Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro paid a surprise visit to The Send, a worship event this weekend in Sao Paulo, saying he “believes in Jesus as his savior and that Brazil belongs to God”.
Bolsonaro has not been silent about his faith in recent years. According to CBN, he considers himself a God-fearing man. His faith was strengthened during his presidential campaign and after he was nearly killed in an assassination attempt.
“The doctors who treated me said that for every 100 such stab wounds I suffered, only one person survives. So I am a survivor and I owe my life to God. It was his will that I live,” he said, according to church leaders.
As Brazil’s 38th president, Bolsonaro has campaigned to make Judeo-Christian principles a high value in his administration. Known as “the trump of the tropics”, its motto has been “Brazil above everything, God above everything”.
His appearance at the Send conference enlivened the crowd of 140,000. “I am absolutely amazed at what God is doing in Brazil,” tweeted one of the speakers, Christine Caine. “…In 31 years of ministry, I have never gone preaching the gospel from a 65,000 seat arena directly to a 55,000 seat arena on the same day. It was surreal. God is on the move.”
After the weekend, thousands of people became believers in Jesus, signed up to bring revival to their schools and to help orphans. Nearly 200 speakers preached from the stage, including Daniel Kolenda, Francis Chan and YWAM founder Loren Cunningham.
“Get ready for the biggest harvest ever!” The Send said on its Facebook page. “What is happening today in Brazil has an impact on all the nations of the world. The hungriest nation is now committing itself to the Great Commission in a new level of obedience.
Christine Caine left the country in awe. “What I remember the most about being in Brazil is that I don’t believe enough in God,” she said. “I dream too small. I expect too little. I rationalize too much. I decided to press for more. Dig deeper for more. Pray fervently for more. My faith has been stretched and I love it!!!”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Buda Mendes/Staff
Mikaela Mathews is a freelance writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas. She was editor-in-chief of a local magazine and contributor to the Galveston Daily News and Review of the Spirit.
