ALCIDES CAMPOLONGO, radio, temperance, and public relations secretary for the Sao Paulo Conference, held a series of meetings in the name of the Voice of Prophecy in the suburb of Casa Verde in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
A suitable hall was rented, and with three workers and two Bible instructors Brother Campolongo began the meetings in August. He was the main speaker, and his ability to touch hearts and the power with which he preached the Word of God brought extraordinary success. After a period of eight months the meetings ended on April 8 with a baptism of 135 persons. This baptism, perhaps the largest in the history of the work in Brazil or possibly in South America, was the result of only one campaign, but six pastors officiated at the baptism, immersing six candidates at the same time.
Ninety per cent of the 135 baptized were Voice of Prophecy listeners; there were 40 juniors and unmarried young people; two were eighty-four years old; one had been a drunkard, and another had been guilty of an attempt to kill his wife. Forty others are still studying and preparing for the next baptism.
Before this campaign was held, the church at Casa Verde consisted of only forty members in Sabbath school. Today the membership is 300.
The Sao Paulo Conference, under the presidential direction of Oswaldo R. Azevedo, is carrying on an intense evangelistic program. In 1960, 1,582 persons were baptized and thirty-four different efforts were held. The conference has a goal of 1,800 souls for 1961. The membership in the conference at the present time is 14,437.
We have much for which to praise God, and we pray that the remarkable accomplishments mentioned previously will be the forerunner of even greater victories for God here in the South Brazil Union. Please pray for us and for our evangelists.
