Associação Evangélica Pentecostal de Nishi-Koizumi
The Associação Evangélica Pentecostal
de Nishi-Koizumi was built in 1993. Its
fifty members are mostly lower middle
class Nikkei-Brazilians, including a
Nikkei-Brazilian pastor. There are also two
Peruvians and one Indian who are members.
The congregation gathers every Saturday and
Sunday night for worship services and every
Wednesday night for prayer meetings, much
like the Igreja Evangélica Assembleia de Deus church. Because the members of this church do not spend much time outside of the factory in places other than the church building, the church serves many functions in addition to being a place of worship. Members can go there to relax and commune with other Nikkei-Brazilians who share their beliefs and experiences. While the church ministers to the congregation's spiritual needs, it also ministers to their material needs. Nikkei-Brazilians can go there to learn the Japanese language. They are also helped to secure jobs and are supported financially by the church when they first come to Japan. Unfortunately, unlike the Igreja Evangélica Assembleia de Deus church which has a committe to take care of these needs, in the Associação Evangélica Pentecostal de Nishi-Koizumi, this responsibility is mainly left to the pastor, which places a huge burden on him.
