Matos, Admir Josafá Arrais de (1951–1999)

Admir Josafá Arrais de Matos was a teacher, scientist, writer, and lecturer in Brazil.

Admir Josafá Arrais de Matos was born May 8, 1951, in Dracena, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Admir was born into a peasant family which earned its living as farmers. In addition to him, his parents, Francisco Arrais de Matos and Benedita Sionti de Matos, had five other children: Juvenil, Janete (Guzman), Joel, Jonas, and Josmar. He was raised in a natural environment of plants, animals, flowers, and trees, and this would influence him for the rest of his life.¹

His parents embraced the Adventist message when he was still a child.² In 1958, due to financial problems, they migrated to the city of São Paulo where Admir was baptized two years later at the age of nine. After his conversion, his father changed his line of work and served as a canvasser for many years, selling denominational literature throughout the countryside cities of São Paulo state.³

Admir completed middle school at São Paulo Academy (now UNASP-HT), city of Hortolândia, in 1967.⁴ Afterwards he attended the first two years of high school at Brazil College (now UNASP-SP), completing high school at Instituto Educacional Canadá, city of Santos, in 1970.⁵ The following year he attended the College of Philosophy, Science, and Languages of Santos, and acquired a degree in science in 1974.⁶ As a student, he was already teaching science, mathematics, and art at a state school at night.⁷

When he graduated, Admir accepted a call to teach at São Paulo Academy at the invitation of Pastor Tércio Sarli, the general director.⁸ It was during this period that he met Maria Ângela Stencel, whom he married on July 6, 1975. The couple had three children: Rogério, Gerson, and Gianina.⁹

In 1976 he entered the Biology program of the Catholic University of Campinas (PUC), completing it a year later.¹⁰ In 1978 he began study in a master’s program in cellular and molecular biology at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). In 1980 he accepted a call to teach physical and biological sciences for the high school at Brazil College, where he worked for the following 12 years.¹¹ In 1983 he completed his master’s degree with a dissertation entitled: Crescimento, Germinação, Conidiação e Resistência a Luz Ultravioleta de Linhagens de Metarhizium Anisopliae [Growth, Germination, Conidiation, and Resistance to Ultraviolet Light of Metarhizium Anisopliae Strains].¹²

In 1984 he was appointed as a teacher for the nursing higher education program of Brazil College for parasitology, immunology, cytology, and histology, among others.¹³ By this time he was engaged in the pioneer project of creating science textbooks with a creationist approach for the Adventist Educational Network in Brazil. Writing with teacher Nair Elias dos Santos Ebling, their first workbook was published by Brazil Publishing House in 1985 for the 5th grade of elementary school.¹⁴ In addition to being innovative, the material was widely accepted in other confessional schools.¹⁵ From then on, Brazil Publishing House continued to publish the science textbooks written by Admir and Nair, for students from the 6th grade onwards.¹⁶

In 1988 Admir completed a doctoral program on genetics of microorganisms from the State University of Campinas, publishing the thesis entitled Germinação Conidial em Metarhizium Anisopliae (Metsch) Sorokin [Conidial Germination in Metarhizium Anisopliae (Metsch) Sorokin].¹⁷

The administrative board of Brazil College decided to open a higher education program on sciences, and Arrais was chosen to coordinate the process. The course was founded in 1985 but became official in December 1988. Admir was the first director of the science faculty of Brazil College from 1985 to 1991. In order to be better qualified for this position, in 1990 he graduated with a degree in pedagogy from Brazil College.¹⁸

In 1992 Admir Arrais was appointed director of academic affairs for the new campus of Brazil College, located in the city of Engenheiro Coelho, state of São Paulo, a position he held until 1996. Over this period, he also coordinated the University Press and the Center for Integration of Faith and Teaching. In addition, he taught general biology for higher education.¹⁹

In January 1993, Admir was a lecturer at the first National Meeting of Creationists which took place at Brazil College, São Paulo campus, sponsored by the sciences program.²⁰ The following year, also at Brazil College, he participated in the 14th Seminar on Integration of Faith and Teaching, organized by the Institute of Christian Education of the General Conference.²¹

