Over 650,000 Gather at Evangelistic Crusade in Brazil, 11,000 Commit Lives to Christ

CP:  The two-day Evangelistic Crusade Victorious Life For You has drawn an impressive crowd in Brazil. The event is in its 16th year and according to organizers more than 650,000 attended the event this year in Ponta Negra Beach, Amazonas state in the northwest of Brazil.

Well-known televangelist Pastor Silas Malafaia, who led the event, preached the message "God is in control" and "How to be a complete person," leading nearly 11,000 to commit their lives to Christ over Aug. 25-26, 2012.

"I was spiritually weak, but from now on I want to have a change in my life," said one attendee, Naicson Costa de Souza, who had drifted away from the church but has now decided to return, according to Malafaia's Victory in Christ Church website.

Several hours before the event started attendants were already arriving to guarantee their places near the stage, as thousands gathered to listen to the "message of victory" from the famous pastor.

"When my wife told me about the event, I was motivated to go hoping that I could reconcile with Christ," said Adilson Tavares, who arrived more than five hours early for the event.

Another attendant who arrived early to be close to the stage, Francisca Alves, 64, said: "I believe Pastor Silas will minister a Word that will change my life."

The event also included worship music artists Nani Azevedo, Danielle Cristina, Eyshila, Jozyanne, Jotta A, Raquel Mello, Marquinhos Menezes and Lilian, and Dayan de Alencar, who used the opportunity to launch the Worship Victory in Christ special CD by Central Gospel Music - a record label owned by Malafaia. The revenue from the project will be donated to social projects.