Brazilian dance team teaches, praises God with North Indiana

You could say the five members of Alpha and Omega, a Brazilian dance and praise team, were on a mission from God.

The group, lead by Da Cecilia Braga dos Santos, barnstormed across the North Indiana Conference for more than six weeks sharing and leading with the youths at Senior High Institute and worshipping with congregations and the Lafayette District Missions Rally.

Alpha and Omega uses music, dance and capoeira (an African-Brazilian martial art) to reach out to the citizens of in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil through Nova Descoberta Methodist Church. They spent three months practicing 25 English musical pieces and originating 15 choreographed liturgical dances. Practices ran for 16 hours over the weekends.

For five weeks, they shared their experiences and faith with the youth at the Institute. They also taught dance and capoeira to more than 110 youths.

Being away from home and not knowing a lot of English wasn't a problem for the group. "We were surprised at how warm and loving the American people are," said Da Braga, through a translator. "In our culture they have the reputation of being cold, but we have found loving embracing friends and family. Love is the universal language; we are all family in Christ. Our coming here to minister to 1,300 youth is a dream made a reality by God." Matthew Oates

Last updated on 01/14/2004

Questions or comments: webmaster@inareaumc.org