In 1997 he had the opportunity to study for one year at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he completed his postdoctoral degree in education.²² At the same time, Brazil College held the launching ceremony of the new Brazil Publishing House’s textbooks for students from the 2nd to the 5th grade of elementary school, written by Admir Arrais and Nair dos Santos.²³

On returning to Brazil in February 1998, he was reappointed as director of Academic Affairs at Brazil College, campus Engenheiro Coelho. During this period, the education department of the Rio Grande do Sul Conference organized the “Update” project, in the city of Santo Ângelo, where Admir spoke to all Adventist teachers in the field, aiming to expand their knowledge and acquaint them with new teaching techniques and methodologies, stressing the importance of getting students to do critical thinking, guided by moral and ethical principles.²⁴ During May 23 and 24 of the same year, he lectured on the origin of life at the first Regional Creationist Congress, held at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), in Minas Gerais.²⁵

In September 1998, Admir learned he had a tumor in his intestine. After successful surgery, he continued to produce academic materials until March 29, 1999, when he felt ill again and was sent to the hospital. He died on March 30, in the city of Campinas, at the early age of 47.²⁶ In May 2001, the Admir Arrais Laboratory Complex was inaugurated at UNASP-SP in honor of the pioneer educator.²⁷

Admir Arrais served the SDA Church for 25 years, teaching on what today are the three UNASP campuses: São Paulo, Engenheiro Coelho, and Hortolândia. During his career, he gave lectures on education and creationism throughout Brazil, in churches, universities, and business meetings. In summits for teachers, he lectured on science teaching and teaching methodology, in addition to conducting summer courses at Brazil College on methodology and philosophy in the area of science for Adventist teachers. His main message was that the art of teaching science was primarily aimed at preparing people for heaven.²⁸ As a writer he also published several books, among them Anatomia e Fisiologia Humana [Human Anatomy and Physiology] (1983) and O Heroi da Ciência Moderna [The hero of modern science].²⁹ Arrais left an immense legacy for Adventist education in Brazil by defending biblical truths in the area of science.³⁰

Sources

“Casa lança livros de ciências.” Revista Adventista, vol. 93, no. 3, March 1997.

“Congresso Criacionista debate o enigma do tempo.” Revista Adventista, vol. 97, no. 1, January 2001.

“Criacionismo em pauta.” Revista Adventista, vol. 94, no. 8, August 1998.

“Criacionistas reúnem-se no IAE.” Revista Adventista, vol. 89, no. 3, March 1993.

“Didáticos – Nova Frente Evangelística.” Revista Adventista, vol. 86, no. 7, July 1990.

“Faculdade Adventista de Ciências (FAC).” Adventist National Memory Center, October 7, 2013. Accessed May 8, 2020. http://www.memoriaadventista.com.br/wikiasd/index.php?title=Faculdade_Adventista_de_Ci%C3%AAncias_(FAC).

Gazeta, Sônia M. M.. “Admir Josafá Arrais Matos.” Adventist National Memory Center, September 18, 2013. Accessed May 8, 2020, http://www.memoriaadventista.com.br/wikiasd/index.php?title=Admir_Josaf%C3%A1_Arrais_Matos.

“Encontro avalia crescimento dos didáticos da Casa.” Revista Adventista, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1995.

“Ensino atualizado.” Revista Adventista, vol. 94, April 1998.

“Admir Arrais obituary.” Revista Adventista, vol. 95, no. 5, May 1999.

“IAE sedia seminário da Associação Geral.” Revista Adventista, vol. 90, no. 11, November 1994.

In Memorian. Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center: UNASP-EC, Engenheiro Coelho, shelf 2, stand 7, folder/box: “Matos, Admir Josafá Arrais de.” Accessed May 27, 2019.

Matos, Admir Josafá Arrais de; Almeida, Garcia Rodrigues de. Anatomia e fisiologia humana.1st edition, São Paulo, SP: Brazil College, 1983.

Matos, Admir Josafá Arrais de. O Herói da ciência moderna (ciência e religião). 1st edition, São Paulo, SP: Brazil College, 1983.

