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Jairo Tavares de Araújo

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Araújo, Jairo Tavares de (1916–1999)

By The Brazilian White Center – UNASP

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The Brazilian White Center – UNASP is a team of teachers and students at the Brazilian Ellen G. White Research Center – UNASP at the Brazilian Adventist University, Campus Engenheiro, Coelho, SP. The team was supervised by Drs. Adolfo Semo Suárez, Renato Stencel, and Carlos Flávio Teixeira. Bruno Sales Gomes Ferreira provided technical support. The following names are of team members: Adriane Ferrari Silva, Álan Gracioto Alexandre, Allen Jair Urcia Santa Cruz, Camila Chede Amaral Lucena, Camilla Rodrigues Seixas, Daniel Fernandes Teodoro, Danillo Alfredo Rios Junior, Danilo Fauster de Souza, Débora Arana Mayer, Elvis Eli Martins Filho, Felipe Cardoso do Nascimento, Fernanda Nascimento Oliveira, Gabriel Pilon Galvani, Giovana de Castro Vaz, Guilherme Cardoso Ricardo Martins, Gustavo Costa Vieira Novaes, Ingrid Sthéfane Santos Andrade, Isabela Pimenta Gravina, Ivo Ribeiro de Carvalho, Jhoseyr Davison Voos dos Santos, João Lucas Moraes Pereira, Kalline Meira Rocha Santos, Larissa Menegazzo Nunes, Letícia Miola Figueiredo, Luan Alves Cota Mól, Lucas Almeida dos Santos, Lucas Arteaga Aquino, Lucas Dias de Melo, Matheus Brabo Peres, Mayla Magaieski Graepp, Milena Guimarães Silva, Natália Padilha Corrêa, Rafaela Lima Gouvêa, Rogel Maio Nogueira Tavares Filho, Ryan Matheus do Ouro Medeiros, Samara Souza Santos, Sergio Henrique Micael Santos, Suelen Alves de Almeida, Talita Paim Veloso de Castro, Thais Cristina Benedetti, Thaís Caroline de Almeida Lima, Vanessa Stehling Belgd, Victor Alves Pereira, Vinicios Fernandes Alencar, Vinícius Pereira Nascimento, Vitória Regina Boita da Silva, William Edward Timm, Julio Cesar Ribeiro, Ellen Deó Bortolotte, Maria Júlia dos Santos Galvani, Giovana Souto Pereira, Victor Hugo Vaz Storch, and Dinely Luana Pereira.

 

 

First Published: January 29, 2020

Jairo Tavares de Araújo, minister, educator, and administrator, was born in 1916 in the city of Timbaúba, state of Pernambuco, Brazil. He was the oldest child1 of Jerônimo Leopoldo de Araújo and Silverina Amélia de Araújo.2 From his parents’ union another nine children were born.3

He lived a rural life as a child and from an early age he helped his father farm the land. He went to elementary school in his home town.4 His family belonged to the Christian Congregational Church in Brazil. They became acquainted with the Adventist faith through the influence of José Inácio Pereira, Jairo’s uncle, who worked as the evangelism assistant of Pastor Gustavo Storch. Along with his parents and siblings, Jairo was baptized at the end of a public evangelism series around 19305 in the city of Recife, state of Pernambuco.6

In 1934, at the age of 18, Jairo went to the city of Recife to complete his elementary and high school education at the Pernambucano Gymnasium.7 In 1936, at the end of the last term of high school, Pastor Domingos Peixoto da Silva visited the city and encouraged the Adventist youth to study theology at Brazil College. Jairo decided to become an Adventist pastor8 and he graduated with a degree in theology in 1939.9 That year he also married Malaquê Nigri,10 who was born September 8, 1916.11 She contributed to the Adventist Church by working in various departments of the denomination.12 From this union, Jairo Tavares Araújo Júnior was born.13

Jairo began his work as the evangelism assistant of Pastor Gustavo Storch. On May 1, 1940,14 he began work as an evangelistic pastor in his first church in the city of Maceió, in the state of Alagoas.15 The following year he was appointed head of the departments of Education, Youth, and Missionary Work in the Northeast Mission.16 In 1945 he became director and teacher of the newly founded Instituto Rural Adventista do Nordeste (Northeast Brazil Academy) in the city of Belém Maria, Pernambuco.17 In 1947 he led the Youth and Education departments in the Rio-Minas Gerais Mission.18

