News from the Church in Brazil
Bahia
From November 15 to 18, 2024, the Regional Convention of the Church of God of Prophecy in the state of Bahia took place in the city of Cândido Sales with an average attendance of two hundred people per day. The convention operated under the theme “Called,” and special guests included the continental director of the Church Planting Department of the Church of God of Prophecy in South America, Francisco Lopez Paz, and the representative of the Multiplication Network, Luís Eduardo Pinzón. Powerful messages and teachings based on the theme were given throughout the convention. On Saturday, November 17, an evangelistic march through the city was organized, touching the hearts of several people in the community. At the end of the convention, more than 15 brothers met with the continental director of church planting to receive strategic instructions for starting a new preaching point in the region.
Ceará
The first COGOP church in the state of Ceará was planted at the end of 2017. Since then, the church in Ceará has moved forward and has experienced enormous growth with four organized churches and seven missions, some of which are almost ready to be organized.
On November 29 through December 1, 2024, the First Regional Convention of the Church of God of Prophecy in the state took place in the city of Varjota (Ceará) and brought together around two hundred and thirty participants. The convention adopted the theme “On Mission,” based on Matthew 28, and welcomed special guests such as Hernandes Fernandes Filho (COGOP national bishop of Brazil), Francisco Lopez Paz (continental director of the Church Planting Department for COGOP South America), and Luis Eduardo Pinzón and Gizele de Oliveira (both from the Multiplication Network). The event impacted many lives and made an impression on the state of Ceará.
IDP (COGOP) Sertão Project
The Ceará hinterland is one of Brazil’s most challenging and culturally rich regions. Located in the semi-arid northeast, the sertão faces adverse climatic conditions, especially long periods of drought and water scarcity, which directly affect the economy, agriculture, and the population’s quality of life. With a deep-rooted Catholic religious culture, small communities can easily be found in this state that do not have even one evangelical church. Recently, COGOP Brazil reached a community of around 3,000 people and established the first evangelical church in that area. The proposal of the IDP Sertão Project is to offer, in addition to the word of reconciliation, food baskets, a sports activities project, and training for workers in the region. During the convention, we received a donation of a motorcycle to facilitate evangelization in this community. Pray for the IDP Sertão-Ceará Project!
Minas Gerais
The Regional Convention of the Church of God of Prophecy in Minas Gerais took place on January 17–19 at the Pousada do Rei site, located in the municipality of Sarzedo (Minas Gerais) and was attended by approximately two hundred people. The theme of the convention was “Called to Holiness,” emphasizing the importance of holy living for missional purposes in reconciling creation and humanity with Jesus Christ. Powerful messages and various teachings were shared based on the central theme.
Ecuador’s National Youth Camp
During the month of October, Ecuador celebrated their National Youth Camp with the theme “More of You, God; Less of Me.” The camp was comprised of 300 young adults and teenagers. The focus of the event was to remain mindful that Christ may reign in our lives, as mentioned in the words recorded in John 3:30. During the camp, topics such as “Discovering My Identity in God” and “Living with Intention” were addressed. There were also workshops for young married couples on how to apply the motto of the camp in marriage. Campers experienced moments of deep spiritual connection and saw the glory of God through worship, reflections, and group dynamics. This camp not only strengthened the faith of the campers, but it also fostered a sense of community and commitment among the attendees.
We thank God for his blessings and the outpouring of his Spirit, which made this experience a transformational encounter that strengthened faith and community among the participants.
Uruguay National Convention
In November, we convened the National Convention of Uruguay, marking the transition of National Bishop Sergio Garcia, who had served for over a decade. During the convention, Bishop Garcia was able to pass the mantle to Bishop Marco Antonio Benavides.
To bid farewell to our esteemed Bishop Sergio and his wife, Susana Garcia, we extended an invitation to all the South America national bishops to attend, participate, and minister during the convention. Additionally, we wanted to spend time with the García family.
During the convention, each national bishop had the opportunity to minister with authority to our church in Uruguay and bid adieu to Bishop Sergio Garcia and his wife. We also formally welcomed Bishop Marco Antonio Benavides and his wife, Marcela.
We extend our continued prayers for Bishop Garcia, who is currently in poor health. We also pray for the Benavides family, seeking God’s guidance to enable them to continue the transformative work within our church in Uruguay. Finally, we would like to sincerely thank the Garcia family for their gracious treatment and love for all of us.
Bolivia 2024 Minister’s Convention
On December 3–5, approximately 300 individuals, including bishops, ministers, pastors, national directors, and special guests, convened in Yacuiba, Bolivia. The gathering was characterized by a period of profound praise, communion of the Holy Spirit, and the exposition of the Word of God.
The central theme of the event was the imperative of reconciling the world with Christ. The Biennial Operational Plan, presented by the regional supervisor, is structured upon three primary focal points:
– Intentional Evangelism
– Relational Discipleship
– Church Planting
We express our gratitude to God for the opportunity to witness the tangible progress of the work in Bolivia.
Please continue to pray for Bolivia, as we are planning to establish 500 new churches by 2030.
Argentina National Minister’s Convention
On December 5-8, 2024, we held our Minister’s Convention at the Cine Teatro Español in the city of Roque Saenz Peña in the province of Chaco. Our theme was “Servant Leadership.” Bishop Gabriel Vidal and Dr. Elias Rodriguez, CBL instructor, shared the preaching and conference trainings, which were very inspiring and a great blessing for the leadership in Argentina. The attendance of 352 people consisted of pastors and leaders of the Church of God of Prophecy in Argentina. We promoted the processes of church planting, theological education, ladies’ ministries, and intergenerational ministries (children, teenagers, and youth). We thank the Lord for the time of harmony and fellowship among the leadership. We begin a new year with great expectations of what the Lord will do in our nation.
