Igreja Renascer em Cristo
Encyclopedia
The Igreja Renascer em Cristo or Reborn in Christ Church (also Rebirth in Christ Church), which was founded in São Paulo
in 1986 by Estevam Hernandes
and Sônia Hernandes
. The church has over 2,000,000 members and more than 1,500 churches in Brazil
and around the world.
The founding couple, Estevam Hernandes
and Sônia Hernandes
, and their organization are under investigation on the basis of money laundering, perjury, libel, exploitation of non-profit status, tax evasion and a number of other criminal actions. In January 2007, both founders were arrested in Miami by the FBI for failure to declare over $56,000 in cash brought into the USA. The couple was sentenced to five months in prison.
's relationship with the imprisoned founding couple. On January 3, 2008, Kaká announced that his 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year
trophy would be held for display in the church's main temple in Cambuci, São Paulo
. On January 14, 2008, the church released a statement expressing its intent to sue prosecutor Marcelo Mendroni for "persecution" in relation to his attempts to question Kaká. Kaká, a member of the church, has allegedly made donation
s of 2 million reais to the church. He is respected throughout the world as a Christian sportsman role model who has been invited to read the Bible
along with Pope Benedict XVI
and other celebrities in the 2008 24 hour Bible reading marathon.
, São Paulo
, collapsed. The roof
fell down, killing 9 people and hurting over 100.
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
in 1986 by Estevam Hernandes
Estevam Hernandes
Estevam Hernandes: was born 24 March 1954. He is married to Sônia Hernandes, and has three children.He is pastor of the Brazilian church "Igreja Renascer em Cristo"...
and Sônia Hernandes
Sônia Hernandes
Sônia Hernandes is a Brazilian pastor. She is one of the founders and leader of the Neocharismatic church Igreja Renascer em Cristo....
. The church has over 2,000,000 members and more than 1,500 churches in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and around the world.
The founding couple, Estevam Hernandes
Estevam Hernandes
Estevam Hernandes: was born 24 March 1954. He is married to Sônia Hernandes, and has three children.He is pastor of the Brazilian church "Igreja Renascer em Cristo"...
and Sônia Hernandes
Sônia Hernandes
Sônia Hernandes is a Brazilian pastor. She is one of the founders and leader of the Neocharismatic church Igreja Renascer em Cristo....
, and their organization are under investigation on the basis of money laundering, perjury, libel, exploitation of non-profit status, tax evasion and a number of other criminal actions. In January 2007, both founders were arrested in Miami by the FBI for failure to declare over $56,000 in cash brought into the USA. The couple was sentenced to five months in prison.
Donation by Brazilian footballer Kaká
In September 2007, prosecutor Marcelo Mendroni announced that he was investigating soccer star KakáKaká
Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite , commonly known as Kaká , is a Brazilian football attacking midfielder who currently plays for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team. Kaká started his footballing career at the age of eight, when he began playing for a local club...
's relationship with the imprisoned founding couple. On January 3, 2008, Kaká announced that his 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year
FIFA World Player of the Year
The FIFA World Player of the Year was an association football award given annually to the male and female player who were thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams...
trophy would be held for display in the church's main temple in Cambuci, São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
. On January 14, 2008, the church released a statement expressing its intent to sue prosecutor Marcelo Mendroni for "persecution" in relation to his attempts to question Kaká. Kaká, a member of the church, has allegedly made donation
Donation
A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including cash, services, new or used goods including clothing, toys, food, and vehicles...
s of 2 million reais to the church. He is respected throughout the world as a Christian sportsman role model who has been invited to read the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
along with Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
and other celebrities in the 2008 24 hour Bible reading marathon.
The collapse of main temple
On January 18, 2009, the main temple of Renascer em Cristo, in CambuciCambuci (São Paulo)
Cambuci is a district in the city of São Paulo, Brazil....
, São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, collapsed. The roof
Roof
A roof is the covering on the uppermost part of a building. A roof protects the building and its contents from the effects of weather. Structures that require roofs range from a letter box to a cathedral or stadium, dwellings being the most numerous....
fell down, killing 9 people and hurting over 100.