The following year he went to the United States with the intention of improving his academic knowledge. He began the bachelor’s degree in theology at Emmanuel Missionary College, currently known as Andrews University, where he graduated in 1950.19 He then returned to Brazil and became director of the Petrópolis Adventist Academy where he remained until 1951.20 The following year he was appointed director of the Education and Youth departments in the East Brazil Union. He held this position until the end of 1953,21 while also serving as a member of the Administrative Board of the Rio de Janeiro Hospital.22

In 1954 Jairo accepted an invitation to serve the church at the South American Division23 as the leader of the Youth Department. He worked there for nearly seven years,24 while simultaneously leading the Temperance Department during 1954,25 1955,26 and 1958.27 While he held these positions, he lost his dear wife on December 26, 1958,28 at the age of 42.29

In 1960, during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Adventist Youth Society, he launched a public challenge for people to create pathfinder clubs in Brazil, such as those which already existed in neighboring countries. At the same time, he was responsible for preparing a manual on how to establish clubs. With the initiative of Pastor Wilson Sarli, then director of the Youth Department of the São Paulo Conference, along with Pastor Nazaré Bronze, the first Pathfinders Club in Brazil was established in March 1961 in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo.30

In 1960 Jairo married Dílcia Iolita Heiden31 (1938-2001).32 From this union two children were born—Naira and Nei.33 In April of 196134 he was appointed to serve as the principal of the Brazil College.35 Under his administration there were significant improvements in the college campus.36 He also promoted a curriculum adjustment in keeping with the new Brazilian Educational Law, while making an effort to preserve Adventist educational principles.37 While at Brazil College, Jairo also served as pastor of the campus church during 1962.38 He left this school in 196639 so he could return to the United States to get his Master of Divinity degree at Andrews University (1966-1968).40

Following his graduation, he accepted an invitation to teach Systematic Theology, Applied Theology, and New Testament at Brazil College.41 Simultaneously he was pastor of the campus church in 1974,42 while continuing as a teacher until 1975.43 From 1978 until his retirement in 1981,44 he served as chaplain of the vegetarian restaurants of Superbom, the Adventist food factory.

Following retirement, Jairo moved to the city of Artur Nogueira, São Paulo, where he served as first elder of the Central Adventist Church.45 He died in 1999 at age 83 in the city of São Paulo, leaving three children and four grandchildren. He was buried in the cemetery of Santo Amaro, São Paulo.46

Jairo’s contributed to the Adventist Church by leading the Education and Youth departments in several levels of the Church, serving as teacher or administrator at three important educational centers, and helping to fund the first Pathfinder clubs in Brazil.

Sources

Araújo, Jairo. “Os Dezoito de Maceió.” Revista Adventista, year 36, special edition, May, 1941, 12. Accessed on April 26, 2017, http://acervo.revistaAdventista.com.br/.

Beatriz, Fernanda. “Inaugurado Instituto Adventista Pernambucano de Ensino.” Notícias Adventistas (Online), February 28, 2014.

Bleck, Günther Haroldo. “Novas da Colina Iaense.” Revista Adventista, year 63, n. 12, December, 1968, 30. Accessed on April 26, 2017, http://acervo.revistaAdventista.com.br/.

Brown, J L. “Marcos Milionários de Progresso na União Este-Brasileira.” Revista Adventista, year 37, n. 01, January, 1942, 7-8. Accessed on April 26, 2017, http://acervo.revistaAdventista.com.br/.

Campolongo, A. “Inaugurados em Registro um Templo e um Ambulatório Médico.” Revista Adventista, year 61, n. 04, April, 1966, 19. Accessed on April 26, 2017, http://acervo.revistaAdventista.com.br/.

Cardoso, Almir Lopes. “A vida do Pastor Jairo Tavares de Araújo.” Monograph, Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, Campus Engenheiro Coelho, 1996.

de Araújo, Jairo. “Escola Adventista de Belém.” Revista Adventista, year 38, n. 07, July, 1943, 9. Accessed on April 26, 2017, http://acervo.revistaAdventista.com.br/.

de Araújo, Jairo. “Progresso no Nordeste.” Revista Adventista, year 38, n. 07, July, 1943, 23. Accessed on April 26, 2017, http://acervo.revistaAdventista.com.br/.

“Dílcia Iolita Heiden de Araújo.” Revista Adventista, year 97, n. 01, January, 2001, 36. Accessed on August 24, 2016, http://acervo.revistaadventista.com.br/.

“Igreja Adventista de São Paulo, SP (UNASP-SP).” Centro Nacional da Memória Adventista (Online), February 12, 2015.

