Assembly of God in the 1990s: the "Decade of Harvest"

Abstract

This article analyzes the Assembly of God Church in the 1990s and also the project titled Decade of Harvest, especially the discourses and their motivations. In this essay, struggles by the power and tensions between leaders with regard to doctrinal, theological, administrative and ministerial issues, in an environment marked by several changes in Brazilian society, were highlighted. These disputes began when a group of pastors went on to defend domestic reforms and sought to legitimize his position before the pastors who opposed the changes. In this unique and unprecedented offensive by the Church, leaders invested in diversified strategies to ensure the expansion, legitimacy and social recognition. In the "end time" when it was expected the second coming of Jesus Christ, the Church should conquer and save all mankind. After the completion of the harvest, the final rapture would undoubtedly come. Thus, the Decade of Harvest had connotations of conquest, war, collective action and cross. Throughout the 1990s there was a willingness of leaders to monitor the changes taking place in society, which could ensure its consolidation as the largest Pentecostal church in Brazil. The Assembly of God also won high-profile success in partisan politics, spaces in TV and great social prestige.

Keywords

• Assembleia de Deus
• década da colheita
• representações sociais.