Christian Congregation in Brazil

The Christian Congregation in Brazil (Portuguese: Congregação Cristã no Brasil) was founded in Brazil by the Italian-American missionary Luigi Francescon (1866–1964), as part of the larger Christian Congregation movement.

Christian Congregation in Brazil
FounderLuigi Francescon
Origin1910
Congregations19.672 in Brazil (2017[1])
Members2.5 million (2000)
2.8 million (2016)[2]

History
Headquarters in Guaianases, São Paulo in 1950

Louis Francescon came for the first time to Brazil from Chicago, Illinois in 1910. After arriving in São Paulo, Francescon went to Santo Antonio da Plantina, Paraná.[3] His eleven missionary trips were quite successful among fellow Italian immigrants and Brazilian nationals. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Assemblies of God was founded when on November 19, 1910, the Swedish-Americans, Daniel Berg and Gunnar Vingren in Belém, Pará.

The Christian Congregation of Brazil is one of the most dynamic and it is fast-growing.[4] In 2017, the Christian Congregation in the Brazil had around 2.5 million members[5] [6] in 2001 and 17,000 temples (2008) in that country and an intense missionary work abroad. In the metro area of São Paulo, the church shows its strength: there are 500,000 followers, distributed in 2,000 branches and a mother-church in the Brás district that houses a 4,000 member congregation.

Francescon was among the early founders of the Italian-American Pentecostal church in Chicago. He had left the First Italian Presbyterian Church of Chicago because of his belief in Water Baptism by immersion. Later, he accepted the doctrines of anointing with oil, miracles, and Holy Spirit baptism at the North Avenue Full Gospel Mission led by William Howard Durham. Evangelists from Chicago went to the Italian colonies in the United States planting churches mostly in the Northeast. Most of those churches were incorporated into the Christian Church of North America, with a few affiliated with the Christian Congregation in the United States.

Doctrine
Cover of Hymnal 3, in force from 1951 to 1965
There is an architectural and color standardization of the temples for easy identification of its members

The beliefs of the Christian Congregation are set forth in their 12-articles of Faith. They believe in the Trinity, and in the Bible, salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. They accept the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and divine healing and miracles. The church holds two ordinances - water baptism by immersion and the Lord's supper.

Congregational worship is held at chapels. Hymn singing is accompanied by a brass/silver band or orchestra. While in worship, women wear white veils, dresses and skirts. Men often dress in suit outfits. The inscription "In the Name of the Lord Jesus" is displayed and a baptismal font at the front of the chapel.

Points of doctrine and of the faith which was once given to the saints[7]

  1. We believe and accept the entire Holy Bible as the infallible Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit; it is the only perfect order of our faith and manner of living, to which nothing can be added or taken away, and which is the power of God unto salvation to every believer. (II Peter 1:21; II Timothy 3:16,17; Romans 1:16)
  2. We believe there is only one living and true God, eternal, with infinite power, Creator of all things; and in the unity of Him there are three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:6; Matthew 28:19, I John 5:7)
  3. We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Word made flesh, who assumed the human nature through the virgin Mary and, so, is true God and true Man, having two natures in one Person, the divine and the human; and therefore is the only Saviour, who suffered death for the guilt of all men. (Luke 1:27-35; John 1:14; I Peter 3:18)
  4. We believe in the personal existence of the devil and his angels, evil spirits that together with him will be punished in everlasting fire. (Matthew 25:41)
  5. We believe that the regeneration, or the new birth, is received only through faith in Christ Jesus who was delivered up for our offenses and was raised again for our justification. They who are in Christ Jesus (cleansed through His blood), are new creatures, and have Him for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. (Romans 3:24,25; I Corinthians 1:30, II Corinthians 5:17)
  6. We believe in water baptism, performed in the Name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38), with a single immersion, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, according to Christ's commission. (Matthew 28:18-19)
  7. We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. (Acts 2:4, 10:45-47; 19:6)
  8. We believe in commemorating the Lord's Supper. The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. "likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-25)
  9. We believe it is necessary to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled and from fornication, as decreed by the Holy Spirit in the general assembly held in Jerusalem. (Acts 15:28-29, 16:4; 21:25)
  10. We believe that Jesus Christ, took upon Himself, our sicknesses. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church. and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (Matthew 8:17, James 5:14-15)
  11. We believe that the Lord, Himself, (before the millennium) shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:16- 17; Revelation 20:6)
  12. We believe that there shall be a bodily resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Acts 24:15; Matthew 25:46)

References
  1. Relatorio
  2. "Pentecostalism in Brazil". The Economist. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  3. J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 621
  4. Read, William R. New Patterns of Church Growth in BrazilGrand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1965.
  5. Jeff Oliver, Pentecost To The Present Book Three: Worldwide Revivals and Renewal, Bridge Logos Inc, USA, 2017, p. 77
  6. 2000 Brazilian Census IBGE
  7. Hymns of Praise and Supplication to God. USA: CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION IN THE UNITED STATES. 1998.
  • ALVES, Leonardo M. "Christian Congregation in North America: Its Inception, Doctrine, and Worship". Dallas, 2006.
  • FRANCESCON, Louis. "Faithful Testimony". Chicago, 1952.
  • HOLLENWEGGER, Walter. "The Pentecostals".Minneapolis, 1972.
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