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Children who Preach: Little Pastors and Use of Media for Evangelism in Brazil

Vânia M. SierraWania Amélia B. Mesquita

The growth of evangelicals in Brazilian society

The Pentecostal segment of the population in Brazil has since the 40s a considerable growth. According to the Demographic Census of IBGE, Evangelicals accounted for only 2.6% of the population in 1940. Reaching 3.4% in 1950, 4% in 1960, 5.2% in 1970, 6.6% in 1980, 9% 1991 and 15.4% in 2000, when it reached 26,184,941 people. Data indicate that the evangelical expansion accelerated further in the last decade of twentieth century, with remarkable growth of Pentecostals. (IBGE, 2000)

The subject of research

In the current context in Brazilian society, there is the presence of several children preaching in evangelical churches. They become "celebrities", because they are known by using the media to preach, they sing and record CDs and DVDs.

Purpose of research

Analyzing the phenomenon of the growth of little pastors in Brazil, especially the form of construction of this identity by children and the use of media, not only as a way of promotion their image but also as a strategy of evangelization and spreading of a strange spectacle of faith.

The little pastors - children who preach The little pastors are a recent phenomenon in

Brazil, which acquired visibility in the first decade of 2000, some factors appear to have contributed to this expression. One being considered is the adoption of the media by evangelical, a strategy to strengthen religious proselytism, but also as an instrument of internal communication and economic and political actions. They are children who belong to families which are economically disadvantaged and who attend the Pentecostal churches.

Methodological perspectiveIt comes an interactionist perspective in order to analyze videos purchased by churches and evangelical events, news, written and spoken reports, videos and Internet. The category of little pastors is adopted as a reference to describe children and teenagers, who sing, praises and evangelize in church activities.We adopt the perspective of understanding that each child finds a particular world whose history is achieved not only in a particular physical environment, but also in specific social relations in which the child is immediately involved. (Toren, 2010)

Children and religious landscape

In evangelical churches, the manifestation Holy Spirit gift is encouraged. It consists of speaking in tongues, interpret what was said in tongues, reveal dreams, see / hear voices, prophesying, healing, and other events. The child who excels in the manifestation of these gifts and preaching the gospel can lead others to believe that they have a religious mission, that approaches the divine.

Children who preach: the construction of their own identity

The little pastors define themselves as children. They speak of their physical limitations, but explain that they are part of a God’s plan.With the aim of expressing the authority that the position requires, the little pastors use the same “image" when they enter the pulpit, dressed as adults.Children diversify the forms of religious preaching. Sometimes they start with a thank you, read a Bible verse and then pray. Other times, they start with a song before reading the verse, leaving the prayer to end.

Mateus


The little pastors do not demonstrate the need of being moralizedFor them, it is not “age" that make them different from adults. They believe the experiences they bring are enough so as to serve as examples, although it is related to experiences of their age.

Ana Carolina


The children want recognition as pastorsPeople used to believe that children do it for money or because their parents make them do it, but the financial aspect is not the main motivation. The little pastors are not also just a product of encouragement from parents. There are children that even if they are encorauged, not like going to church

ALEX SILVA


The little pastors have a rare ability to develop a performance of a pastor, so they are considered special children, reserving to the scene a foreing element apparently inexplicable. They said like it and also because they believe they were born to accomplish this mission.Some psycologist afirm these children may develop problems. On the other hand they behave just like any other ordinary kid. They play with dolls, play ball, go to school, have a friends, go to the parks, circus etc.

Bruno Felipe Paloma

Juniors preachers, family and church In the evangelical family, the child

performs religious activities with parents or guardians, they generally go to Bible school on Sunday, but they also find space to express their own individuality. Despite that, little pastors show becoming pastor when they grow up is a possibility for them, but it does not mean they will become one, because they don’t feel unable to choose another profession.

Bitia Morales

The little preachers and media

The publicity surrounding the phenomenon is largely linked to the use of new technologies like the Internet, DVDs and CDs. Although they say that the intention is to "bring Gospel”, the little pastors invest in a religious career which is seen as a promising one.

The little preachers and media

With the internet little pastors became will known. They are usually invited to preach in churches. The contact can be made through the official sites available on the Internet.

The social expression of religious child

The acceptance of these children within the religious movement in churches Evangelical in Brazil occurs without great resistance. What defines being a little pastor are the skills and expertise to the preaching of the gospel, and especially the belief that they are invested with a mission. Because children like to be recognized as little pastors, there does not exist violation for these cases, because taking these children's rights into consideration means to recognize their desire.

Education

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