# Evangelicals in Brazil Evangelicalism in Brazil is one of the fastest and most complex religious transformations in recent history. What began as a marginal Protestant presence has grown into a massive (almost 30% of the population by 2025) and diverse field. This shift has deeply restructured Brazilian religious life and is reshaping the country’s institutions, culture and political dynamics. The evangelical field in Brazil is not homogeneous. It includes [[Historic Protestant Churches|historic Protestant churches]] (such as Presbyterians and Baptists), classical Pentecostal movements (like the [[Assembleia de Deus]] e [[Congregação Cristã]]), and expansive neo-Pentecostal denominations (such as the [[Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus]]). It also comprises countless independent congregations and new apostolic networks. This expansion has given rise to a dense and growing infrastructure: representative councils, political caucuses, social movements, dedicated media channels, businesses and academic centers studying evangelical dynamics. Evangelicals are now key players in electoral politics, public policy and cultural production — and their presence has triggered new forms of institutionalization and public debate. --- ## Entries ### Churches - **Assembly of God (Assembleia de Deus)**: Founded in 1911, it is the largest evangelical denomination in the country, with over 6 million members. It is characterized by a decentralized structure, composed of various regional conventions. - **Unchurched individuals**: There is a growing number of "desigrejados", who identify as evangelicals but are not affiliated with any institutional church. This group is estimated to represent about 4 million people in Brazil. - **[Christian Congregation](https://congregacaocristanobrasil.org.br/) (Congregação Cristã)**: Established in 1910, it has approximately 2.5 million members. It adopts a collegial structure and is known for its traditional liturgy and emphasis on simplicity. - **[Universal Church of the Kingdom of God](https://www.universal.org/) (Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus, IURD)**: Founded in 1977, it has about 1.8 million members. It features centralized governance under the leadership of Bishop Edir Macedo and owns RecordTV, one of the country's largest television networks. - **Baptist Church**: With various conventions, such as the Convenção Batista Brasileira, it gathers approximately 1.5 million members. It has a congregationalist structure, granting autonomy to local churches. - **Presbyterian Church**: Established in 1859, it has about 1 million members. It adopts a Presbyterian structure, with governance through councils and synods. ### Doctrinal and organizational diversity - Church governance systems refer to the organizational structures by which churches are administered. Among evangelicals in Brazil, three main models are commonly found: episcopal, congregational, and presbyterian. - In the **episcopal system**, authority is concentrated in a single individual who oversees the entire organization. Governance is highly centralized, with decision-making power resting primarily in the hands of one leader — as seen, for example, in certain branches of the Assembleia de Deus (such as the one led by Silas Malafaia) or in the Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus, under the leadership of Edir Macedo. - The **congregational system** is characterized by democratic decision-making, where members of the local church vote on both administrative and doctrinal matters. Churches under this model operate autonomously and may or may not affiliate with broader conventions. Baptist churches are the most prominent example of this model in Brazil. - The **presbyterian system** is representative: leadership is exercised collectively by elected elders or presbyters, and decisions are made through conciliar mechanisms. This structure is typical of Presbyterian churches and is partially adopted by the Christian Congregation in Brazil. ### Evangelical political representation - The **Frente Parlamentar Evangélica** (Evangelical Parliamentary Front), known as the "evangelical caucus," is one of the most influential groups in the Brazilian National Congress. In the 2023 legislature, it comprised 91 parliamentarians, representing approximately 17% of Congress. ### Evangelical Media - **Media airtime acquisition**: Many evangelical churches in Brazil frequently purchase airtime on various television and radio stations to broadcast their services and messages. - **RecordTV**: Owned by [Grupo Record](https://brazil.mom-gmr.org/en/owners/companies/detail/company//grupo-record-1/), which is under the leadership of Edir Macedo, the founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD), RecordTV stands as one of Brazil's major television networks. There is a notable alignment between its content and the interests of the IURD. ### Evangelical Business - **[Casa Galiléia](https://casagalileia.com.br/)**: Casa Galiléia is a trend analysis firm specializing in the evangelical segment in Brazil. It provides research, data, and strategic insights for organizations seeking to understand consumer behavior, cultural shifts, and political dynamics within evangelical communities. - **[InPeace](https://inpeaceapp.com/en/)**: InPeace is a Brazilian startup that offers a comprehensive platform designed to enhance church administration and member engagement. The application provides features such as live streaming of services, donation management, event scheduling and communication tools tailored for church activities. With over 6,000 churches across 15 countries utilizing its services, InPeace has facilitated more than 3 million downloads. - **[inChurch](https://inchurch.com.br/)**: Founded in 2017 by Pedro Franco and Sydney Menezes, inChurch is a technology company that develops customized applications and websites for churches. Their platform enables churches to manage various aspects, including member engagement, event coordination, and financial transactions. As of recent reports, inChurch serves approximately 30,000 churches in 23 countries and has secured R$5 million in funding to expand its operations. ### Progressive evangelical initiatives - **[RENAS](https://renas.org.br/) (Rede Evangélica Nacional de Ação Social)**: Connects churches and organizations in social initiatives. - **[Aliança Evangélica Pró-Quilombolas do Brasil](https://quilombolas.org.br/)**: Focuses on training pastors and supporting quilombola communities. - **[Evangélicxs pela Diversidade](https://www.instagram.com/evangelicxs_/)**: A network that brings together LGBTQI individuals and allies within evangelicalism. - **[Frente de Evangélicos pelo Estado de Direito](https://www.instagram.com/frentedeevangelicos/?hl=en)**: Advocates for democracy and human rights from an evangelical perspective. - **[Mulheres EIG](https://mulhereseig.wordpress.com/) (Evangélicas pela Igualdade de Gênero)**: Promotes gender equality within evangelical spaces. ### Conservative evangelical initiatives - The **[March for Jesus](https://www.marchaparajesus.com.br/)** is one of the largest public events organized by evangelical churches in Brazil. First held in São Paulo in 1993, it is organized primarily through the **Associação Marcha Para Jesus**, in partnership with different evangelical denominations, musical ministries, sponsors, and public authorities. The event is structured as a massive public demonstration of faith (29,2 thousand participants in 2024), typically including processions with music trios (sound trucks). - **[Atini](https://www.atini.org.br/)** is a Brazilian evangelical NGO founded by Damares Alves, a pastor, lawyer, and former Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights. The organization claims to defend Indigenous children at risk, especially in cases of cultural practices such as infanticide. Atini has been subject to legal scrutiny and criticism by anthropologists and Indigenous leaders for promoting a narrative of cultural conflict and for allegedly violating Indigenous rights. ### Research centers on evangelicalism - **[Instituto de Estudos da Religião](https://iser.org.br/) (ISER)**: Founded in 1970, ISER is a prominent research organization based in Rio de Janeiro. It conducts studies on religion and public space, as well as rights and the justice system. - **[Observatório Evangélico](https://www.observatorioevangelico.org/)**: Established in 2022, this independent platform promotes debates related to evangelical Christianity in Brazil. It brings together scholars and evangelical individuals from various denominations to discuss the role of evangelicals in society, politics, and culture.