portrays a powerful religious shift in Brazil, driven by spiritual hunger, dedicated prayer, and increasing political engagement of evangelical Christians.