The First Baptist Church of Niterói was organized by
the First Baptist church of Rio de Janeiro, on May 1st,
1892, with seven members, being six women and one
man. They were: Anna Leandro, Emília Cândida de
Freitas, Isabel Trigueira da Costa, Maria Trigueira,
Rosa Ramos, Sarah de Freitas e Antônio Manoel
Freitas.
The congregation gathered together in the home of
missionary William “Buck” Bagby, who was the pastor who
organized the church, and was located on Rua São
Francisco (San Francisco Street), number 11 – (currently
Saldanha Marinho Street), in the center of the city.
The work was difficult, but with the dedication of
these self-denying brothers and sisters and the
blessings of God, it continued growing and producing
mature fruit.
The support of the ladies of the church was
considerable, such that, already by August 5th, 1893,
the first Women’s Society in Brazil was organized,
formerly known as the Women’s Missionary Society and
nowadays Christian Women in Action (in Portuguese,
Mulheres Cristãs em Ação – MCA).
The revolution of 1893 disoriented Brazilians and
greatly hindered the word of evangelism, especially in
the city of Niterói and surrounding areas of Rio de
Janeiro. However, those valuable brothers were not
intimidated and proceeded steadfastly forward in the
work of the Lord.
On April 14th, 1901, the congregation suffered cruel
persecution, having its pews, pulpit, belongings and
diverse utensils burned in the middle of the street, as
reported in the newspaper O País (The Country). At that
time, the church gathered together at Rua São Lourenço
(Saint Lawrence Street) number 60 under the pastoral
leadership of Florentino Rodrigues da Silva.
From 1892 until the present, the First Baptist Church
of Niteroi has had the following pastors:
- William “Buck” Bagby – 1892
- Salomão L. Guinsburg – 1892/1895; 1913/1914
- W. E. Entzminger – 1900/1904; 1908/1913; 1915/1917
- B. Deter – 1904/1906
- O. P. Maddox – 1906/1908
- J. J. Taylor – 1914/1915
- Manoel Avelino de Souza – 1917/27.09.1962
- Harold E. Renfrow (interim) – 1962/20.03.1964
- Nilson do Amaral Fanini – 1964/08.032005
- Ebenézer Soares Ferreira (interim) –
2005/01.09.2006
- José Laurindo Filho – 01.09.2006
In addition to the senior pastor, the congregation
has the participation of other pastors: Dr. Ebenézer
Soares Ferreira, who continues to provide valuable
collaboration, and the pastors, Brasilino Pires de
Araújo, Carlos Torres, Gilberto Pimentel Corrêa, Isaías
Manoel Soares, Marcelo Escandarane, Nelson Dantas,
Nelson Reis, Renato Sardenberg, Rodrigo Muniz and Saulo
Marcos Barreto de Souza.
Diverse auxiliary ministries integrate the
organizational structure, besides the Board of Directors
and the juridical, financial and engineering advisory
boards.
The auxiliary ministries have specific attributes and
serve in conjunction with the senior pastor who occupies
the Ministry of the Word and of the pulpit. They
are: Ministry of Social Assistance, Chaplain’s Ministry,
Ministry of Communication, Ministry of Religious
Education, Ministry of Evangelism, Ministry of the
Family, Children’s Ministry, Ministry of Teenagers and
Young Adults, Ministry of Missions, Ministry of Music
and Theatre Arts, Ministry of Prayer, and Ministry of
Senior Adults.
Throughout its 114 years, the First Baptist Church of
Niterói, has organized 22 other sister churches, some of
which, in turn, have founded additional churches.
The
theme of FBC of Niterói is “Joyfully and Wholeheartedly
Serving the Lord”. And thus the church so moves,
on all levels. It’s a church that is integrated
into the denomination, participating in missionary
offerings and with special appreciation for missions
work.
Social Assistance
This Ministry is under the direction of the Board of
Deacons and currently led by deacon Eli Francioni de
Abreu. There is a Commission of Social Action that
it made up of the following deacons: Arivaldo Soares de
Marins, João Batista dos Santos, Levi Silva Santos,
Manoel Ribeiro da Silva and Rubem de Aguiar.
The principal operational areas of the Ministry of
Social Assistance are: the distribution of basic food
baskets; courses in and the making of clothing;
financial assistance; assistance with funeral costs;
warm clothing and blankets; furniture, refrigerators and
stoves; employment and hospital admissions; repairs and
construction; and spiritual assistance.
Religious Education
The Ministry of Religious Education is directed by
professor Vanda Maria Rosa Marques.
The Sunday School Department, which integrates this
Ministry, promotes training courses for the
teachers. There are five Sunday Schools (three of
these on Sundays) in order to reach the greatest number
possible of believers and new converts. There is a
class that teaches in English and another that teaches
in Spanish.
The First Baptist Church of Niterói has a nursery
duly structured to comfortably accommodate babies and
younger children.
Music and Theatre Arts
This ministry is directed by Priscila Lopes Bomfim
Muniz.
She depends upon the participation of an orchestra,
various ensembles and choirs, within which we highlight:
The Youth Choir, The Deacons Choir, Children’s Choir,
Young Adult Choir, Men’s Choir, Official Choir and The
Rose of Sharon.
A group of young adults are serving in the area of
theatre arts.
