Evangelical and Reformed Churches in Brazil
From The Forum Magazine, Winter 2015 - view the full issue here
Brazil has been predominantly Roman Catholic since the 16th century; it was only much later, in the 19th century, that Protestant missionaries—mainly American Presbyterians—arrived. Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism have grown remarkably since the 1970s and now make up 22.2 percent of the population (2010 Census). Traditional spiritism and modern consumerism are also strong influences.
Recently three people at Calvin Seminary from the Presbyterian Church in Brazil reflected on this development. Rev. Carl J. Bosma, retired Calvin Seminary professor of Old Testament, served as a church planter and Presbyterian Seminary professor from 1976 to 1990 and still visits Brazil every year. Rev. Giuliano Coccaro is a pastor of a Presbyterian church in the port city of Santos, near São Paulo, and is a Th.M. student in homiletics. He learned of Calvin Seminary through Luz para o Caminho (Light on the Path), an affiliate of Back to God Ministries International. Rev. Thiago Machado Silva is a Presbyterian minister in Rio Preto, in the state of São Paulo. Four of his professors at the Presbyterian Seminary of the South (SPS) in Campinas are Calvin Seminary alumni: Ricardo Agreste da Silva, Adrien Baussels, Dr. Heber de Campos Jr., and Carlos Henrique Machado. Thiago is completing a Th.M. in systematic theology and apologetics.
Giuliano and Thiago appreciate the ecclesiastical and cultural diversity at Calvin Seminary—a real community of the global church. They also value our Reformed but open approach to education—a chance to consider and evaluate different positions from a Reformed perspective rather than simply learning a single authorized position. Calvin Seminary enables them to grow and mature spiritually and intellectually as persons and pastors.
All three men remarked about the growth of Protestantism since the end of the pro-Catholic police state in 1972. Presbyterian and other Reformed churches have been planted and are growing. There is a great diversity of other denominations and kinds of Christianity as well. The greatest increase is among Pentecostals. Many Brazilians, including some famous and influential people, now identify themselves as “evangelicals” or “believers.” The spread of the Gospel has resulted in spiritual growth for individual Christians and churches, and it benefits Brazil as a nation. In addition, Brazil sends more missionaries abroad than almost any other country. These are reasons for thanks and praise to God.
But the church faces challenges too. Superficial and inauthentic Christianity is a serious problem. People claim to be Christians but do not change their worldly or superstitious lifestyles. Christian public officials do not reform corrupt government or promote social justice but use their power to benefit Christian special interests. The economic downturn makes these problems even worse. Such tensions actually threaten schism in some churches. Pentecostals often lack sound doctrine and disciplined lifestyles. Evangelical and Reformed people often lack spiritual vitality and do not practice evangelism. These problems are not unique to Brazil, but they are reasons to pray for God’s forgiveness, mercy, and renewing Spirit.
All three men highlighted a particular movement for evangelism and church planting as a clear example of God’s Spirit moving among the Presbyterian churches of Brazil. One of its leaders is Rev. Ricardo Agreste da Silva, an alumnus of Calvin Seminary who was featured recently on the cover of a national magazine (see inset). Ricardo is a Reformed pastor who has planted and nourished a number of congregations. He is part of an international network of pastors and churches that embrace church planting as their main purpose. Carl Bosma is the director of the Institute for Global Church Planting and Renewal at Calvin Seminary, which is part of this network. Carl was Ricardo’s mentor and teacher in Brazil, and Ricardo has presented at Institute conferences, so these connections are personal as well as institutional. It is a blessing that the younger generation of pastors, including Giuliano and Thiago, are committed to this important cause.
God is certainly blessing the Gospel in Brazil. Pray for our students, our fellow believers, and the churches in Brazil. Pray for the country of Brazil, which is large and powerful and which has great potential but is also troubled and spiritually hungry.
(John Cooper, Professor of Philosophical Theology, emeritus; Carl Bosma, Professor of Old Testament, emeritus)
