Today we’d like to introduce you to First Brazilian United Methodist Church.
Hello First Brazilian United Methodist Church, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I, Pastor Marvel Souza, am an associate pastor leading the Brazilian Ministry that is part of the First Church Miami which has been present in the life of the city for 127 years. Currently, the First Church Miami is led by pastor Audrey Warren.
The Brazilian Ministry, under the First Church Miami, mobilizes people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, ethnicities, social statuses, and physical conditions to transform our community, country, and world into the full expression of Christ’s grace, salvation, reconciliation, and inclusive love. We offer Portuguese worship services, pastoral care and follow-up, social work, small group gatherings, and free language courses (Portuguese/Spanish/English).
As an extension of the United Methodist Church, we have been working to offer the best for all Miami residents. In this sense, we’re very excited about our new Sanctuary Downtown which is about to be launched in the heart of the city – a new Sanctuary is bigger, modern, innovative, and beautiful. In the heart of the city with the city in our hearts.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We always face problems common to churches, for instance, the heavy flow of people coming to Miami and going from Miami which is very common in an international city. However, nothing can be compared to the period of the pandemic when we had to tell our parishioners to stay home.
Churches closed! It was terrible and we haven’t recovered 100% of the effects of this period yet. We had to deal with declines in attendance and tensions in the over-safety protocols. The attendance has not recovered to pre-COVID levels.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an openly gay pastor serving in the United Methodist Church, where I lead the Brazilian Ministry in Miami. My husband and I have been married for 15 years.
We mobilize people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our community, country, and world into the full expression of Christ’s grace, salvation, reconciliation, and inclusive love. We understand that everybody is God’s children.
We’ve been working in the USA providing safe worship places, holy communion, performing same-sex wedding ceremonies, and preaching the gospel of reconciliation. We don’t struggle for the right to faith, we believe that faith is a native right, so then, we have to put it into practice.
I have 10 books published in Portuguese and 6 in Spanish. Reach us: @marvelsouzaoficial and @pmbchurch.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I feel that we are growing in a sense of fully inclusive love.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/pmbchurch?utm_source=qr&igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firstbrazilianumc?mibextid=b06tZ0
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@pmbmiami
