History
Portugal was settled by a tribe called the Iberians. Over the centuries
it was conquered and re-conquered by the Phoenicians, Celts, Greeks, Carthaginians,
Romans, and Spanish. By the mid-1500s, Portugal had become a world power
with ambitious overseas colonization aspirations in Africa, South America,
and the Far East. Due to many factors, Portugal was unable to maintain its
colonial empire in Africa and after years of strife granted them independence
by 1975. In 1910, Portugal revolted against its long-standing monarchy and
became a republic. After additional political and social changes, Portugal
became a democratic republic in 1974 with a government that emphasizes many
kinds of freedom.
Church
History
The Portuguese held on to their Catholic faith after the fall of the Roman
Empire. When the invading armies arrived from North Africa, the people would
not convert to other religions, even when fiercely persecuted. Church and
state were legally separated in 1911 but the Roman Catholic Church remains
strong there. The Catholic Church claims about 97 percent of the population,
the other three percent being Protestants and other religions. The first
Assemblies of God church in Portugal was established in Portimão
in 1924. The first full-scale Assemblies of God Bible School opened in the
capitol, Lisbon, in 1975. More than half the Protestants in Portugal are
Pentecostals.
The
Movement Today
The Assemblies of God in Portugal reports the following statistics: 459
churches and outstations, 397 ministers, 35,000 members and adherents, nine
missionaries, two Bible schools training 75 students and one extension program
with 15 students enrolled.
Additional
Facts About Portugal
Official Name: Portuguese Republic
Capital:
Lisbon
Area:
92,391 square miles
Population:
9,918,040
Agriculture and Industry:
Textiles, footwear, cork, chemicals,
fish canning, wine, paper, grains, potatoes, grapes, and olives. |
