Opening Night

July 10, 2009

Getting this Congresso started was a real challenge. At 2 PM on opening day, in the midst of the busy preparations, the cell phone service of the church and PAZ went completely down. At a time when communication is essential, it became very difficult, almost impossible. Then at around 4 PM a really nasty storm moved into the area. Storms are bad not only for their destructive power and the extra work they cause, but also because people are deterred from coming. There were prayers going up all over town.

PAZ Director Jeff Hrubik looks over a quickly filling stadium

But God heard our prayers, and even though the cell phone service didn’t come back on, the storm passed over and at 5 PM the stadium was already filling up! Anticipation was thick as the crowd grew.

A group of dancers eagerly await the start of the Congresso

Finally 7 PM came around, and the Congresso started with a powerful prayer of blessing on Santarém, the Congresso, and everyone who would hear God’s Word. Igreja da Paz’s own team lead the exciting worship on opening night in front of a full house.

The worship team from Igreja da Paz opens up the 2009 Congresso

So much happens behind the scenes of the Congresso. Lighting, sound and video all have to come together to make the event as smooth as possible. Audio, video and power cables run like a complicated subway system across the stadium and converge in the center of the field at the nervous system of all things technical.

Video Central Station

Pastors from all over Brazil come to this amazing event, including our very own Pastor/Missionary/Church Planter Abe Huber. Pastor Abe leads a powerful team that was sent out by the Paz church in Santarém 4 years ago to plant a new PAZ base in Fortaleza. In that short time they have grown to over 2,000 in attendance, with 267 cell groups and have planted 12 churches already. Their goal is to have a total of 25 churches planted by the end of the year!

Pastor Abe is interviewed by TV Amazônia

Presentations make up a large part of what makes the Congresso so great. For opening night, Faith, Hope and Love were personified through drama and dancing.

Dancers take the field in the opening presentation

Santarém’s very own mayor, Maria do Carmo, and her family once again visited the Congresso and thanked the church for all their prayers on her behalf. We’re believing God to do great things in each and every aspect here in Santarém, and we’ve already seen Him work powerfully.

Mayor of Santarém Maria do Carmo and her husband Celso

Whether through drama, music, dancing or preaching, the Congresso is all about the power of the Gospel. Pastor Maurício Rocha powerfully delivered the Gospel and made the invitation. As the first people started trickling down, more followed until hundreds were down front to put their faith in Jesus Christ!

Pastor Maurício Rocha

A member of the large counseling team (wearing the yellow Congresso shirts) accompanies each individual who comes forward to receive Christ. Their name and information is taken down so that each person can receive good follow-up. This ensures that each individual gets integrated into a cell group and is received as a new member of the family. We don’t win them and send them on their way – our goal is to not lose a single one!

What joy to see people reconciled with God through Jesus Christ!

The loving arms of Jesus are wrapping around Santarém

What a tremendous first night! It is just a taste of the wonderful things to come in these next two nights. Nívea Soares and her band will be leading worship and the awesome feature presentation that Forta and his team put together begins. Let’s bombard heaven with prayers of thanks and intercession for all that He’s done, all that He’s doing and all that He will do! Check back soon for more updates!

Igreja da Paz's worship team closes out a great opening day

ps – Our cell phones all worked the moment after the Congresso finished

Read about the intense preparations leading up to the Congresso and see more photos. Click on the next page number below!

One Response to “Congresso da Paz 2009”

• Mike Burnett
  Jul 18, 2009

  Folks I just stay in awe everytime I see your newsletter. That was an awesome event and I thank God for what He is doing in Brazil. Hopefully one day I will get to visit your ministry again. We love you all and continue to pray for an abundance harvest there.

  God bless all of you,

  Mike and Laura Burnett
  Panama