Bola de Neve Church

Bola de Neve Church
ClassificationEvangelical Protestant
OrientationNeo-charismatic
TheologyNeo-charismatic theology
HeadquartersRua Clélia, 1517 – Lapa, São Paulo, Brazil
FounderApóstolo Rina
Origin1999
Rua 21 de Abril – Brás, São Paulo, Brazil
Official websitewww.boladeneve.com

Bola de Neve Church (literally Snowball Church) is a Brazilian neopentecostal church, founded in São Paulo in 1999[1] by pastor and former surfer Rinaldo Luiz de Seixas Pereira (April 15, 1972 – November 17, 2024), colloquially known as "Apóstolo (or Apostle) Rina" or "AP".[2]

Unlike most churches, its initial goal was to appeal to a young, informal audience, focusing on (but not limited to) adepts of surf culture. The church also seeks to maintain its image associated with the practice of extreme sports such as surfing, skateboarding, running and cycling, among others, and many of its temples have decorations inspired by such sports.[3] As of 2024, Bola de Neve has over 560 temples and cells both in Brazil and in 34 countries around the world,[1][4] and has attracted celebrities such as surfer Gabriel Medina, actors Fernanda Vasconcellos, Guilherme Berenguer and Monique Evans,[5] politicians Alexandre Frota and Cabo Daciolo,[6] gymnast Diego Hypólito,[7] and former Charlie Brown Jr. drummer Renato Pelado.[8]

  1. ^ a b "O que é a igreja Bola de Neve, fundada por apóstolo Rina, que morreu após acidente de moto". BBC News Brasil (in Portuguese). November 18, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Rosana Romão. "Igreja criada por surfista, a Bola de Neve tem altar feito de prancha". Tribuna do Ceará (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 18, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "Conheça a 'Bola de Neve', igreja liderada pelo apóstolo Rina, morto em acidente de moto em SP". O Globo (in Portuguese). November 18, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Bruna Sales (November 18, 2024). "Bola de Neve: conheça igreja fundada por Rina, morto em acidente em SP". Metrópoles (in Portuguese). Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "Marido de Sasha, Medina e mais: Bola de Neve já foi queridinha dos famosos". Splash (in Portuguese). June 16, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Quem é Cabo Daciolo, o candidato que confia sua campanha a Deus". Exame (in Portuguese). September 18, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Saullo Brenner (November 28, 2019). "Diego Hypólito faz namorado virar evangélico após crises amorosas". Metrópoles (in Portuguese). Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Rafael Teixeira (March 4, 2023). "Em culto religioso, Renato Pelado conta sua história como baterista do Charlie Brown Jr". Tenho Mais Discos que Amigos (in Portuguese). Retrieved November 19, 2024.