Brazilian churchgoers have a new way to pay their tithe: Automated Bank Draft. Missionary Romildo Ribeiro Soares, better known as R.R. Soares from popular Universal Church of God’s Grace in São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil, has just recently introduced on national TV the new method.
According to the missionary, whose show is presented on regular open channel Bandeirantes, members of the church will now have the convenience of monthly contributing to the church just by filling out the bank form and providing their bank account information.
“You decide how much you’d like to offer,” says Soares. “If you decide to go ahead and do that, Jesus will give you a gift,” stated Soares.
The pastor has also assured that if any member is broke in a particular month, they do not have to worry whether their name will be sent to a collection agency or reported to the Serasa (local credit monitoring company similar to American Equifax).
Reputable state-owned Bank of Brazil, popular Bradesco and high-class Itaú Bank have all accepted the terms of the Church in order to offer such benefits to churchgoers. R.R.
Soares was co-founder of the popular Universal Church of the Kingdom of God with Pastor Edir Macedo, who in the past was accused of charlatanism, larceny and extortion.
Missionary R.R. Soares, 64, is Bishop Edir Macedo’s brother-in-law. He is married to Macedo’s sister, Maria Magdalena. Apparently due to personal differences, he left the Universal Church of God in the 70’s and created his own church in the 80’s.
He has business with many TV stations networks, and is also co-owner of a private paid TV Station network.
Besides the Automated Bank Draft, the R.R. Soares church has also launched a Church Credit Card called the International Church of God’s Grace Credit Card. Among its many benefits, the credit card will allow you to pay your debts within 40 days, aptly for rotating credit and emergency cash advance not only in Brazil but also overseas.
According to the church, this is a new way you could contribute to the church social programs. Besides the International Church of God’s Grace, the Universal of God’s Kingdom and World Church have also adopted the method of accepting donations through credit card transactions, and automated debit.
In order to enjoy these benefits, church members are required to go their church website, sign up and provide their personal information.
Edison Bernardo DeSouza is a journalist, having graduated in Social Communication Studies at Pontifical Catholic University in São Paulo, Brazil . He lived in the US and Canada for close to 12 years and participated in volunteering activities in social works agencies. DeSouza currently lives in São Paulo where he teaches English as a Second Language for both private English Language Institute and Private High-School. He is currently participating as an actor in two English Musicals in Sao Paulo – Brazil and is pursuing further advancements in his career. He is particularly interested in economics, history, politics and human rights articles.