Malaquê Nigri’s biography. In: Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G White Research Center: UNASP-EC, also known as New Adventist Brazil College, Engenheiro Coelho, SP. Shelf: 2. Rack: 13. Folder: “Araújo, Malaquê Nigri.” Accessed on September 26, 2016.

Nigri, Moisés S. “As Escolas do Nordeste,” Revista Adventista, year 36, n. 06, June, 1941, 14. Accessed on April 26, 2017, http://acervo.revistaAdventista.com.br/.

Nigri, Moisés. “Pelo Norte e Nordeste - Notas de viajem.” Revista Adventista, year 55, n. 06, June, 1960, 26. Accessed on August 24, 2016, http://acervo.revistaadventista.com.br/.

“O Começo no Brasil.” Revista Adventista, year 96, n. 04, April, 2000, 8. Accessed on March 6, 2017, http://acervo.revistaadventista.com.br/.

Santos, Luís Henrique, editor. Muito Além do Ensino: UNASP - 100 anos de história (1915-2015). Tatuí, SP: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 2015.

Scheffel, Rubem. “Culto do Templo do IAE.” Revista Adventista, year 71, n. 01, January, 1976, 15. Accessed on April 27, 2017, http://acervo.revistaadventista.com.br/.

Serafino, Hélio I. “Novas da Colina Iaense.” Revista Adventista, year 56, n. 12, December, 1961, 30. Accessed on April 26, 2017, http://acervo.revistaAdventista.com.br/.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1951-56, 1959, 1961-62, 1965-66, 1970, 1976-80. Accessed on September 20, 2016, http://docs.Adventistarchives.org/docs/YB/YB1943 [etc]__B.pdf#view=fit.

Waldvogel, Isolina A. “Malaquê.” Revista Adventista, year 54, n. 03, March, 1959, 38. Accessed on August 24, 2016, http://acervo.revistaadventista.com.br/.

Notes

  1. Luís Henrique Santos, ed., Muito Além do Ensino: UNASP - 100 anos de história (1915-2015) (Tatuí, SP: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 2015), 179.

  2. Almir Lopes Cardoso, “A vida do Pastor Jairo Tavares de Araújo” (Monograph, Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, Campus Engenheiro Coelho, 1996), 2.

  3. Nathan Araújo, interviewed by Ivo Ribeiro de Carvalho, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho, São Paulo, October 24, 2016.

  4. Almir Lopes Cardoso, “A vida do Pastor Jairo Tavares de Araújo” (Monograph, Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, Campus Engenheiro Coelho, 1996), 8-9.

  5. Ibid., 2-4.

  6. Nathan Araújo, interviewed by Ivo Ribeiro de Carvalho, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho, São Paulo, October 24, 2016.

  7. Almir Lopes Cardoso, “A vida do Pastor Jairo Tavares de Araújo” (Monograph, Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, Campus Engenheiro Coelho, 1996), 8, 13.

  8. Ibid., 9.

  9. Luís Henrique Santos, ed., Muito Além do Ensino: UNASP - 100 anos de história (1915-2015) (Tatuí, SP: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 2015), 179.

  10. Luís Henrique Santos, ed., Muito Além do Ensino: UNASP - 100 anos de história (1915-2015) (Tatuí, SP: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 2015), 179.

  11. Malaquê Nigri’s Biography (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G White Research Center: UNASP-EC, also known as New Adventist Brazil College, Engenheiro Coelho, SP).

  12. Malaquê Nigri’s Biography (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G White Research Center: UNASP-EC, also known as New Adventist Brazil College, Engenheiro Coelho, SP).; and Nigri, Moisés S, “As Escolas do Nordeste,” Revista Adventista, year 36, n. 06, June, 1941, 14.

  13. Luís Henrique Santos, ed, Muito Além do Ensino: UNASP - 100 anos de história (1915-2015) (Tatuí, SP: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 2015), 179.

  14. Almir Lopes Cardoso, “A vida do Pastor Jairo Tavares de Araújo” (Monograph, Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, Campus Engenheiro Coelho, 1996), 2.

  15. Malaquê Nigri’s Biography (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center: UNASP-EC, also known as New Adventist Brazil College, Engenheiro Coelho, SP).; Araújo, Jairo, “Os Dezoito de Maceió,” Revista Adventista, year 36, n. 05, May, 1941, 12.; and Brown, J L, “Marcos Milionários de Progresso na União Este-Brasileira,” Revista Adventista, year 37, January, 1942, 8.

