About Us - ADBelem

ADBELEM - USA

Pastor Joel & Mabel Costa

Our Story, Your Home.

This year, Bethlehem Ministry celebrates 31 years of a story written by the hands of God. From a humble gathering of believers in Florida to a ministry with global reach, our essence remains the same: to love Jesus and make His love known.

Our church is not just a place in Lighthouse Point; it is a safe harbor. Here, neighbors become brothers and sisters, and friends become family. Our mission is clear: to bring the precious Word of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all that salvation comes only through the person of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We firmly believe that no one is ordinary to God—everyone deserves to experience His unconditional love.

And never forget that the Lord Jesus Christ cares about you.

Pastor Joel Costa

Our Creed

In one God, eternally subsisting

In one God, eternally subsisting in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Dt 6.4; Mt 28.19; Mc 12.29

In the verbal inspiration of the Holy Bible.

In the verbal inspiration of the Holy Bible, the only infallible rule of faith and practice for Christian life and character.

2 Tm 3.14-17

In the virgin conception of Jesus

In the virgin conception of Jesus, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection from the dead, and in His victorious ascension to heaven.

Isaias 7.14; Rm 8.34 e At 1.9

In the sinfulness of man

In the sinfulness of man, which deprived him of the glory of God, and that only repentance and faith in the atoning and redemptive work of Jesus Christ can restore him to God.

Rm 3.23 e At 3.19

New birth through faith in Christ

In the absolute necessity of the new birth through faith in Christ and through the active power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, to make man worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jo 3.3-8

In the forgiveness of sins

In the forgiveness of sins, in present and perfect salvation, and in the eternal justification of the soul, received freely from God through faith in the sacrifice accomplished by Jesus Christ on our behalf.

At 10.43; Rm 10.13; 3.24-26 e Hb 7.25; 5.9

In biblical baptism carried out by immersion of the whole body once in water

In biblical baptism carried out by immersion of the whole body once in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as the Lord Jesus Christ determined.

Mt 28.19; Rm 6.1-6 e Cl 2.12

In the need for a holy life

In the need and in the possibility we have to live a holy life through the atoning and redemptive work of Jesus Christ at Calvary, through the regenerating, inspiring, and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, who enables us to live as faithful witnesses of the power of Christ.

Hb 9.14 e 1 Pe 1.15

In the biblical baptism in the Holy Spirit

In the biblical baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is given to us by God through the intercession of Christ, with the initial physical evidence of speaking in other tongues, according to His will.

At 1.5; 2.4; 10.44-46; 19.1-7

In the present-day reality of spiritual gifts

In the present-day reality of spiritual gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit to the Church for its edification, according to His sovereign will.

1 Co 12.1-12

In the premillennial Second Coming of Christ

In the premillennial Second Coming of Christ, in two distinct phases. First—invisible to the world—to rapture His faithful Church from the earth before the Great Tribulation; second—visible and bodily—with His glorified Church, to reign over the world for a thousand years.

1 Ts 4.16. 17; 1 Co 15.51-54; Ap 20.4; Zc 14.5 e Jd 14

That all Christians will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ

That all Christians will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive reward for their deeds done in support of the cause of Christ on earth.

2 Co 5.10

In the coming judgment

In the coming judgment that will reward the faithful and condemn the unfaithful.

Ap 20.11-15

In eternal life

And in eternal life of joy and happiness for the faithful, and of sorrow and torment for the unfaithful.

Mt 25.46

Let’s Pray | February 22–28

My Church, My Family

During this week, our entire church will be in prayer, interceding for the following families:

Vanda Souza e filha Nagely

José Alves & Neide Mara

Renata Oliveira & Eduardo Marinho

Paulo & Rosimar Oliveira

During our Sunday services, we select families from our prayer list to be the focus of special intercession throughout the week. The whole community unites in prayer, crying out to our beloved God on behalf of these families, as part of our commitment to care for the “Family of God.”

We deeply believe that our beloved God hears and answers our prayers.

Therefore, we encourage you to join us in this chain of faith and intercession. If your name is not yet part of our prayer list, we invite you to contact the church office and sign up today.

And never forget that the Lord Jesus Christ cares about you.

Get to Know

Our Vision

Our worldview, our vision of the Church, and our individual vision as members of the Body of Christ—and above all, the vision of what we will be and accomplish in Christ—make up the Vision Statement of the Bethlehem Ministry. Our vision of who we are is the platform for what we are on our way to becoming: We are worshipers of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and Lord, and we love Him. Christ is the joy of our soul and the living hope of our heart. Therefore, we constantly praise Him and will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth until He comes to take us, and for all eternity.

We are a family — We live in fellowship; we are members of the same body, which is Christ. We love one another and also those who have never had a personal experience with Jesus. Every person matters to us, and we always want to expand the boundaries of God’s love that overflows in our hearts.

We are saved — We were rescued from the world and from eternal death by the blood of Christ shed for us on the cross of Calvary. We have eternal life and are on our way to heaven.

We are proclaimers — We are witnesses of Christ—of His love, His goodness, His mercy, and His salvation. Therefore, we proclaim to the world the Good News: there is hope, there is salvation in Christ!

We have a missionary heart — Missionary passion burns in our soul. We fight with all our strength to reach every life, to the ends of the earth, with the message of the hope of salvation in Jesus. We believe in the Word of God as absolute authority — it is our rule of faith and practice; we believe there is no error in it, and through it we have life. We study and teach its precepts and values, we delight in it, and we enjoy its truths. We equip and train members of the Body of Christ to live out the reality of the Gospel day by day.

