It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Christ the Redeemer gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Brazil, IN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“best people at there”
“Great staff!! Caring people!”
“I think it’s one of the best companies there’s always someone ready and willing to”
“Working for Always Best Care has been very rewarding for me to help others in”
“Very compassionate caregivers!”
“Great staff. Well trained and kind people.”
“The Beache’s Family are great people and I would trust my mom’s well-”
“Natalia has experience taking care of people with Alzheimer and I would be very ”
“They offer a wide range of services with professional, organized individuals willing to help care”
“Exceptional staff and very caring. I know my loved ones are taken care of which”
“Mr. and Mrs. Beach are the owners of this location, and they are some of”
“best people at there”
“Great staff!! Caring people!”
“I think it’s one of the best companies there’s always someone ready and willing to go help people with great attitudes! Anyone that wants to live at home but needs a little extra help should definitely get someone from this company at your home to help out!”
“Working for Always Best Care has been very rewarding for me to help others in need. Whatever my questions may be or any help I need as a health care provider for my client they have always came through with help.”
“Very compassionate caregivers!”
“Great staff. Well trained and kind people.”
“The Beache’s Family are great people and I would trust my mom’s well- bean in their hands”
“Natalia has experience taking care of people with Alzheimer and I would be very trust my dad’s safety if they taking care of him.”
“They offer a wide range of services with professional, organized individuals willing to help care for members of your family.”
“Exceptional staff and very caring. I know my loved ones are taken care of which gives me a peace of mind. Definitely recommend!”
“Mr. and Mrs. Beach are the owners of this location, and they are some of the most caring and dedicated people I have ever met. They truly want to help people get the best care for their loved ones. My grandmother would have loved to have care like this.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Iguau National Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Lasai Restaurante or visit Escadaria Selarn, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Brazil, IN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Brazil, IN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Brazil, IN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
On July 9, the president of the United States unilaterally announced a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian exports — an unprecedented measure in the modern history of our countries’ relations. The justification President Trump has offered — Brazil’s alleged unfair trade practices, supposed attacks on free speech and the prosecution of a former president — demands a careful, principled response and a firm defense of our legal order, our sovereignty and the integrity of our institutions.Brazil and the United...
On July 9, the president of the United States unilaterally announced a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian exports — an unprecedented measure in the modern history of our countries’ relations. The justification President Trump has offered — Brazil’s alleged unfair trade practices, supposed attacks on free speech and the prosecution of a former president — demands a careful, principled response and a firm defense of our legal order, our sovereignty and the integrity of our institutions.
Brazil and the United States have long cultivated a mature, diverse and strategic relationship. Last year we celebrated 200 years of diplomatic ties, dating back to when President James Monroe received José Silvestre Rebello in Washington as the first envoy of the newly independent Empire of Brazil. Our partnership has withstood global conflicts, economic crises and political transitions because of our shared values: democracy, respect for the rule of law and a general commitment to peaceful international cooperation. These principles are not mere abstractions. They are the foundation upon which our societies are built, and they require constant vigilance and mutual respect, especially in times of disagreement.
Mr. Trump’s assertion that the United States suffers from an unfair and unreciprocated trade relationship with Brazil is contradicted by the facts. According to U.S. government data, in 2024 alone, the U.S. trade surplus with Brazil reached $7.4 billion. When services are included, according to the Brazilian government’s calculations of U.S. data, it rises to $28.6 billion, making Brazil the third-largest contributor to the U.S. global trade surplus when goods and services are combined. Over the past 15 years, the United States has accumulated recurring and significant surpluses in goods and services with Brazil totaling $410 billion.
The imposition of a blanket 50 percent tariff is not only disproportionate but also contrary to the rules of fair trade. Such measures undermine legal certainty for businesses and investors, disrupt global supply chains and violate the spirit of cooperation that has defined our relationship. In Brazil we respond to such challenges with respect for the law, for international norms and for our constitutional mandate to defend the national interest — including, if necessary, through reciprocal measures.
Mr. Trump has said the tariffs are in connection with the ongoing judicial proceedings against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of participating in an attempted coup, which Mr. Trump called a “witch hunt.” As attorney general, I must emphasize that the Brazilian government categorically rejects any efforts by outside parties to interfere in our judicial processes. The ongoing legal proceedings against individuals accused of attempting to subvert our democracy on Jan. 8, 2023, are the exclusive domain of Brazil’s independent judiciary. No foreign government has the right to dictate or question the administration of justice in our country. The defense of legality and the autonomy of our institutions are nonnegotiable pillars of our democracy.
