Brazilian Baptist Convention Celebrates Centennial Anniversary

The Brazilian Baptist Convention (BBC) celebrated its 100th anniversary during its 2007 Assembly in Florianópolis, January 23 to 30. Almost 1,900 messengers registered with evening services averaging 4,000 in attendance, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has said.

The BBC, the largest BWA member body in Latin America with more than one million members and approximately 6,500 churches, was formed in 1907 after the first Baptist church was founded in 1871 in Sao Paulo.

The new president, Oliveira de Araújo, is senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Vitoria, and served as president of the Home Mission Board between 1984 and 1992.

BWA President, Rev David Coffey gave the keynote address. Fausto Vasconcelos, BWA Director for Evangelism and Education and Study and Research, and former eight-time president of the BBC, participated in the weeklong meetings.