“Don’t skimp on an act of God,,, [s]tand up and come here with your money in hand.”
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Faith is sometimes so intoxicating that it can even fill the sick and suffering with the improbable hope that a 10-year-old will heal them with a simple touch.Such child healers in Brazil are only part of the growing chorus of self-anointed miracle workers. The explosive spiritual movement is 44 million followers strong.
“Anyone can become a pastor,” Professor Eduardo Refkalefsky, who studies the business of churches in Brazil, told ABC News’ “Nightline.” “[Anyone] can open a church.”
Evangelical Christianity is the fastest growing religion in Brazil, and some say it's threatening the Catholic Church’s historical dominance in the country.
But with millions of souls and millions of donations at stake, critics say that many bogus merchants of faith are turning huge profits with false promises.
Enterprising evangelical pastors benefit from a total lack of regulations, Refkalefsky said. Many pastors lure new worshipers with visions of prosperity and health, he added.
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“It’s a very informal business, because the money just [goes] directly from the wallet of the member to the wallet of the pastor of the church,” professor Refkalefsky said. “There’s no control of the money.”
That has made salvation a booming business. “The number of churches [is] rising more than the number of the members,” Refkalefsky said.
Brazilian Child Healers Earn Big Bucks in Booming Business of Evangelical Christianity - ABC News
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