Brazil's March for Jesus Draws 1.5 Million Evangelicals

The annual "March for Jesus" event in Brazil drew more than 1.5 million evangelical Christians Monday.

In its 17th year, the event brings together hundreds of evangelical churches in a country that is home to the world’s largest Roman Catholic population. Seventy-four percent of the country describes themselves as Roman Catholic.

The march is held each year on the same day the Catholic Church celebrates the Corpus Christi holiday, which is not observed by evangelical Protestants but is a national holiday in Brazil.

Participants marched 2.5 miles in San Paulo and heard music from Christian bands and messages from preachers and local celebrities, according to The Associated Press.

The event was sponsored by Reborn in Christ Church, whose leaders had recently returned after serving a combined year’s worth of U.S. legal punishment for attempted money smuggling. The punishment included a prison sentence, house arrest, and probation. Estevam Hernandes Filho and his wife, Sonia Haddad Moraes Hernandes, had failed to declare $56,000 in cash that they had carried on a flight from San Paulo to Miami. The money was hidden among a child’s backpack, a Bible case and other bags.

The march is partly seen as a welcome home event for Filho and Hernandes.

But participant Andrea Pazin told AP that the march was not just about the influential ministry couple because it takes place annually with or without them.

“They are important to us – they founded the church,” Pazin said. “But what is happening here is bigger than them. It’s a celebration for Jesus.”

Last year, more than 48,000 churches and over 850,000 homes in Brazil participated in one of the largest evangelistic outreaches in history. The television outreach, which featured Brazilian soccer superstar Kaka sharing his testimony of hope and faith in Jesus Christ, was part of the My Hope Brazil project, a ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

During the three-day outreach last November, local Christians invited friends and family members to their homes to watch evangelistic programs that would be broadcast during prime time. Following the program, viewers of the program were encouraged to share their personal testimonies and invite those who gathered in their house to accept or rededicate their lives to Jesus Christ.

My Hope Brazil and March for Jesus are some of the large-scale evangelical events that reflect the movement’s strong growth in Brazil. Evangelical Protestants have grown from nine percent in 1990 to 15 percent, according to the 2000 census. Meanwhile, the Catholic population has decreased from 84 percent in 1990 to 74 percent in the same period.

The increase in evangelical growth has caused some resentment from Brazil’s Catholic Church, which has accused evangelical Protestant churches of seeking to convert Catholics.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.