Founded in 1977 by Edir Macedo—following several failed attempts to rise within established Pentecostal churches—UCKG expanded rapidly through the aggressive promotion of the prosperity gospel, promising divine favor, healing, and financial breakthrough in exchange for faith and material sacrifice. Today, the church maintains operations in dozens of countries across Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
UCKG’s theology emphasizes supernatural miracles in everyday life, particularly faith healing and deliverance from demonic forces. Twice annually, members are encouraged to participate in the “Campaign of Israel,” giving up something of great value in the hope of divine reward. Critics have accused the church of monetizing despair, exploiting the poor, and operating more like a multinational corporation than a spiritual institution.
At the center of UCKG’s empire is Edir Macedo, who also owns RecordTV, Brazil’s second-largest television network. This fusion of religious authority and media power has allowed Macedo to construct a formidable political machine, promoting socially conservative and authoritarian candidates—most notably Jair Bolsonaro—and exerting significant influence through the Evangelical Parliamentary Front. Macedo has also elevated family members within this structure, including his nephew Marcelo Crivella, who has served as mayor of Rio de Janeiro and currently serves as a Federal Deputy.
Unlike many Pentecostal movements, UCKG is highly centralized, with strict top-down control. Its churches often function as hybrid spaces, offering a mix of free religious services and monetized programs. Its most iconic site is the Temple of Solomon in São Paulo—a billion-real megachurch designed as a full-scale replica of the biblical temple in Jerusalem.
The church has long faced allegations of cult-like practices, financial misconduct, and psychological abuse. While Macedo has never been convicted, UCKG has been investigated or banned in multiple countries and has been linked to several high-profile child deaths.
