When the then Pastor Renato and Mrs Cristiane Cardoso packed their bags to leave Brazil for London in 1995, they didn’t carry much baggage – both literally and metaphorically, as at the time they were young and inexperienced. However, what they did have was faith and the determination to follow God’s commandment to spread the gospel worldwide. Although the journey was challenging, the fact that we celebrated the anniversary of the Universal Church’s work in the United Kingdom 30 years later is a testament to the successful completion of that mission guided by the Holy Spirit.
The last two weeks will undoubtedly remain etched in the memories of many, not just because of the anniversary itself, but mainly due to the transformative experiences that thousands had the opportunity to undergo – achieving deliverance, transformation, and salvation. On Wednesday, 5 February, Bishop Renato led the School of Faith, a powerful meeting focused on the importance of perseverance. This served as a preview for the series of special events held in celebration of the 30-year anniversary.
The first official meeting of the celebration occurred on Thursday (6) with the Night of the Disciples. Bishop Renato linked the 30-year milestone to the age of Jesus when He began His holy ministry, emphasising that “we are only beginning here in the UK.” The following evening, Bishop Julio Freitas led the Freedom Night, proclaiming total deliverance for those bound by problems and negativity and reminding people that we are here for everyone.
On Saturday, 8 February, Bishop Renato returned with his wife, Mrs Cristiane, for The Love School Returns. The couple shared stories lived at the same altar from where they were speaking, and blessed hundreds of attendees by teaching them how to avoid the pitfalls set by society to influence people to fail in their love lives.
On Sunday (9) we had the great privilege of welcoming Bishop Edir Macedo for the Gathering of the Nations. At 10am, over 3.000 people from 85 different countries gathered under the same roof in a spirit of faith and unity to partake in the Lord’s Supper and seek the most significant promise from God: His Holy Spirit. At 6pm, Bishop Macedo returned for a second service specially for Portuguese speakers.
The second week of celebrations began with The Night of Big Dreams, where Bishop Celso Junior discussed the importance of having goals and dreams that match those of God, so that He may open doors and bless us as we glorify His name. On Tuesday (11), women from various backgrounds joined for the Women’s Night with Mrs Nanda Bezerra, where they had the opportunity to surrender their hurts and troubles to God and learn how to achieve justice through Him.
Wednesday the 12th was the time for Bishop James Marques to bless us with the Night of Salvation. Focused on how to sanctify the name of God in practical ways, the meeting was also marked by the consecration of Pastors Gideon, Edward and their respective wives. To conclude the celebrations on a high note, Bishop Celso Junior returned on Friday for the special VYG Next Generation Night Vigil. It was an energetic night where young people bonded, took part in live performances but, most of all, experienced transformation through the word and power of the Lord Jesus.
The 30-year anniversary served as a reminder of what can be achieved when we have a dream and faith in God. While many accomplishments have been made over these three decades, the dream remains alive as we move forward and upwards to do more and better. After all, helping people is what drives us, and as Bishop Renato reminded us, we are only just beginning. We see you at your nearest Universal Church!
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