Reis, Homero Luiz dos (1935–2020)

Homero Luiz dos Reis was a Brazilian pastor, educator, and administrator. He was born on February 12, 1935, in the city of Carazinho, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Since he was raised in a Christian home, his parents, Rodolfo Luiz dos Reis (1907-1998) and Izabel Gomes dos Reis (1907-1966) dreamed that their eldest son would become a pastor from an early age. Homero and his younger brothers, Valdomiro (1936-2019) and Darcy (1938-2021), grew up in a simple home without many amenities. Therefore, his parents’ dream was not achieved easily.¹ In 1946, at just 12 years of age, after completing his primary education at a local public school the previous year, he commenced employment at a furniture factory. After working hard 12 hours a day for four years, he started middle school, at age 16, at the Adventist Institute Cruzeiro do Sul in Taquara, Rio Grande do Sul, completing it in 1954.²

Continuing his studies, he began high school at the Brazil Adventist College in the city of São Paulo, graduating in 1957. Fulfilling his and his parents’ dream, he graduated in Theology from Brazil Adventist College in 1961. Furthering his knowledge, he studied Pedagogy at the Faculdade Porto-Alegrense de Filosofia, Ciência e Letras in Porto Alegre in 1973. Furthermore, he completed a Master’s Degree in Education and School Administration in 1977 from Andrews University, and a specialization in Higher Education Methodology in 1982 at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica in Minas Gerais. In 2009 after his retirement, he graduated in Law at the University of Santo Amaro (Unisa) in São Paulo, a dream he had since his youth.³

During the second year of middle school, he met his soon-to-be wife, Elcy da Rocha Reis (1935-2022), then Elcy Schwantes da Rocha, born on August 6, 1935, in Taquari, Rio Grande do Sul, and the two got married on June 22, 1959, in the city of São Paulo. Elcy worked at Belém’s Adventist Hospital in the Pharmacy Department, was the chief secretary of the Nursing School of the former Brazil Adventist College, now Brazil Adventist University (UNASP campus São Paulo), and acted as secretary as Homero served at the South Brazil Union and Central Brazil Conferences. They had three children: Queila Reis de Carvalho on October 2, 1960, Homero Luiz dos Reis Filho on June 26, 1963, and Vera Rocha Reis Lellis on September 5, 1970.⁴ His son, Homero Luiz dos Reis Filho, was born shortly after Homero was transferred to Cachoeira do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. However, the child passed away just three days after birth, apparently the victim of medical error.⁵

Pastor Reis’ ministry began in 1962 when he received a call to be an assistant at the Central Church of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. After becoming a district pastor of the Floresta Church in 1964, also in Porto Alegre, he served in the Departmental of Education at the Sul-Riograndense Conference from 1966 onwards. This position needed to be held by an ordained pastor, so Homero received his ordination on January 11, 1966. His next assignment was at the Northern Brazilian Union, where he stayed from 1971 to 1976 and later from 1978 to 1980. In that capacity, he played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Agricultural School in Manaus, now known as the Adventist Agricultural-Industrial Academy. Additionally, he was a founding figure in the Technical Department of the Agro-Industrial Adventist Trans-Amazon Academy.⁶

In 1980, he became the student’s director and professor of the Theology and Pedagogy majors at the Brazil Adventist University, São Paulo campus, a position he held for five years. Due to his striking experience in the canvassing ministry, he made it a mandatory component of the Theology major, having students canvassing for at least two break periods. He received an invitation to work as a departmental member of the Central Union, a position he held from 1985 to 1986 when he was transferred to Goiás as president of the Central Brazil Association, where he stayed from 1987 to 1992. He returned to São Paulo in 1993 to serve as director of university expansion at the Brazil Adventist University, Engenheiro Coelho campus, until 2000.⁷ In addition to contributing to the introduction of numerous major degrees while holding the position, he played a significant role in the legal accreditation of the former Brazil Adventist College into the Brazil Adventist University.⁸ He remained an active member of deliberative and executive committees on the Higher Education Councils of both UNASP and Unisa until 2005.⁹

In addition to his educational work, Homero enjoyed being involved with student associations and teaching Bible studies, particularly on the topic of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. He was also interested in table tennis, winning numerous medals throughout his career in the sport.¹⁰

Pastor Homero Luiz dos Reis, after 45 years of service to the Lord, retired in 2005. Recognized as a great administrator and educator, he passed away on July 13, 2020, in the city of São Paulo, at 85 years of age.¹¹

Sources

“Memória.” Revista Adventista 115, no. 1361 (September 2020).

Silva, Danielson. “Uma Pesquisa Sobre a Vida do Pastor Homero Reis.” Monograph, Instituto Adventista de Ensino, 2000.

Notes

1. Danielson Silva, “Uma Pesquisa Sobre a Vida do Pastor Homero Reis,” Monograph (Instituto Adventista de Ensino, 2000): 2; Vera Rocha Reis Lellis, interviewed by Melissa Querido, Centro de Pesquisas Ellen G. White: UNASP Engenheiro Coelho campus, São Paulo, March 25, 2024.↩

2. Danielson Silva, “Uma Pesquisa Sobre a Vida do Pastor Homero Reis,” Monograph (Instituto Adventista de Ensino, 2000): 6.↩

3. Ibid., 7; Vera Rocha Reis Lellis, interviewed by Melissa Querido, Centro de Pesquisas Ellen G. White: UNASP Engenheiro Coelho campus, São Paulo, March 25, 2024.↩

4. Silva, “Uma Pesquisa Sobre a Vida do Pastor Homero Reis,”, 7-9; Vera Rocha Reis Lellis, interviewed by Melissa Querido, Centro de Pesquisas Ellen G. White: UNASP Engenheiro Coelho campus, São Paulo, March 25, 2024.↩

5. Vera Rocha Reis Lellis, interviewed by Melissa Querido, Centro de Pesquisas Ellen G. White: UNASP Engenheiro Coelho campus, São Paulo, March 25, 2024. ↩

6. Danielson Silva, “Uma Pesquisa Sobre a Vida do Pastor Homero Reis,” Monograph (Instituto Adventista de Ensino, 2000): 12-13.↩

7. Ibid., 13.↩

8. “Memória,” Revista Adventista 115, no. 1361 (September 2020): 41.↩

9. Vera Rocha Reis Lellis, interviewed by Melissa Querido, Centro de Pesquisas Ellen G. White: UNASP Engenheiro Coelho campus, São Paulo, March 25, 2024.↩

10. Ibid.↩

11. Ibid.; “Memória,” Revista Adventista 115, no. 1361 (September 2020): 41.↩