Christian Church, Christian faith, edir macedo, London's Trafalgar Square,
Wednesday 13th March 2013
When thousands of people queue up on a cold wet Sunday in order to buy a book on launch day, and over 15,000 copies are sold there is clearly something unusual going on.
However, this is exactly what happened at the London launch of Nothing to Lose, the first volume of Bishop Edir Macedo’s three-part autobiography, which has become an international best-seller in a matter of weeks.
The Bishop, who is now 67, is the founder and long time head of the UCKG HelpCentre, a Pentecostal church with a huge following around the world. The book tells how he progressed from being a simple street preacher in Brazil to leader of an international organisation focussed on improving life for humanity, over the course of 35 years.
The London launch event was held at Blackwell’s in Charing Cross Road on March 10th. It was the final leg of a worldwide roll out that has seen over a million copies sold to eager readers keen to know how faith works in an increasingly secular world where religion is often considered irrelevant.
Bishop Macedo has not attended any launch events because of his numerous responsibilities. However he was represented by his younger daughter Mrs Viviane Freitas, who figures largely in the book, Bishop Julio Freitas who oversees the UCKG HelpCentre’s work throughout Europe, co-author Douglas Tavolaro and Bishop Celso Junior who heads the UCKG HelpCentre in the UK.
“We were delighted to welcome purchasers from all over the country and to sign copies of the book for them on behalf of our leader,” said Bishop Celso Junior. “This book is a source of inspiration that we believe will spark a change of fortune for many people in need.
“It was a special privilege to have Mrs Freitas signing books for us as it is only the second launch event that she has attended. Our thanks are due to her and her colleagues, and to the many volunteers who made the day such a success.”
At its peak, the queue, which had started at 9.50 in the morning in readiness for a 2pm start, stretched back along Charing Cross Road from the shop, through Trafalgar Square and up The Strand.
Volunteers who were helping to manage the queue and some of those waiting reported that passers-by were very curious about what was going on and were asked on a number of occasions what was happening.
ENDS
Note to editors:
UCKG is a Christian church and registered charity that offers a range of practical support activities alongside spiritual support and comfort and welcomes all-comers. It reached the UK in 1995 and has gone from strength to strength, providing support and spreading the Christian faith. There are UCKG HelpCentre branches in England and Wales.
Nothing to Lose contains extensive insights into Bishop Macedo’s life and thinking, although not always in chronological order, and does much to explain how a man from a modest home and large family rose to form what is now a global Pentecostal church.
The book covers aspects of the Bishop’s early life and his development as a preacher, thinker and church leader. It includes his accounts of seminal family and politically influenced events that helped to shape him into the man he is today.
The UCKG is based firmly on the practical teachings of the Bible; and its leader is still as passionate about serving God – after 35 years at the helm – as he was at the start.
For further information please contact the UCKG HelpCentre Press Officer via e-mail on press@uckgnew.org or direct line 020 7686 6033.
