To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

How Christians in Brazil Helped Elect New President Bolsonaro

Steve Warren : Oct 30, 2018  CBN News

Bolsonaro ran on promises to clean up Brazil and bring back traditional values. He told his supporters that "it's a promise to God."

(Brazil)—[CBN News] Brazil has elected far-right Congressman Jair Bolsonaro as their new president and evangelical Christians played a major role in his victory. (Photo: via CBN News)

His election reflected widespread anger at the political class after years of corruption, a struggling economy, and a surge of violence in the largest country in South America.

Bolsonaro ran on promises to clean up Brazil and bring back traditional values. He told his supporters that "it's a promise to God."

According to The Associated Press, evangelical voters played a big part in his election.

Bolsonaro was backed by no major political party and had little advertising time purchased on television and radio. However, with evangelical support, he did have grassroots organizing. According to Reuters, his evangelical volunteers would distribute flyers and other campaign material and talk up the candidate to their friends and neighbors.

Even though Brazil is home to the world's largest number of Catholics—123 million—evangelicals are now growing in numbers too. They now total 42 million and makeup 20 percent of the country's total population.

"The evangelical vote is very organic in that pastors and bishops have a relationship with followers that influences how they vote," Antonio Lavareda, who has written several books on Brazilian politics, told the AP. "It's the opposite in the Catholic Church, where, despite having more congregants, priests have less direct influence."

Evangelicals already have a large influence in national politics, according to the AP. The so-called "evangelical bloc" in Congress is made up of 87 representatives and three senators, about 15 percent of all federal lawmakers. Many evangelical leaders frequently run for office.

Evangelicals also use the media to spread the Gospel message. Edir Macedo, the founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, owns Record TV, one of the largest broadcasters in Brazil. Many churches also buy a lot of airtime and as a result, a viewer can watch religious programs on Brazilian television at just about any time of day.

Pastor Silas Malafaia, an influential church leader with more than 50 churches, told the AP in a recent interview that he makes no apologies for trying to influence how his church members vote. He was an outspoken supporter of Bolsonaro for Brazil's highest office.

"In Brazil, we need a macho like him," Malafaia said, adding that Bolsonaro will "defend all the values and principals of the Christian family." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

Countdown for Historic Space Mission Artemis II Begins

Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Halt Construction on Privately Funded White House Ballroom; Trump Responds

Trump Rolls Out a Plan to Back Farmers amid Rising Costs, Pledging 'Golden Age'

Trump's Election Executive Order is Causing a Meltdown among Liberals

Another Illegal Alien Charged With Murder in Democrat Run Fairfax County, Virginia

US Forces Reach 12,000 Combat Flights, Debunk Fake News About Iran Operation

President Trump Addresses Nation Tonight, Signals End in Sight for Iran Conflict

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Birthright Citizenship, as the CCP Exploits It to Sway US Elections

ICYMI: Iranian People March in DC in Support of Op Epic Fury and Trump; 'We Will Reclaim Our Country'

Trump's FDA Indicates Move Away from Testing on Dogs, Bunnies, Chimpanzees

Chicago Bulls Dump Player after His Criticism of Pride Month

Finally Confirmed: Michigan Synagogue Car Ramming Was 'Hezbollah-Inspired' Terror Attack

SURPRISE! Zohran Mamdani's New 'Free' Childcare Program is Going to Cost $60,000 Per Child

Courtroom Bombshell: ATF Can't Link Bullet That Killed Charlie Kirk to Suspect's Rifle

FBI: Over 6,200 Missing Children Located, More Than 300 Human Traffickers and 1,700 Child Predators Arrested over Past Year

SCOTUS Rules on Colorado's Ban on 'Conversion Therapy' to Help Gender Dysphoric Individuals

President Trump Shares Letter on Palm Sunday, from Franklin Graham Discussing Salvation

HSLDA Lawyer Warns This Bill Would Create a 'Surveillance State' for Homeschooling Families

Major Airports Return to Normal as TSA Workers Get Paid

GROTESQUE: Barack Obama's Orwellian Push for Virginia Redistricting Is Something to Behold



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



Subscribe to
Breaking Christian News


Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com