Mr. Trump’s other allegations last week regarding censorship of U.S. tech companies and attacks on freedom of expression in Brazil are equally unfounded. In Brazil, the right to freedom of speech is protected, but it is not to be confused with the right to incite violence, commit fraud or undermine the rule of law — limitations that are broadly recognized in democratic societies. Last month our Supreme Court recognized that under certain circumstances, digital platforms can be held liable for third-party content that violates our rule of law, such as those involving child pornography or other illicit content, including inciting anti-democratic actions or hate speech. All companies, domestic and foreign, operating in Brazil are subject to our laws, just as Brazilian companies comply with U.S. regulations when operating in the United States.
This is a critical moment. Under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian government remains committed to a constructive and pragmatic relationship with the United States, grounded in respect for sovereignty, legality and the rule of law. Our differences must be addressed through dialogue, negotiation and mutual respect — not threats and punitive measures.
Our countries have overcome greater challenges in the past. The strength of our partnership lies in our ability to work through disagreements while upholding the principles that unite us. Brazil will continue to defend its sovereignty, the integrity of its legal system and the interests of its people while seeking ways to deepen cooperation with the United States in the service of global peace and prosperity.
The world is watching. Let us choose engagement over escalation, partnership over provocation and our enduring values over arbitrariness.
Brazil hammered out an emphatic shutout of hosts Japan in the women’s Volleyball Nations League closing match in Chiba to guarantee themselves at least a second-place finish in the final Preliminary Phase standings. The South Americans are on top of the current VNL standings on an 11-1 win-loss record and 31 points, but could still be surpassed by undefeated Italy. Japan finished in th...
Brazil hammered out an emphatic shutout of hosts Japan in the women’s Volleyball Nations League closing match in Chiba to guarantee themselves at least a second-place finish in the final Preliminary Phase standings. The South Americans are on top of the current VNL standings on an 11-1 win-loss record and 31 points, but could still be surpassed by undefeated Italy. Japan finished in third place on 9-3 and 27, on a better set ratio than fourth-placed Poland. Meanwhile, in Sunday’s opening match over in Apeldoorn, Belgium beat Czechia in four sets to finish in 14th place on 4-8 and 11. The VNL rookies, on the other hand, occupy 11th place on 5-7 and 14, but could still be surpassed by Dominican Republic.
Brazil mercilessly destroyed Japan’s ambitions to go through the entire week undefeated in front of their fantastic home fans in Chiba and mastered a convincing 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-20) sweep. Outside hitter Julia Bergmann was the best scorer of the match with 15 points, spiking at a 64% success rate and adding a kill block to her tally. Her star cross-court teammate and captain Gabriela Guimaraes (Gabi) contributed another 11 points in attack, including the match winner. Opposite Rosamaria Montibeller put together a 10-point tally, including an ace. Another four aces were authored by experienced setter Roberta Ratzke. Outside and captain Mayu Ishikawa was Japan’s only player to reach the double digits with 12 points to her name.
“It was a crazy match! It’s super difficult to play against Japan. We have a joke among us that whenever we have to play against Japan, we have to take three or four coffees before that to have some extra caffeine, some extra energy. We need to attack one, two, three times to finish a rally,” Gabi told VBTV. “But it was an important victory. We knew that it would not be easy to play here in Japan, but you could see how the team performed with aggressiveness, having a lot of patience… We did not make many mistakes. Our block-defense system was working well, especially on serve, and, in attack, Roberta could use everyone who played today.
“This is what we need – the team performing well makes it much easier for us. Now we need to rest a little bit – we’ve had a tough week – and prepare for the Finals. At the Finals, we need to be really aggressive from the start. We don’t know whom we are going to play in the quarterfinals, but for sure, it is going to be pretty difficult.”
In the Apeldoorn pool, Belgium came back from a set down to deliver a 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-21) victory over Czechia, outplaying the opponents mostly with their attacks. 22-year-old opposite Pauline Martin was the star of the match with a game-high 31 points, including two kill blocks and an ace. She also authored the last three points of the fourth set for a spectacular conclusion of the match. The two Belgian middle blockers – 20-year-old Anna Koulberg and Nathalie Lemmens – chipped in with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Outside and captain Michaela Mlejnkova led Czechia with 16 points, assisted by cross-court teammate Helena Grozer with 12, 20-year-old opposite Monika Brancuska with 12, and middle Magdalena Jehlarova, who raised six of the team’s 13 kill blocks and finished with a total of 10 points.
Quick links: Volleyball Nations League VBTV Volleyball World Facebook Volleyball World X Volleyball World Instagram Volleyball World YouTube Subscribe to Volleyball World's Newsletter
(RNS) — Protesters were dressed in national colors, holding Bibles and signs with crosses, singing Christian hymns, and shouting battle cries as a mob violently invaded and vandalized the federal government’s headquarters. This scene of red, white, and blue is familiar to audiences in the United States, recalling the events of Jan. 6, 2021. But for those more familiar with the political landscape farther south, the scene might instead feature green and yellow in Brasília, Brazil, two years later, on Jan. 8, 2023.&ld...
