São Paulo City Council in Brazil Holds Event to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Church of God

To mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the church, the members of the Church of God worldwide are intensifying their efforts in volunteering to share God’s love and bring hope to their neighbors and communities. Welcomed and praised across various sectors, the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Church of God took place at the City Council of São Paulo, Brazil, the largest city in South America, amid such positive strides.

This event was made possible through the suggestion of São Paulo City Councilor Edir Sales, who proposed it after witnessing the sincere volunteer activities of the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group [ASEZ] during a street cleanup last January. Impressed by the heartfelt service of the members, Councilor Sales met with Korean members who were in Brazil for cultural exchange and volunteer activities at the time. Upon learning that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the church’s establishment, Councilor Sales played a bridging role to facilitate the celebrating event at the city council.

The celebrating event, held at the Nobre Hall of the São Paulo City Council on May 2, was attended by over 300 people, including Councilor Sales and officials from the city council as well as the church members from São Paulo and Campinas. Following the congratulatory performance by the Municipal Police Choir, the São Paulo City Council awarded a commendation to the Church of God in recognition of its approximately 200 humanitarian activities throughout Brazil, including São Paulo state, such as environmental cleanups, blood drives, emergency relief, and community support. The pastoral staff members of the Church of God in São Paulo, too, received commendations on behalf of each local church.

Councilor Sales, who presented the awards, said, “For the past 60 years, the Church of God has dedicated itself to communities, transforming the lives of countless people. Thank you for your long-standing efforts and dedication to sharing love.”

The latter part of the event featured performances prepared by the Church of God members: a string quartet, a traditional fan dance, and a vocal ensemble. The event was broadcast live on the city council’s official YouTube channel.

Elizabete Lima, a member who attended the event, said, “I’ve felt a great sense of pride as a member of the Church of God. I want to not only share the hope of heaven through the gospel with people but also, with Mother’s heart, engage in good deeds to provide both spiritual and physical help.”

Meanwhile, on April 19, the Church of God in Manaus received a plaque of appreciation and a certificate of merit from the Manaus City Council. This recognition was the result of a unanimous decision in the city council, following a proposal by Councilor Daniel Vasconcelos, who has consistently supported the church members’ ongoing volunteer work. The awards ceremony took place in the main assembly hall of the city council, being attended by about 110 people, including church members from Manaus, Councilor Vasconcelos, President of the Commercial Registry of the State of Amazonas [JUCEA] Maria De Jesus Lins Guimarães, and other dignitaries. The church members celebrated the awards event with a fan dance and a vocal ensemble as a gesture of thanks to the city council.

Councilor Vasconcelos remarked, “The Church of God has raised awareness of the environment through its remarkable and practical activities, faithfully fulfilling its mission within the community.” He also expressed his anticipation for continued cooperation with the church. The award ceremony was broadcast live on the city council’s YouTube channel and reported by local media outets, including Portal da Floresta.

Members of the São Paulo and Manaus churches, along with other regional churches across Brazil, recently volunteered for flood recovery efforts in Rio Grande do Sul, fulfilling their mission as the salt and light of the earth. Moving forward, they plan to actively cooperate with the city councils on various volunteer activities such as tree planting and blood drives.