After the senate's decision, president Dilma Rousseff was suspended from the presidency today. While many the leftists in tried to denounce it was a "coup", and ex-president Lula declared "war", the so-called social movements closed roads and threatened a nationwide strike. Nothing changed the decision. Thy even asked the Pope for "help", he answered the country needs prayer and dialog.
Following the Constitution and being monitored by the Supreme Court, the whole process had a wide press coverage. Dilma still has the right to defend her administration and, although very unlikely, may come back after 180 days, when the process can be voted again.
There were 367 votes in favor to 137 against impeachment in the Congress; 55 votes in favor and 22 against in the Senate. It was a long process, with some legal twists, that paralyzed the country for months, dividing opinions and creating a lot of uncertainty about the immediate future of the nation.
Looking back, it is clear that Christian congressmen were decisive. Even the big media acknowledges that. The Evangelical Parliamentary Front, composed of 92 deputies and 2 senators, voted massively for the impeachment. Nicknamed as "Bible Coalition", the Front works together with the Catholic Parliamentary Front, a group of about 100 Bible believing Christians. Teamed up, they account for more than 2/5 of Brazilian Congress
Congressmen like Sostenes Cavalcante and Marco Feliciano, as well as senator Magno Malta - all pastors - were relentless in their "fight" for the impeachment to be accepted. Several times they denounced the legal issues that supported the opening of the process, Workers Party (PT) government's attacks on the values held dear by Christians.
Since the Workers Party ascended do power, Brazil has seen gay civil marriage being legally approved, legalized abortion in some cases, communist and liberal indoctrination being imposed in schools. All these factors, plus the chaotic social and economic situation of the nation demanded a response by the church.
Influential pastor Silas Malafaia, leader of the Victory in Christ Assembly of God, holds no elected position, but used much of his influence and his famous TV program to mobilize evangelicals against Dilma government. Many other followed suit. Most of them asked the Brazilian Christians to pray for God's intervention. On the other hand, a few pastors, with low expression in the national religious scene, defended PT, but their positions did not have the same impact.
At the same time, there were many public manifestations during the last year, one gathered more than six million Brazilians in the streets. The understanding of the protestors was that the country needed to change. Allegations of corruption for nearly two years occupied almost daily space in the media. They were the greatest "catalyst" for the feeling that a major change was needed in the country, which already accounts for 11 million unemployed and going through a severe economic crisis.
Meanwhile, a number of ministries and even entire denominations started prayer and fasting campaigns throughout the country. For many evangelicals, politics and religion should not mix. However, vice-president Michel Temer, who is a practicing catholic, has announced publicly that he needs the political support of the Evangelical Front and has requested prayers for his life and for the country. Thus far, he named Ronaldo Nogueira, a member of the Evangelical Parliamentary Front, as Minister of Labour and Marcos Pereira, a bishop of a Pentecostal Church as the ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.
A spiritual movement?
For many Christians, the whole impeachment process involved a great spiritual struggle. While she was a minister during president Lula govern (2003-2010), Dilma said many times she was an atheist. In 2010, when running for president, changed her religious affiliation, considering herself a "nominal catholic", that believed in God but hardly ever attended church.
Some prophets who visited Brazil announced that there would be a divine intervention in the country's direction. Pastor Bob Hazlett was in a conference in Brazil in 2011. He explained he did not know Brazilian politics, but said: "I hear the Lord saying: I will shake the political structure of the nation."
Two years later, Cindy Jacobs released a prophetic word saying that the Lord would "shake the principality of corruption and misery."
In 2014, the prophet Stacey Campbell gave the message to Brazil for an event in Toronto, Canada. Announced that what would happen there would be the beginning of many "justice movements" around the world.
Published originally at https://noticias.gospelprime.com.br/bancada-evangelica-decisiva-impeachment/
