{"id":30658,"date":"2026-07-12T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/?p=30658"},"modified":"2026-07-20T17:57:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T15:57:59","slug":"rio-church-appoints-its-first-elders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/rio-church-appoints-its-first-elders\/","title":{"rendered":"Rio Church Appoints First Elders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On June 14, 2026, the church in Rio de Janeiro<\/a>, Brazil celebrated a historic milestone as Marco Ribeiro and Paulo Fonseca were appointed as its first elders. The emotion-filled service marked the beginning of a new chapter for the congregation, bringing to fruition years of prayer, sacrifice, training, and perseverance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tears of joy, relief, and expectation filled the room as three elders from S\u00e3o Paulo joined their sister church in celebrating this long-awaited occasion. During the welcome, Anderson Rodrigues, who, together with his wife Viviane, has faithfully served the Carioca* disciples for decades, reflected on the church’s many seasons before declaring this new chapter: the era of the elders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s best-known cities, celebrated for its vibrant culture, breathtaking beaches, and warm, welcoming people. Brazil’s second-largest city became home to an International Church of Christ in 1991, when a team of 36 disciples, mostly from S\u00e3o Paulo, along with a few Americans, planted the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The congregation flourished during its first decade, growing steadily in both numbers and spiritual maturity. Like many churches, however, it also faced seasons of challenge that left lasting marks. Through it all, the Carioca Christians remained resilient and faithful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For nearly a decade, the church had no full-time ministry couple. Instead, a council of brothers faithfully shepherded the congregation while balancing full-time jobs and family responsibilities. Determined to strengthen the church’s future, they raised funds to support a ministry couple and began searching for the right leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After years of prayerful searching, Alcides and Leslie Morais were interviewed by the council and invited to serve the church. They accepted two clear objectives: to raise elders and to develop young leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With funding available for only three years, they knew time was limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they served, it became increasingly evident that Marco Ribeiro and Paulo Fonseca met the biblical qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy and Titus. Long before receiving the title, both men had quietly demonstrated the heart of shepherds through years of faithful service. The intentional work of preparing them for the eldership began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Both Marco and Paulo, together with their wives, Ana Maria and Juliana, first had to confront painful experiences from the past. Their journey toward spiritual healing was neither quick nor easy, but their deep love for God and his church ultimately proved stronger than the hurts they carried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the following years, God worked not only in the lives of these couples but throughout the congregation. As healing spread, a new leadership team emerged, bringing together the elders-in-training and two younger evangelistic leaders, supported by their wives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The younger leaders focused on strengthening the church’s social media presence and connecting with young professionals while the future elders learned to broaden their shepherding beyond individual house churches to care for the entire congregation. As moments of fear, hesitation, and uncertainty arose, they continually returned to God’s Word, allowing him to reshape their vision, faith, and determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The June 14 service reflected both gratitude for the past and anticipation for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ettore Macciantelli, evangelist from S\u00e3o Paulo, led the offering by reminding the church of God’s abundant gifts, from material blessings to the immeasurable gifts of forgiveness and salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudio Souza led the Lord’s Supper, calling the church to imitate Christ’s sacrificial love. Jos\u00e9 Antonio da Silva continued the congregation’s yearly sermon series, Jesus the Good Shepherd<\/em>, challenging everyone from Luke 9 with the question, “Who is Jesus to you?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Francisco Lisboa explained the biblical role of an elder, emphasizing through Scripture that elders are not appointed by human ambition but raised by God through the Holy Spirit to shepherd and protect his flock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most emotional moment came when Alcides spoke of the deep love he and Leslie have for both couples standing before the church with their families. He expressed his confidence in Marco and Paulo’s devotion to God’s people and their readiness to serve as elders alongside the steadfast support of their wives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leslie then honored Ana Maria and Juliana, acknowledging the courage each woman displayed in overcoming fears and doubts and allowing God to transform them into women of strength and confidence. She noted how beautifully the two couples complemented one another in character and gifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, the evangelists and elders from S\u00e3o Paulo joined Alcides in laying hands on Marco and Paulo, praying that God would strengthen their faith, deepen their knowledge of Scripture, and equip them to shepherd his church faithfully. The entire congregation united in prayer, asking God to bless and guide these men as they embraced their new responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the prayer ended, the room erupted in sustained applause. Rio de Janeiro’s first elders were embraced with overwhelming joy, gratitude, and hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work has begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special thanks to the elders in Tallahassee, Tampa, Broward, and Miami (Florida), as well as elders in Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and S\u00e3o Paulo, whose guidance, friendship, and willingness to serve played an invaluable role in raising elders for the Rio church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Carioca is the official demonym for anyone born in or native to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On June 14, 2026, the Rio church appointed its first elders, Marco Ribeiro and Paulo Fonseca, celebrating years of faithful…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":30659,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[71],"tags":[55],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-30658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-south-america"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rio-Elders-.jpg?fit=1280%2C853&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"Sunday Awolowo","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/sawolowo\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-7Yu","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3145,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/sao-paulo-brazil-church-appoints-elders-evangelists\/","url_meta":{"origin":30658,"position":0},"title":"S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil Church Appoints Elders, Evangelists","author":"dtadmin","date":"March 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"After a difficult chapter, the S\u00e3o Paulo church is grateful to have taken this next step in our faith journey in as we realize, with awe, that the grace of God has been helping us all these years.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IgrejadeCristoInternacionaldeSaCC83oPaulosinging.jpg?fit=1200%2C773&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IgrejadeCristoInternacionaldeSaCC83oPaulosinging.jpg?fit=1200%2C773&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IgrejadeCristoInternacionaldeSaCC83oPaulosinging.jpg?fit=1200%2C773&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IgrejadeCristoInternacionaldeSaCC83oPaulosinging.jpg?fit=1200%2C773&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IgrejadeCristoInternacionaldeSaCC83oPaulosinging.jpg?fit=1200%2C773&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3280,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/elders-service-team-report-may-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":30658,"position":1},"title":"Elders Service Team Report May 2019","author":"dtadmin","date":"June 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The Elders Service Team has continued its mission to help churches appoint elderships in churches all over the world. In the last few years, there have been elderships appointed in several families of churches outside of the United States. This trend is continuing as three new elders were appointed in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/church-buildingelderships.jpg?fit=300%2C461&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4491,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/first-elders-appointed-in-indian-church-of-christ-bangalore\/","url_meta":{"origin":30658,"position":2},"title":"First Elders Appointed in Indian Church of Christ, Bangalore","author":"dtadmin","date":"April 23, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The celebration of Easter on April 21, 2019 will be remembered as a historical event in Bangalore as three elders were appointed before a congregation of 1,400! 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