Protestant Churches in Brazil Experience Mixed Growth, Decline; Huge Increase for Pentecostals

A number of mainline traditional protestant churches in Brazil are declining in congregation numbers, according to a new research report out. However, at the same time the newly released analysis indicates that pentecostal churches are experiencing much of the huge growth explosion being reported among the evangelical community in the Latin American nation.

According to the analysis many denominations from the so-called "traditional churches" group experienced a decline over the 10 year period from 2000 through 2010. The Congregational Church showed a decline in membership of 26.37 percent; the Lutheran Church 6.10 percent; Presbyterian Church 5.9 percent and the Methodist Church 0.01 percent.

However, there was not a blanket decline among the "traditional church" group, and the Baptist Church revealed significant growth of 17.74 percent. The Adventist Church in Brazil, which was also included in the "traditional church" category, also experienced a 29.03 percent surge in membership over the 10 year period. Overall the "traditional church" group, when considered as a whole" experienced a growth of 10.76 percent.

But that growth seems small when contrasted with the growth experienced by "pentecostal churches" group. This group including the Assemblies of God, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, Maranatha Churches, Foursquare Church Gospel, among others, experienced a massive growth of 44.01 percent. Read more