Church of the Foursquare Gospel in Brazil

Definition

Aimee Semple McPherson’s model for American Pentecostalism, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (IEQ), was easily transferable to Brazil. The IEQ model worked well in the United States and Brazil because both countries were experiencing urbanization and industrialization. Additionally, the IEQ relaxed earlier behavioral taboos especially directed at women. Like the American version, the IEQ effectively used mass media and popular culture to reach middle-class believers. In 2016, the IEQ (Brazil) had 12,913 “churches and meeting places,” 47,000 “workers,” and a “membership” of about 3,100,000 (Foursquare 2016).

Introduction

Brazil is the world’s fifth most populated country; it contains the world’s third largest city (São Paulo) and is second only to the United States in providing a homeland for Christians. Colonized by Portugal in the sixteenth century, Brazil has more Roman Catholics than any other country in the world, roughly 200 million – 60% of the...