  16. “Northeast Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1943), 146; and “Northeast Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1944), 143.

  17. “Northeast Brazil Rural Institute,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1946), 253.; and Nigri, Moisés, “Pelo Norte e Nordeste - Notas de viajem,” Revista Adventista, year 55, n. 06, June, 1960, 26.

  18. “Rio-Minas Gerais Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1948), 148.

  19. Almir Lopes Cardoso, “A vida do Pastor Jairo Tavares de Araújo” (Monograph, Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, Campus Engenheiro Coelho, 1996), 14, 18.

  20. “Northeast Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1951), 249; and “East Brazil Academy,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 237.

  21. “East Brazil Union,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1953), 166; and “East Brazil Union,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1954), 167.

  22. “Rio de Janeiro Sanitarium and Hospital,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1953), 297; and “Rio de Janeiro Hospital,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1954), 309.

  23. “South American,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1955), 12.

  24. “South American,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1955), 12; and "South American," Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1961), 14.

  25. “South American,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1955), 12.

  26. “South American,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1956), 12.

  27. “South American,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1959), 14.

  28. Waldvogel, Isolina A, “Malaquê,” Revista Adventista, year 54, n. 03, March, 1959, 38.

  29. Almir Lopes Cardoso, “A vida do Pastor Jairo Tavares de Araújo” (Monograph, Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, Campus Engenheiro Coelho, 1996), 12.

  30. “O Começo no Brasil,” Revista Adventista, year 96, n. 04, April, 2000, 8.

  31. Almir Lopes Cardoso, “A vida do Pastor Jairo Tavares de Araújo” (Monograph, Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, Campus Engenheiro Coelho, 1996), 12.

  32. “Dílcia Iolita Heiden de Araújo,” Revista Adventista, year 97, n. 01, January, 2001, 36.

  33. Luís Henrique Santos, ed., Muito Além do Ensino: UNASP - 100 anos de história (1915-2015) (Tatuí, SP: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 2015), 179.

  34. Serafino, Hélio I, “Novas da Colina Iaense,” Revista Adventista, year 56, n. 12, December, 1961, 30.

  35. “Brazil College,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1962), 239.

  36. Luís Henrique Santos, ed., Muito Além do Ensino: UNASP - 100 anos de história (1915-2015) (Tatuí, SP: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 2015), 179.

  37. Ibid, 98.

  38. “Igreja Adventista de São Paulo, SP (UNASP-SP),” Centro Nacional da Memória Adventista, February 12, 2015, accessed on April 27, 2017, http://www.memoriaAdventista.com.br/wikiasd/index.php?title=Igreja_Adventista_de_S%C3%A3o_Paulo,_SP_(UNASP-SP).

  39. “Brazil College,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1965/1966), 281.; Campolongo, A, “Inaugurados em Registro um Templo e um Ambulatório Médico,” Revista Adventista, year 61, n. 04, April, 1966, 19.

  40. Almir Lopes Cardoso, “A vida do Pastor Jairo Tavares de Araújo”" (Monograph, Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, Campus Engenheiro Coelho, 1996), 14.

  41. “Brazil College,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1970), 306; “Brazil College,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 313; and Bleck, Günther Haroldo, “Novas da Colina Iaense,” Revista Adventista, year 63, n. 12, December, 1968, 30.

  42. “Igreja Adventista de São Paulo, SP (UNASP-SP),” Centro Nacional da Memória Adventista, February 12, 2015, accessed on April 27, 2017, http://www.memoriaAdventista.com.br/wikiasd/index.php?title=Igreja_Adventista_de_S%C3%A3o_Paulo,_SP_(UNASP-SP).

  43. “Brazil College,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1970), 306; and “Brazil College,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 313.

  44. Almir Lopes Cardoso, “A vida do Pastor Jairo Tavares de Araújo” (Monograph, Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo, Campus Engenheiro Coelho, 1996), 19-20.

  45. Ibid, 21.

  46. Nathan Araújo, interviewed by Ivo Ribeiro de Carvalho, Ellen G White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho, São Paulo, October 24, 2016.

×

UNASP, The Brazilian White Center –. "Araújo, Jairo Tavares de (1916–1999)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 29, 2020. Accessed June 12, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=8GDA.

UNASP, The Brazilian White Center –. "Araújo, Jairo Tavares de (1916–1999)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 29, 2020. Date of access June 12, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=8GDA.

UNASP, The Brazilian White Center – (2020, January 29). Araújo, Jairo Tavares de (1916–1999). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved June 12, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=8GDA.