5th District gathers for the 1st District Meeting in Northern Brazil

From April 26-29, 2007, Superintendent Terence Merritt (Washington, DC) and District Missionary Beatrice Booker (Atlanta, GA), appointed last year by Bishop Samuel Moore and Mother Lee Van Zandt, came to Brazil for the 1st District Meeting of the 5th District of the COGIC of the Jurisdiction of Brazil. God has given them such a great task, to oversee and to expand the work of the Church of God in Christ in the state of Bahia, the state with the largest number of Brazilians of African descent in the country. Witchcraft and voodoo are rampant in Bahia, but the people are now experiencing the move of God, through the ministry of the Church of God in Christ. Bahia is favored to have an American superintendent and district missionary, with their wealth of knowledge and experience. Certainly, Bishop Moore and Mother Van Zandt were led of God to appoint such a great duo to enhance the work of the COGIC in northern Brazil.

Supt. Merritt has been a tremendous blessing to Brazil, sharing his knowledge of COGIC doctrine, customs and standards. He plays a very important role in the Jurisdiction. He has ministered in many of the churches in Brazil, outside of his district, sharing his gifts and experience with the other Brazilian pastors and superintendents. It is not by chance that God brought him to Brazil for vacation several times before he discovered that the COGIC was here. Now, God has made him superintendent over the area where he would vacation.

District Missionary Beatrice Booker has served Brazil for several years, going from church to church, district to district, teaching the Brazilian women and helping to organize the Women's Department. She has given her life to Brazil and serves as the resident missionary. She now calls Brazil "home".
The 1st District Meeting of the 5th District was a great success. I, as Director of Public Relations for the Jurisdiction, was there to interpret, and I could see what has been done and the impact this man and this woman has had in the lives of those 8 pastors, their churches and all the people. The love they have for them is amazing, explaining why we have seen exponential growth, after only one year since their appointment.

To bless and challenge God's people, they brought men of excellence to teach and preach the powerful and effective word of God. Pastor Corby Bush and Elder Steven Sledge, both from Dallas, TX, ministered under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Their ministries blessed the people. From the 3rd District, singers and musicians came to help the 5th District and support them on the 1st District Meeting. Souls were added to the Kingdom, the people of God were edified, and the fellowship was increased. Two churches joined the COGIC, and an Elder was sent to establish a new Church of God in Christ in the city of Catu.
And to bless God's people on their 1st, they brought men of excellence to teach and preach the powerful and effective word of God.

Please support the missionary work in Brazil. Pray for Bishop Moore, Mother Lee Van Zandt and for the 6 Districts that have been established, that the 45 churches and the work of the COGIC may continue to expand, until all of Brazil has been impacted by the message of Salvation, Sanctification and the Baptism in the Holy Ghost, the same message the COGIC has preached for the last 100 years!

Pastor Eneas Francisco

Director of Public Relations

e-mail: cogicnobrasil@hotmail.com

011 (5519) 9244-7739