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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.
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