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Grace of God Church, 24 years preaching the full gospel |
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THE INTERNATIONAL GRACE OF GOD CHURCH IS KNOWN
TODAY FOR AIRING THE FAITH SHOW PROGRAM ON NATIONAL NETWORK
STATION BANDEIRANTES IN BRAZIL.
IT ALL STARTED WHEN A YOUNG BOY,
WHO HAD ABSOLUTELY NO FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AT ALL,
HAD A DREAM OF USING TELEVISION AS A MENOS TO EVANGELIZE THE BRAZILIAN NATION.
HE DECIDED TO BELIEVE IN THIS DREAM THAT GOD PLANTED IN HIS HEART.
THE YOUNG BOY GREW UP AND BECAME A PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL.
TODAY HE IS KNOWN ALL OVER BRAZIL AS MISSIONARY R. R. SOARES.
On November first 1977, the greatest work of
evangelism ever seen on Brazilian television started on the now
extinct Tupi Network. That was the fulfillment of a dream that had
been born in the heart of a humble eleven-year-old kid called Romildo.
On November first 1977, the greatest work of evangelism ever seen
on Brazilian television started on the now extinct Tupi Network.
That was the fulfillment of a dream that had been born in the heart
of a humble eleven-year-old kid called Romildo.
Romildo Ribeiro Soares was raised in the little town of MUNIZ FREIRE,
in the state of Espírito Santo. One day, he went to visit a neighboring
town, Cachoeiro do Itapemirim and for the first time in his life came
into contact with a television set in one of the store windows.
He noticed that everyone was completely fascinated by what they saw on
the screen. At that moment, he made a pledge to the Lord, "No one is
using this gadget to speak about the Lord. Oh, Lord, if you give me
the means, one day I will be on on that screen, speaking only of You."
In April, 1964, young Romildo Ribeiro Soares arrived in Rio de Janeiro
and in 1968, his spiritual life truly began. After reading T. L. Osborn's
book called "Heal the Sick, Cast out Demons", he felt called to the ministry.
His dream was to become a doctor, and he had been granted a scholarship to
study medicine at the Patricia Lumumba University, in Moscow, Russia, but he
gave that up to obey the Lord's call.
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In 1980, the work of the International Grace
of God Church finally started.
The first International Grace of God
Church was opened on Lauro Neiva Street, in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro.
Missionary R. R. Soares started a work which would transform not only
the lives of the people of that town, but of the whole country.
In the beginning, it was very hard. Romildo suffered many hardships
and humiliations and was even imprisoned, simply for spreading the Gospel.
Even so, the messenger of God continued steadfast in his purpose of
spreading the Gospel to everyone.
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Ordaining
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On December second, 1984, after reading Kenneth Hagin's
book The Name of Jesus, the Grace of God Church started to practice the
doctrine of ordaining, and from then on, blessings after blessings began
to take place. But it wasn't enough, because their dream was to preach
Jesus at primetime. But what about the high costs? He was undaunted,
and on December third, 1997, for the first time in Brazilian Television,
Jesus was preached at primetime, on CNT Television Network. Millions of
people were saved and miracles became a routine happening. Was that enough?
It was not. If Jesus was being announced at prime time, why couldn't we have a TV network,
where at any moment of the day, people would be able to watch good programs,
filled with the Gospel message? A strong desire to have a television station
totally dedicated to the Lord Jesus was born in his heart.
On May 26th, 2002, the International Television Network came on
the air for the first time. "Today is a historical day, because today,
for the first time, we're broadcasting the program live, on our channel",
said R. R. Soares. International Television Network (ITN) is the youngest pioneering
project of Brazilian Television. Its founded on the principle that the
viewers are the most important, and its dream is to provide programs for
the whole family. ITN has been developing countless programs that meet this
perspective, through the efforts and professional skills of its highly
qualified staff.
Besides the International Television Network, the Grace of
God Church has also been reaching thousands of lives through
other means of communication. The Faith Show Magazine and the
many books published by Grace Publishing have blessed millions of
lives all over the country. Since it was founded, in 1983, Grace
Publishing has published thousands of titles, among them, How to
Take Possession of the Blessing, by Missionary R. R. Soares, which has
sold over two millions of copies. The Radio was another open door
to spread the Gospel. Rádio Relógio, with nationwide coverage, and Nossa
Rádio FM, with stations in Rio (89,3), São Paulo (91,3) and Minas
Gerais (97,3), bless thousands of lives with music and messages of
faith.
With this same purpose in mind, Grace Music has released over 70 CD
titles since 1999. Through praise and worship to God, thousands of
lives have surrendered themselves to the Lord Jesus, taking possession
of the promises described in the Holy Scriptures. This entire structure of
evangelization is only possible because of the sponsors of the ministry of
the Grace of God Church, an army of more than 500 thousand people raised by
God to support His work, not only in Brazil but all over the world.
Nowadays, the International Grace of God Church has more than one
thousand churches with open doors all over the world, ready to assist
lives in need of divine help. More than one hundred of these churches
are in Rio de Janeiro, where everything started. Besides these churches,
Brazil can count on the Faith Show, a program at prime time for the spiritual
edification of Brazilian families. The Real Life Drama segment, the Missionary
R. R. Soares Answers segment, the Open your Heart segment, the songs, the message
of faith and the prayer of faith have been transforming our country. Blessed is
the nation whose God is the Lord.
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