Ayupe, Rafael Mário Brizard (1944–1993)

Rafael Mário Ayupe Brizard, pastor and evangelist, was born on October 24, 1944, in the city of Santa Cruz de La Sierra in the county of Santa Cruz, Bolivia.¹ Feeling called to be a pastor, he graduated in Theology from Brazil College (now UNASP-SP) in 1968.² He began denominational work in 1969 as a licensed pastor in the Central Brazil Mission, today a Conference. In this field, he carried out major part of his ministry, serving for 15 years the territories of Brasília and Goiás.³

One of his first evangelistic efforts was in Vila IAPI, a Brasília neighborhood with a needy community. His work was as a pioneer since at the time it did not have an Adventist presence. Evangelistic series’ were held in a rented hall, and the interest was followed by the Voice of Prophecy Bible course, from which 24 people received their certificate of accomplishment. A church was built with great support from the brethren although they didn’t have much in the way of resources, and it was opened on November 29, 1969.⁴

Afterwards, between 1972 and 1973, Ayupe served as a licensed minister in the city of Itumbiara in the state of Goiás.⁵ Following this, in 1974, he participated in an evangelistic campaign along with Pastors Oscar Reis and José Botelho that was held in the city of Teresina in the state of Goiás. Although the city had a strong Catholic presence, 200 families were visited, some of whom were already keeping the Sabbath. The field was prepared through the Voice of Prophecy Bible course and a series of public lectures that began in January 1975. The How to Quit Smoking in 5 Days (Five Day Plan) course given by Dr. Ajax de Silveira, also helped generate interest. In a short period of time, the conference was attended by 300 people, and as a result, many were baptized.⁶ In 1975, Ayupe was ordained to the pastoral ministry,⁷ accepting a call to pastor the district of Formosa in the state of Goiás, where he served from 1975 to 1977.⁸

In 1978, Mário was appointed as pastor of the Central Church of Anápolis, Goiás. Soon after taking over this district, he participated in the building of the local Adventist educational center. At first, the parish school operated in the back of the local church, but around this time, the church received a land donation from city hall, which enabled the construction of a better-structured building in 1978.⁹ Also during this period, in November 1980, Ayupe participated in the organization of the first youth camporee of the Central Brazil Mission. The event was attended by 260 Pathfinders and 120 assistants, and as a result, 141 people were baptized in the territory of the Brazil Central Mission.¹⁰ Ayupe led the Central Church of Anápolis until 1981.¹¹

Later, in 1984, he completed a master's degree in theology from the Latin-American Adventist Seminary. In 1993, he returned to Brazil from a trip to the United States. He felt ill at the time and, at the age of 49, he died in Belo Horizonte in the state of Minas Gerais on December 4, 1993. He was survived by his wife, Léa Nogueira Ayupe.¹²

Although having a short ministry, Pastor Ayupe helped hundreds of people meet the Adventist message. In more than 15 years of pastoral and evangelistic work, he contributed much to the advancement of the Adventist cause in the states of Goiás and Brasília. Noteworthy is his influence in the organization of events for Adventist youth and adolescents in this region.

Sources

“Ayupe, Rafael Mário Brizard obituary.” Revista Adventista 90, no. 5 (May 1994).

Ayupe, Rafael Mário Brizard. “Ergue-se Mais Uma Igreja.” Revista Adventista 65, no. 5 (May 1970).

“Batismos e Camporee de Desbravadores Movimentam Juventude Goiana.” Revista Adventista 75, no. 11 (November 1980).

Burnett, Jaime. “Experiências em Cianorte, Paraná.” Revista Adventista 63, no. 9 (September 1968).

“Escola Adventista de Anápolis.” Adventist Education Network. Accessed May 11, 2020, https://anapolis.educacaoadventista.org.br/.

“Igreja Adventista de Anápolis, GO (Central).” National Adventist Network Memory Center (Online), November 3, 2014.

“Inauguração de Escolas na Missão Brasil-Central.” Revista Adventista 74, no. 7 (July 1979).

Moróz, David. “As Últimas do Brasil-Central.” Revista Adventista 70, no. 1 (January 1975).

Moróz, David. “Seara em Chamas no Brasil Central.” Revista Adventista 69, no. 12 (December 1974).

“Rafael Mário Brizard Ayupe - Academic Report.” In National Adventist Memory Center / Ellen G. White Research Center: UNASP-EC, Coelho Engineer, Shelf: 2. Shelf: 14. Pasta: “Ayupe, Rafael Mário Brizard.” Accessed May 16, 2016.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association. Various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Stencel, Renato and William Timm. “Histórico da Faculdade Adventista de Teologia no Brasil.” Adventist Teaching Institute, 2014.

Notes

1. “Rafael Mário Brizard Ayupe obituary,” Revista Adventista 90, no. 5 (May 1994): 31; Rafael Mário Brizard Ayupe - Academic Report (National Adventist Memory Center Archive/Ellen G. White Research Center: UNASP-EC, Engenheiro Coelho, SP).↩

2. “Rafael Mário Brizard Ayupe obituary,” Revista Adventista 90, no. 5 (May 1994): 31; Stencel, Renato and William Timm, “History of the Adventist School of Theology in Brazil,” (Article, Instituto Adventista de Ensino, 2014), 40.↩

3. “Central Brazil Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1970), 225; “Central Brazil Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1985), 222.↩

4. Rafael Mário Brizard Ayupe, “Ergue-se Mais Uma Igreja,” Revista Adventista 65, no. 5 (May 1970): 24-25.↩

5. “Worker's Directory,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1973, 1974), 503.↩

6. David Moróz, “As Últimas do Brasil-Central,” Revista Adventista 70, no. 1 (January 1975): 11-12; Rafael Mário Brizard Ayupe, “Ergue-se Mais Uma Igreja,” Revista Adventista 65, no. 5 (May 1970): 24-25.↩

7. “Central Brazil Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 258.↩

8. “Worker's Directory,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 570; “Worker's Directory,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1978), 597.↩

9. “Inauguração de Escolas na Missão Brasil-Central,” Revista Adventista 74, no. 7 (July 1979): 35; “Escola Adventista de Anápolis,” Educação Adventista Network, accessed May 11, 2020, https://anapolis.educacaoadventista.org.br/.↩

10. “Batismos e Camporee de Desbravadores Movimentam Juventude Goiana,” Revista Adventista 75, no. 11 (November 1980): 28.↩

11. “Anápolis Adventist Church, GO (Central),” National Center for the Adventist Memory Network, November 03, 2014, accessed March 17, 2020, http://www.memoriaadventista.com.br/wikiasd/index.php?title=Igreja_Adventista_de_An%C3%A1polis,_GO_(Central); “Worker's Directory,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1979), 612; “Worker's Directory,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1982), 653.↩

12. "Necrology 1992-1994," Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1996), 556; “Rafael Mário Brizard Ayupe obituary,” Revista Adventista 90, no. 5 (May 1994): 31.↩