Official Oppening

THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God was officially opened on the 9th of July in this former warehouse, which today is known as the great temple of Abolicao.

For many, Bishop Macedo’s actions seemed irrational as the monthly rental for that warehouse was exorbitant, but it was this attitude that made the transformation of the lives of thousands of people possible.

“Before the Universal Church became an established spiritual instituation,I had to give up my steady life, employment bonuses and certain benefits after working as a civil servant for 16 years.”

“Because I decided to give up what was a source of security for my family, my relatives and friends said I was crazy to exchange certainty with uncertainty.
Intelligent faith is something personal, so I did just like the Apostle Paul: I did not consult flesh or blood to make my decision. As a result, the Spirit of God honored my faith, “says Bishop Macedo.

More churches were opened and the movements expanded nationally across Brazil. Today there are approximately 5,000 UCKG churches in Brazil alone, with the headquarters which holds up to 12,000 people in Rio de Janeiro.

 Crusades of Faith
The history of the Universal Church is also marked by the great crusades of faith that it has undertaken. The first crusade of faith which attracted thousands of people, took place in quinta da Boa Vista, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In 1987 there was a great gathering called “The challenge of gods” in Maracana, the biggest stadium in the world and its annexure Maracanazinho. At that gathering, over 180,000 people were present.

From then onwards, many other open air and stadium gatherings were held in other Brazilian provinces such as Sao Paul, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Parana and Federal District. At each of those gatherings the number of people that increased enormously.

Thirty years have gone by and that simple church that started in a gazebo in Rio de Janeiro has become a worldwide spiritual institution, present in over 100 countries.