(RNS) — Protesters were dressed in national colors, holding Bibles and signs with crosses, singing Christian hymns, and shouting battle cries as a mob violently invaded and vandalized the federal government’s headquarters. This scene of red, white, and blue is familiar to audiences in the United States, recalling the events of Jan. 6, 2021. But for those more familiar with the political landscape farther south, the scene might instead feature green and yellow in Brasília, Brazil, two years later, on Jan. 8, 2023.
“Apocalypse in the Tropics,” a new documentary by Oscar-nominated director Petra Costa, released on Netflix on Monday (July 14), shows footage of the latter uprising in exploring the intersection of faith, politics, and power in the country. The film follows five years of political developments in Brazil, which elected far right President Jair Bolsonaro in 2018, with massive evangelical support. Under his administration, the country endured the COVID-19 pandemic, witnessed an alliance between religious leaders and the federal government strengthen, and saw violent attacks on democratic institutions after his electoral defeat.
The consequences of Brazil’s religious transformation and its relation to the configuration of political power are investigated in the film. Alessandra Orofino, the film’s producer and co-writer, spoke with RNS about the parallels between the politics of Brazil and the U.S. and about what the documentary aimed to capture.
“The rise of religious fundamentalism as a powerful force in authoritarian politics is a vital component of democracies’ deterioration in Brazil, in the U.S., in Hungary and India, in Israel, and many places around the world,” she said. “So we hope that (this film) is part of the debate that will go beyond Brazilian borders and help people around the world and invite them to have this conversation.”
Costa, a Brazilian filmmaker, began her career making more intimate, personal films. In “The Edge of Democracy” (2019), which was nominated for an Academy Award, she preserved that tone by weaving Brazil’s recent political crisis, which she interpreted as the erosion of a young democracy, with her own family’s history as the daughter of left-wing activists persecuted by the military dictatorship, and the granddaughter of a businessman tied to the political and economic elite.
“Apocalypse in the Tropics” works almost as a sequel. But this time, Costa immerses herself in a world less familiar to her: evangelical Christianity — which has become increasingly decisive in shaping Brazil’s political future.
The connections between Brazil and the U.S. reflect decades of transnational circulation of ideas, theologies, strategies, and resources involving missionaries, Christian publishing houses, seminaries, and religious think tanks. It’s a story of mutual influence, but also of dependence and asymmetry.
A predominantly Catholic country since its colonization, Brazil has experienced a rise in evangelicalism that is one of the more striking religious transformations in recent decades. In the 1970s, around 5% of the population identified as evangelical, while today, about 27% of Brazilians do, according to 2022 census data released last month. Catholics, who 30 years ago represented more than 80% of the country, now make up a little more than half of its population.
The most visible result of the Cold War in many Latin American countries was the rise of military dictatorships, supported by the U.S. and fed by fear of communism, which the documentary looks back on to understand the roots of the evangelical growth. In Brazil, the dictatorship lasted from 1964 to 1985, a period when evangelists such as Billy Graham had strong influence and when seminaries and churches often received direct and indirect support from U.S.-based institutions.
“The influence of American evangelicalism and the American government in the rise of evangelicalism in Brazil is a very interesting frame of analysis to understand the growth of the movement,” Orofino said.
American audiences can learn from the documentary in two ways, the producer said. The first is by “seeing themselves reflected in this kind of weird mirror that is Brazil.” Second, they can gain a “better understanding of how these networks of power, in many ways, use the resources and the centrality of the American government to impose, or at least to influence, the political life of other countries,” she said.
In a country marked by extreme social inequality, evangelicalism has expanded rapidly among low-income Brazilians. At a Q&A after the film’s screening at DOC NYC last Wednesday (July 9), Costa and Orofino spoke about the role churches play in people’s lives. They discussed how social and humanitarian aid networks are sometimes used to reinforce political power projects led by church leaders.
Churches “form solidarity networks and create community around them,” Orofino said. “Their leaders have a strong presence locally, in territories where they know the families, the people who live there, supporting them through difficult times. And in many ways, that’s lacking from so many of our democratic movements, and people are looking elsewhere for that kind of connection.”
Often, the price of that presence is political influence, they explained. As Costa pointed out, in 2018, “70% of evangelicals voted for Bolsonaro. That’s more than any other segment of the population.”
