BTGH Remembers Pioneer Work of Brazil Minister

Rev. Wilson Castro Ferreira, former Portuguese language ministry leader for The Back to God Hour, passed away in Brazil last month at the age of 94.

Ferreira was a pioneer in media ministry in his native Brazil. In 1969, The Back to God Hour was given a remarkable opportunity to broadcast the gospel over TWR (TransWorld Radio) from the island of Bonaire. For seven years the programs were produced sporadically until Ferreira took the broadcasts firmly in hand.

The Portuguese ministry grew steadily from that point. Ferreira forged a strong connection between his own denomination, the Presbyterian Church of Brazil, and the Christian Reformed Church. And he brought The Back to God Hour Portuguese broadcasting far beyond Bonaire to local stations throughout Brazil. 

Rev. Celsino Gama, BTGH’s current Portuguese ministry leader and Ferreira’s former student, was mentored by his teacher for the position he now holds.

“Rev. Ferreira was a very talented and gifted man, yet very simple and humble,” says Gama. “It was for me a great privilege to experience his company, friendship, and wisdom.”

Rev. Ferreira lived to see the growth of what he was privileged to launch. The Portuguese ministry of The Back to God Hour now reaches millions of people through three radio programs, four nationally broadcast television programs, extensive print literature, a unique telephone ministry called Disquepaz, and two websites. The phone and website ministries alone receive an average of 315,000 calls or visits each month.


Photo: Rev. Celsino Gama (left) with his mentor, the late Rev. Wilson Ferreira, The Back to God Hour’s first Portuguese ministry leader.