The Founding and Development of the Evangelical Church of the Assemblies of God in Timor-Leste (IEAD-TL)Bookmark messageCopy message

The Evangelical Church of the Assemblies of God in Timor-Leste (IEAD-TL) began its existence in Dili on May 13, 1962. This church was founded as a result of the Pentecostal revival that took place on Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California, in 1906. From this revival, pastors began to think about preserving the work of the Holy Spirit that had occurred. In 1914, pastors from 120 countries in Latin America and delegates from 20 foreign countries gathered together and decided to establish the Evangelical Church of the Assemblies of God in Arkansas, United States. The first President was Eudorus N. Bell, and the Secretary was Charles Fox Parham. At that time, they also founded the International Mission Agency, which allowed the church to send many missionaries throughout the world to preach the gospel, fulfilling the command of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Mark 16:15-16: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all people.” Thus, Timor-Leste also received a similar opportunity in the 1960s from a small foreign evangelistic group. One of the members was Manuel de Jesus Marreiros, a Portuguese citizen from Assembleia de Deus Portugal, along with others from Cape Verde named Délio Castro Tavares, Belmiro Gomes, Afra Fernandes, and Feliciano. They began evangelizing to reach more people for Christ. On May 13, 1962, they wrote a request letter to the church in Portugal asking for a Portuguese missionary to help in the ministry in Timor-Leste. At that time, Reverend José Augusto Seabra Gomes had accepted Jesus as his Savior and actively attended services held in his private home in Taibesi, Dili, along with the Evangelical group. In 1964, Reverend Mary of Fatima Wadhomaal Gomes also accepted Jesus as her Savior through missionary Dr. Robert Billman and his family from England. After Reverend Mary of Fatima Wadhomaal Gomes accepted Jesus, the weekly worship service was moved to the Gomes Family residence in Balide, Dili. In 1965, Missionary Leslie Braille came from England to visit and provide Bible studies to Reverend José Augusto Seabra Gomes and Reverend Maria de Fátima Wadhomaal Gomes. In 1966, Missionary Prof. ordained Reverend José Augusto Seabra Gomes as the first Timorese pastor. Thus, Reverend José Augusto Seabra Gomes is recognized as the founder of IEAD-TL and the first leader of IEAD-TL.