Christiano
New member
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus, or IURD) was founded in July 9, 1977, by Bishop Edir Macedo. It has around 1,873,000 members in Brazil, and many more in around 200 countries. In 2014, it had 6,500 temples in Brazil. Its headquarters are in São Paulo.
Edir Macedo, leader of the church, the second biggest TV network in Brazil, Rede Record. All network afilliates are controlled by church bishops,altough the network isn't owned by the church, but by Macedo. Record also airs some TV shows produced by IURD and hosted by bishops and pastors. "The Love School", featuring interviews and advices about marriage is hosted by Macedo' daughter, Cristiane Cardoso, and her husband, Renato Cardoso.
In the mid-1990s, two of the church's TV shows were "Despertar da Fé" (Awakening of Faith) and "Palavra da Vida" (Word of Life), hosted by Bishop Sérgio von Helder. On October 12, 1995, he showed a statue of the patron saint of Brazil, Our Lady of Aparecida, he punched and kicked it during both shows, speaking against the worship of saints. Howadays, he is responsible for a temple of IURD in New York.
Bishop Marcelo Cirvella is Edir Macedo's nephew. He was a gospel singer and a missionary in Africa. In 2002, he got ellected as a Senator in Brazil. This year, he is running for Mayor of Rio de Janeiro. His in 1st place in the last poll (58%). Leftist candidate Marcelo Freixo is in second place (42%). Numbers by Datafolha.
Rio Mayor’s Race Pits Evangelical Marcelo Crivella Against Socialist http://www.wsj.com/articles/rio-may...marcelo-crivella-against-socialist-1477740881
Temple of the Universal Church in Assis, SP, Brazil
age about the church on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Church_of_the_Kingdom_of_God