Morais, Ana Lúcia Duarte. “Vida e Obras de Dr. Admir Josafá Arrais de Matos.” Monograph, Brazil College, 1989.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1982, 1983.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Hagerstown, MD.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1999.

“Tijolos do conhecimento.” Revista Adventista, vol. 97, no. 6, June 2001.

Notes

1. Ana Lúcia Duarte Morais, “Vida e Obras de Dr. Admir Josafá Arrais de Matos” (Monograph, Brazil College, 1989), 4.↩

2. Gerson Arrais, interviewed by Luan Alves, Engenheiro Coelho, São Paulo, May 20, 2019.↩

3. Morais, 4-5; and “Falecimentos,” Revista Adventista, vol. 95, no. 5, May 1999, 28.↩

4. Morais, 6; Gazeta, Sônia M. M., “Admir Josafá Arrais Matos,” Adventist National Memory Center, September 18, 2013, accessed May 8, 2020, http://www.memoriaadventista.com.br/wikiasd/index.php?title=Admir_Josaf%C3%A1_Arrais_Matos.↩

5. Gerson Arrais, interviewed by Luan Alves, Engenheiro Coelho, São Paulo, May 20, 2019; Gazeta, “Admir Josafá Arrais Matos.”↩

6. Morais, 7.↩

7. Ibid., 10; Gazeta, “Admir Josafá Arrais Matos.”↩

8. Gazeta, “Admir Josafá Arrais Matos.”↩

9. Morais, 8.↩

10. Ibid.↩

11. “Brazil College,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1983), 370; Morais, 10.↩

12. Morais, 7, 10, 29.↩

13. Gazeta, “Admir Josafá Arrais Matos.”↩

14. Ibid.; Morais, 21.↩

15. “Encontro avalia crescimento dos didáticos da Casa,” Revista Adventista, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1995, 19.↩

16. “Didáticos – Nova Frente Evangelística,” Revista Adventista, vol. 86, no. 7, July 1990, 13.↩

17. Morais, 7, 29.↩

18. Gazeta, “Admir Josafá Arrais Matos”; “Faculdade Adventista de Ciências (FAC).” Adventist National Memory Center, October 7, 2013, accessed May 8, 2020, http://www.memoriaadventista.com.br/wikiasd/index.php?title=Faculdade_Adventista_de_Ci%C3%AAncias_(FAC).↩

19. Gazeta, “Admir Josafá Arrais Matos”; “Brazil College-Central Campus,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1993), 352; “Brazil College-Central Campus,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1997), 388.↩

20. “Criacionistas reúnem-se no IAE,” Revista Adventista, vol. 89, no. 3, March 1993, 13.↩

21. “IAE sedia seminário da Associação Geral,” Revista Adventista, vol. 90, no. 11, November 1994, 19.↩

22. Gazeta, “Admir Josafá Arrais Matos.”↩

23. “Casa lança livros de ciências,” Revista Adventista, vol. 93, no. 3, March 1997, 26.↩

24. “Ensino atualizado,” Revista Adventista, vol. 94, no. 4, April 1998, 18.↩

25. “Criacionismo em pauta,” Revista Adventista, vol. 94, no. 8, August 1998, 15.↩

26. “Admir Arrais obituary,” Revista Adventista, vol. 95, no. 5, May 1999, 28; Gazeta, “Admir Josafá Arrais Matos”; In Memorian (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center, UNASP-EC.↩

27. “Tijolos do conhecimento,” Revista Adventista, vol. 97, no. 6, June 2001, 24.↩

28. Morais, 15-17.↩

29. Admir J. Arrais de Matos e Garcia Rodrigues de Almeida, Anatomia e fisiologia humana (São Paulo, SP: Instituto Adventista de Ensino, 1983); Admir Josafá Arrais de Matos, O Herói da ciência moderna (ciência e religião) (São Paulo, SP: Brazil College, 1983).↩

30. In Memorian (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center: UNASP-EC, Engenheiro Coelho, SP 26; “Falecimentos,” Revista Adventista, vol. 95, no. 5, May 1999, 28.↩