Press Flagship projects and Events
Flagship projects and Events
- Temple of Solomon
- More than 10,000 baptize in Mozambique
- The first UCKG cathedral in Europe
- Day of Decision in Brazil and Argentina
- Inauguration of Mexico's first cathedral
- UCKG Social work
- New Canaan farm
- HIV awareness
- Literacy Program in Angola
- Prison Distribution
- Male cancer awareness in London
Following guidelines contained in the Bible, the UCKG has begun to build a replica of Solomon’s Temple in São Paulo, Brazil. The mega-church will be 137 yards long and 113 yards wide. The dimensions will be bigger than a football field. Jerusalem stone will be used to build the replica which will be almost 2 times bigger than the statue of Christ The Redeemer, currently one of the 7 wonders of the world.
18 stories high, the mega-church will have a seating capacity of over 10,000 people. In its completion the mega-church will be fully equipped with 36 classrooms, an auditorium, radio and TV studios, and a parking lot for 1,000 vehicles. A landmark in the history of the UCKG, the project is estimated to take 4 years to construct.
Head architect and designer Rogerio Silvia de Araujo has stated the project is a major undertaking which will use 21st century technology, to lead future visitors to travel back in time.
Bishop Macedo believes the mega-church will not be limited to the visits of UCKG members, but it will become a cultural and tourist attraction drawing the attention of people all over the world.
More than 10,000 baptize in Mozambique
On Sunday, Aug 9th, 2010 more than 10,000 people were baptized throughout the country of Mozambique. Bishop João Leite, who’s responsible for the evangelical work of the country, led the event at Miramar Beach.
"God is sending many souls to our churches here in Mozambique, which is why we decided to have this baptism throughout the country. These are newly converted people who baptized for the first time. Many of our local churches don’t have baptisteries, so we decided to perform the baptisms on the beach due to the large amount of people who wanted to surrender their lives to Jesus," said the bishop.
The first UCKG Cathedral built in Europe
Porto, Portugal —August 1, 2010 will forever be marked in the history of The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Portugal. It was the opening day of the first Cathedral of Faith built, not only in that country, but in all of Europe.
Bishop Julio Freitas, leader of The Universal Church in Portugal and Europe, held three meetings for about 9,000 people that day. The main hall of the new Cathedral of Faith is located on Egas Moniz St. in Porto.
The Day of Decision event simultaneously took place in 27 Brazilian states on April 21, 2010. The event brought approximately 10 million people together in one accord, to seek in God the answer to an obstacle, while deciding to make changes.
The large scale event stopped traffic around Rio and all over Brazil. The message also reached people at home and work via Television and Radio.
Inauguration of Mexico’s first Cathedral
On September 8, 2010, in the year of Mexico’s Bicentennial Independence, the UCKG inaugurated its first Cathedral in Naucalpan, Mexico.
The large church will serve as the UCKG’s headquarters in Mexico, where the Church has grown exponentially.
In the presence of 1,600 people and more than 1,400, listening through loudspeakers outside, the first service was held in the new building. The event marked a milestone for the UCKG in Mexico.
The UCKG is recognized by different organizations for its humanitarian efforts and social work to worthy causes.
Among all the social projects of The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, the New Canaan Farm in Irecê, an area in the northeast of Brazil, is one of the boldest.
Situated in a region severely affected by drought and hunger, the farm, which measures over 1,235 acres, can be considered an oasis in a land devastated by the sun.
In 1999, Bishop Macedo watched the news and was moved when he saw images of the suffering people in Northeast Brazil. The area had once been the biggest producer of beans in the country, but for some time it suffered a merciless drought that made the soil infertile. So Bishop Macedo came up with the idea of building a place that could bring hope to people who were facing certain death in a place marked by dry cracked soil and barely enough water. The irrigation system was also meant to slow show that when there is a will to help people, there is a way.
In order to help, The Universal Church financed the New Canaan project. Utilizing the same irrigation techniques as in an Israeli kibbutz, the New Canaan Farm produces corn, beans, soy, onions, carrots, beetroots, and many other fruits and vegetables. The project of the New Canaan Farm has created more than 180 jobs.
Food and education are the project’s main objective. To this day, the farm helps more than 700 children a day. Besides attending primary school and having medical and dental treatments, the children and their families now have regular meals as well. The locally raised cattle, poultry, and fish provide the right nutrition for the children.
HIV/Aids is a major problem in the African Continent today. In South Africa alone approximately 5.6 million people are HIV positive.
Cooperating in the fight against the disease, the UCKG in South Africa has organized events to raise awareness and promote prevention.
On December 5th, 2009 the UCKG led a big HIV awareness Event. Thousands of people walked from the front of the church’s Temple of Faith to the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Bishop Marcelo Pires spoke of how prevention is better than a cure.
On April of 2010, hundreds of volunteers gave their time, as they talked to people about adopting a positive attitude and handed out free condoms around Johannesburg.
Church members encouraged prevention and protection against HIV, while New Start offered free voluntary HIV testing and counseling.
The UCKG is an avid participant in raising HIV awareness and prevention in South Africa.
In 19 years, the UCKG has spread into 18 provinces of Angola. Bringing the gospel to a country where illiteracy is a concern, the UCKG established the ―Ler e Escrever‖ (Reading and Writing) program. The program consists of 30 classrooms offering courses, Monday through Friday, in literacy and professional training, completely free. Job training includes courses in IT, hair cosmetology, home decoration, culinary arts as well as other courses.
The Universal Church has been a great contributing factor to the rise of Angola’s literacy rate. On September 10, 2010 the minister of education declared that 1 million people have become literate in Angola from 2008 to 2009. The announcement was made at the UCKG’s literacy program headquarters.
In almost every country where the UCKG is established, Pastors, assistants and church volunteers visit inmates. In Sao Paulo, Brazil, the UCKG has been making church services in jail and prisons for 15 years.
The volunteers pray and teach inmates as well as distribute personal hygiene kits, books, magazines and Bibles.
Over the years the visits and prayers have transformed the lives of many behind bars. So much so that once discharged, on several occasions inmates have not only applied what they learned and changed their lifestyle, but began attend the Church in search of a new life centered on God.
Male cancer awareness in London
On June 26, 2010, the UCKG hosted an event to raise Male Cancer Awareness. Joining forces with the male Cancer Awareness Campaign, the event was held at the Rainbow Theater in London.
The objective of the event was to help educate men about cancers that can affect men in particular and for them to overcome the embarrassment that causes so many to delay in consulting a doctor.
The Event helped educate many on the subject and followed a similar format to the highly successful Female Cancer Awareness Event held in March 2010.
