Building Biblical Leadership in Brazil
“Tyndale House combines rigorous academic work with the love of the Lord, for the benefit of the Kingdom. The combination of those two is rare.” Diego Araújo
Diego Araújo, reading for his Ph.D. at London School of Theology and studying at Tyndale House, Cambridge, passionately explains his desire to see his homeland grow in Biblical leadership at a postgraduate level.
Fifty years ago, evangelicals made up a tiny 2.3% of the Brazilian population. Since then the evangelical church has seen explosive growth and accounts for 29% of Brazilians in a country that is home to 123 million Catholics — the largest number in the world.
“With such an increase in evangelicals, we’ve lacked time to disciple them and raise up leaders. This needs to be done in Brazil by Brazilians. We want to undergird our native leaders to equip believers to teach theology, write articles and books, and answer questions in our native language of Portuguese. God has stirred up in me a desire to encourage Brazilians. They can do it!”
Diego received his BA and MA in his home country, but Brazil lacks Ph.D. facilities. “Many Brazilian believers have a ‘colonized country’ mentality, believing that the United States and Europe are theologically superior. At our disposal is good theological material, already translated. Now we need high level academic books translated. It is my goal to prepare more people to run their own Ph.D. programs in Brazil. With that in mind, I sent Dr. Peter William’s book, Can We Trust the Gospels? to a Brazilian publisher requesting translation into Portuguese.
“Lord willing, when my time at Tyndale House is complete, I will return to Brazil, and join a seminary. My commitment is to remain for 10 years as a resident lecturer, teaching and equipping other evangelical leaders to write and teach in Portuguese. Ultimately, only one who is immersed in the Brazilian culture can write from a Brazilian perspective. I want to urge Brazilians to come back to Brazil to work…work for the Kingdom, and rest in heaven.”
Diego’s desire to help create a high level of theological academia in Brazil stems from the strong support he has received while completing his studies at Tyndale House.
“Tyndale House combines rigorous academic work with the love of the Lord, for the benefit of the Kingdom. The combination of those two is rare.”
Diego’s story describes the common goal of Tyndale House scholars–to serve the church. Would you consider your most generous gift to support Tyndale House Cambridge?
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