Passos, João Rodrigues dos (1905–1988)

João Batista Rodrigues dos Passos, teacher, dean, and pastor, was born to José Rodrigues dos Passos and Maria Emília dos Passos on December 13, 1905, in the city of Rolante, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. His family consisted of his mother and a sister because his father died the same year he was born.¹ João spent his childhood in his hometown, where he was one of the first students of the Rolante Adventist school between 1907 and 1913,² and was baptized in 1918. Ten years later, on April 2, 1928, he married Elsa Marquart (b. 1910) in the city of Santo Antônio da Patrulha; from this union were born Elsy and Anita.³

He entered Adventist work in the educational field in 1931, teaching at Rolante Adventist School until 1936.⁴ During 1935, he studied theology at the Brazil College (now Central Adventist University of Sao Paulo), but did not finish. In early 1937, he accepted a call to be dean of men at Cruzeiro do Sul Adventist Academy in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. In addition, from 1938 to 1940, he was also director of the youth and education departments of the Rio Grande do Sul Conference.⁵ Afterwards, from 1941 to 1945, he was dean of men and Bible teacher at East Brazil Academy (now Petropolis Adventist Academy), in the state of Rio de Janeiro.⁶

Following that, from 1946 to 1950, he contributed to the Adventist youth ministry as director of the youth department in Rio-Espírito Santo Mission. Meanwhile, in 1949, he was ordained to the pastoral ministry and in 1951, accepted a call to lead the same department in the Rio Grande do Sul Conference where he served for four years. Not long after that, in 1955, he returned to Cruzeiro do Sul Adventist Academy, now as director of the institution, serving there for one year. In 1956, he led the youth department of Rio Grande do Sul Conference. The following year he was invited to lead Cruzeiro do Sul Adventist Academy for a second time and served there until 1959.⁷

At the end of his career, João Passos left the educational area and accepted a call to be a district pastor. Between 1960 and 1964 he pastored churches at Cachoeira do Sul and Taquara, both cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. In 1964, he led the Sabbath school department of Rio Grande do Sul Conference.⁸ João Batista retired in 1966⁹ and moved to São Paulo city where he worked in a factory owned by his son-in-law. After that, he moved to the city of Taquara and later to the city of Peruíbe, on the coast of São Paulo. He passed away on February 7, 1988, at 82 years of age in Peruíbe, where he was also buried. The funeral was officiated by Pastor Walter Boger, former director of Brazil College.¹⁰

During his 36 years of ministry as a teacher, dean of men, youth department secretary and director of a boarding school, Pastor João Batista Rodrigues dos Passos had the opportunity to influence many young people through his Christian testimony. He is remembered for his enthusiasm, abilities, and dedication, as well as being a person who left many friends wherever he passed by.¹¹

Sources

“João Batista Rodrigues dos Passos (1905-1988).” Revista Adventista, July 1988.

Pasini, André M. Memorial do Instituto Adventista Cruzeiro do Sul. São Paulo, SP: Instituto Adventista de Ensino, 1988.

Passos, João (1905–1988), Collection of the National Adventist Memory Center Archive /Ellen G. White Research Center: Brazil Adventist University-Engenheiro Coelho Campus, Bookcase 2, Shelf 7, Folder João Passos.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association. Various years.

Notes

1. “João Batista Rodrigues dos Passos (1905-1988),” Revista Adventista, July 1988, 31; André M. Pasini, Memorial do Instituto Adventista Cruzeiro do Sul (São Paulo, SP: Instituto Adventista de Ensino, 1988), 49, 50; Jeane Penna, interviewed by Ryan Medeiros, Engenheiro Coelho, São Paulo, May 9, 2019.↩

2. “Setenta Anos Educando,” Revista Adventista, December 1983, 30; Pinheiro, Paulo, “Escola mais antiga do Brasil faz 75 anos,” Revista Adventista, May 1989, 26; Pasini, 49.↩

3. “João dos Passos,” Revista Adventista, 31; Pasini, 49, 50; Penna, interview; Registro de João Passos, Collection of the National Adventist Memory Center Archive /Ellen G. White Research Center: Brazil Adventist University-Engenheiro Coelho Campus.↩

4. Pasini, 49, 50; “Rio Grande do Sul Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1932), 243; “Rio Grande do Sul Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1938), 185.↩

5. Pasini, 49, 50; Penna, interview; “Rio Grande do Sul Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1939), 189; “Rio Grande do Sul Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1941), 192.↩

6. Pasini, 49, 50; Penna, interview; “Rio Grande do Sul Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1942), 209; “Rio Grande do Sul Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1946), 237.↩

7. “João dos Passos,” Revista Adventista, 31; Pasini, 49, 50; “Rio Espírito Santo Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1950), 161; Penna, interview.↩

8. “João dos Passos,” Revista Adventista, 31; Pasini, 49, 50; “Rio Espírito Santo Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 161; Penna, interview.↩

9. “João dos Passos,” Revista Adventista, 31.↩

10. Ibid.; Penna, interview.↩

11. “João dos Passos,” Revista Adventista, 31; Pasini, 50.↩