“I really do believe that the evangelical base itself will become more attuned to the fact that the people who are representing themselves as their leaders and amassing enormous amount of political power in the process are not even true reflections of what the communities of faith actually look like,” Orofino said, noting that while the evangelical base is largely made up of women, Black Brazilians and working poor citizens, its leadership continues to be dominated by white men from Brazil’s wealthier urban centers.
The question that’s then raised, Orofino said, is, “How can we offer alternative versions of that – forms of community that could be spiritual as well, that are not intrinsically authoritarian and do not try to bridge that separation of church and state?”
They also addressed internal tensions within evangelical communities. “There are other progressive pastors who have been shunned and persecuted by their churches because they declared that they would not vote for Bolsonaro or declared support for Lula,” Costa said, referring to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. “So that is religious persecution, and that’s the reason why the separation of church and state was invented — to protect Christians from religious persecution. It was Christians who invented it, and we’re seeing it play out in Brazil.”
For Costa, this dynamic is at the heart of the film’s message. “It was this destruction of democracy, and that’s what the film is about,” she said.
Throughout the documentary, the theme of the apocalypse serves as a narrative thread through which the film examines how literalist interpretations of the Book of Revelation, with its ultimate battle between good and evil, have shaped political imaginations and been absorbed into real-world political ideologies.
“It’s very hard to overstate the importance of the Book of Revelation and those symbols in our politics today,” Orofino told RNS. “Not only as a seminal book for dominion theology, but also as a force … that then has very concrete influence over geopolitical events around the world. So, it’s really illuminating for us.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has called on China, Brazil and India to pressure Russia or be hit by US sanctions.US President Donald Trump had said he would impose "very severe tariffs" against Russia if no deal was reached to end the war in Ukraine 50 days.Trump also threatened secondary tariffs of 100% on countries that buy Russian exports....
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has called on China, Brazil and India to pressure Russia or be hit by US sanctions.
US President Donald Trump had said he would impose "very severe tariffs" against Russia if no deal was reached to end the war in Ukraine 50 days.
Trump also threatened secondary tariffs of 100% on countries that buy Russian exports.
While meeting Senators in the US, Rutte said he was sure that these countries, especially China, would be "very helpful" in putting pressure on Russia.
"My encouragement to these three countries, particularly is, if you live now in Beijing, or in Delhi, or you are the president of Brazil, you might want to take a look into this, because this might hit you very hard," Rutte told reporters.
"So please make the phone call to Vladimir Putin and tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks, because otherwise this will slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way," Rutte added.
The three countries account for the vast majority of Moscow's energy trade. And together with South Africa, they are the core nations of the BRICS alliance.
Trump had already vowed higher tariffs on BRICS countries that align with the bloc's plans to challenge US hegemony.
Even before Trump's announcement of secondary tariffs earlier this week, US lawmakers have been working on a bipartisan bill for even tougher sanctions.
The legislation seeks a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports.
Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) that countries such as Brazil, China and India could be hit very hard by secondary sanctions if they continued to do business with Russia.Mr. Rutte made the comment while meeting with senators in the U.S. Congress the day after President Donald Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine and threatened "biting" secondary tariffs of ...
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) that countries such as Brazil, China and India could be hit very hard by secondary sanctions if they continued to do business with Russia.
Mr. Rutte made the comment while meeting with senators in the U.S. Congress the day after President Donald Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine and threatened "biting" secondary tariffs of 100% on the buyers of Russian exports unless there is a peace deal in 50 days.
"My encouragement to these three countries, particularly is, if you live now in Beijing, or in Delhi, or you are the President of Brazil, you might want to take a look into this, because this might hit you very hard," Mr. Rutte told reporters, who met with Mr. Trump on Monday and agreed the new steps.
"So please make the phone call to Vladimir Putin and tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks, because otherwise this will slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way," Mr. Rutte added.
Republican U.S. Senator Thom Tillis praised Mr. Trump for announcing the steps, but said the 50-day delay "worries" him.
He said he was concerned that "Putin would try to use the 50 days to win the war, or to be better positioned to negotiate a peace agreement after having murdered and potentially collected more ground as a basis for negotiation.
"So we should look at the current state of Ukraine today and say, no matter what you do over the next 50 days, any of your gains are off the table," he added.
Mr. Rutte said Europe would find the money to ensure Ukraine was in the best possible position in peace talks.
He said that under the agreement with Trump, the U.S. would now "massively" supply Ukraine with weapons "not just air defense, also missiles, also ammunition paid for by the Europeans."
Asked if long-range missiles for Ukraine were under discussion, Rutte said: "It is both defensive and offensive. So there's all kinds of weapons, but we have not discussed in detail yesterday with the president. This is really being worked through now by the Pentagon, by the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, together with the Ukrainians."
574-232-8487
