All set for next Friday night. The cold cuts the central avenue while the pastor’s strong words echo through the night away. I approach the church, which looks more like a ballroom, and notice the presence of about 60 believers. All with a similar vetimenta ranging from skirts below the knee to the ladies and suits for boys. Inside the cult being announced by pastro Salles “The press has been honored colleague from the house of God tonight, amen.” I feel like a fish out of water. Since childhood I hear thoughts that go against the Communists exitência of a God. But the faithful seem to contradict my belief with such vitality that I feel embarrassed.
That night, Audidudima raised £ 500 of their followers with arguments like: “The church spent on hotels, airline tickets. If you like listening to the pastor Salles, yours truly, then scratch the pocket and make their faith.” That seemed like a consortium, an auction, where all pinned their economies to compete for a place in heaven. I thought the magnitude and pervasiveness of evangelical churches nationwide recall of the brand daily and 2 million copies of the Universal Leaf prints, leaving behind all the major newspapers.
The cult advances and suddenly, I was distracted by the face of the pastor, women (only) start a kind of theater of the possessed. They are spread across the floor as if they were taken by an evil force, defended by the church as the domination of the devil that body pure. Grimaces and contortions. A woman on the floor debate invoking unknown words in Portuguese. Pastor Salles is approaching and with some words like “leave this body now” seems to exorcise the girl, who then gets up as if nothing had happened. I remember the old magic and charlatans plays I saw in my life. Diving in the history of life advocated by the pastor, accused of killing over 70 people in his career. ”I was sentenced to 300 years in prison but the then president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso gave me a reprieve. I served 10 years for my crimes and now I lecture around the world.”Audidudima says with pride. I think that justice is in Brazil is extremely fair and I will photograph the speech of the pastor responsible for guiding Fernandinho Beira Mar and Escadinha.