We are servants — Like our Lord Jesus, we were called to serve and not to be served. We find joy in serving God in the Church, in the family, at work, in our community, in our city, state, and country where God has planted us, in the life of our neighbor, and in every opportunity He gives us.

Learn more about

Our Mission

Our Purpose Statement

Worship – Evangelize – Disciple – Care. The responsibility is mine!

The mission of the Assembly of God – Bethlehem Ministry – USA is clear and passionate: to share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ with every person, to the ends of the earth. Our goal is to bring the message of salvation and the hope of future glory to everyone we meet.

Worship: Our priority is to worship God in spirit and in truth. Through inspiring services and moments of praise, we seek to create an environment where everyone can experience God’s transforming presence.

Evangelize: We are committed to evangelism, obeying Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations. We use every available resource to reach as many people as possible with the message of Christ’s love and redemption.

Disciple: We believe discipleship is essential for spiritual growth. We invest in forming disciples of Christ, equipping them with biblical knowledge and filling them with the Holy Spirit so they can live full and fruitful lives.

Care: Pastoral care is a fundamental part of our mission. We strive to build healthy families and a better community by offering spiritual, emotional, and practical support to our members and to the community at large.

Our desire is that, through our ministry, every person can find the joy of salvation and the transformation that only Jesus can provide. We continue to work tirelessly until the Lord comes to take His Church, certain that the responsibility is mine.

Our Foundation

Our Principles

At the Assembly of God – Bethlehem Ministry, our solid foundation is the Holy Bible. We regard the Scriptures as the inerrant Word of God, which reveals Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The Bible is our essential reference for faith and practice, offering us clear and true guidance to live a life that honors God.

We firmly believe in biblical doctrines, which not only sustain our spiritual life but also serve as the lamp that lights our feet and the light that guides our path. Every teaching and principle contained in the Scriptures is fundamental to our growth and transformation in Christ.

Our commitment is to integrity and faithfulness to the Scriptures, seeking to live them out in our daily life and in our ministry. We believe that by following the teachings of the Bible, we are led to the truth and to the fullness God has for each one of us.

We want you to know that the Lord Jesus Christ cares deeply about you. His love and care are evident in His Word and in every aspect of our life. We are here to support you on your spiritual journey and to help you experience the deep peace and joy that come from an intimate relationship with Christ.

Our Board

Pastor Superintendente

Pr. José Wellington Bezerra da Costa

Senior Pastor

Pr. Joel Costa

Vice President

Pr. Ismael Aguiar

Second Vice President

Pr. Cassio Raffa

First Secretary

Pr. Alcir Florentino dos Santos

Second Secretary

Pr. Claudio Sforcim Pereira

Third Secretary

Pr. Itamar Carlos

First Treasurer

Pr. Mauricio Cardoso

Second Treasurer

Ev. Josias Quintaneiro

Our origins

Our History

Pastors Daniel Berg and Gunnar Vingren

Daniel Berg went to visit Pastor Gunnar Vingren in South Bend, Indiana, USA. During that visit, while they were attending a prayer meeting, the Lord spoke to them through a prophetic message that they should depart to preach the Gospel and the blessings of the Pentecostal Revival. The place had been mentioned in the prophecy: Pará. None of those present knew that location. After the prayer, the two young men went to a library in search of a map that would show them where Pará was located. That was when they discovered it was a state in northern Brazil.

Pr. José Wellington Bezerra da Costa

Superintendent Pastor

Since January 6, 1980, he has presided over the Bethlehem Ministry, serving as the spiritual leader for more than 2,000 churches and congregations in Greater São Paulo, the interior of the State of São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, and abroad (USA, some countries in South America, Europe, and Africa). He is a member of the World Assemblies of God Committee headquartered in Springfield, USA. He also leads the General Convention of the Assemblies of God in Brazil (CGADB), where his administration has been marked by important milestones such as the construction of its new headquarters and the restructuring of the Assemblies of God Publishing House (CPAD).

Pr. Joel Freire Costa

Senior Pastor

The Assembly of God – Bethlehem Ministry – USA is a missionary church headquartered in the city of Lighthouse Point, FL, USA. Its mother church, organized in Brazil since 1927, is headquartered in the city of São Paulo, SP, Brazil. The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is a living organism—an ecclesiastical organization in which men and women, redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, gather weekly in temples and homes to worship our good God. In each of our services, we see the power and the hand of God move in a unique way through the preaching and teaching of the Holy Bible, as well as through praise and worship, gifts, signs, miracles, wonders, and mighty works of the Holy Spirit of God, which are often evident in the lives of those who are present.

Ready to visit us?

Our Service Times & Location

Sunday School (EBD) – Sunday 9:00 AM

Portuguese Service – Sunday 10:00 AM

English Worship Service – Sunday 10:00 AM (This service is held entirely in English.)

Spanish Celebration Service – Sunday 5:00 PM (This service is held entirely in Spanish.)

Miracle Service – Monday 8:00 PM

Bible Teaching Service – Wednesday 7:30 PM

Communion Service – First Saturday of every month, 6:30 PM

Office Hours

Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (Florida time)

Saturday & Sunday: Closed

4000 N Federal Hwy, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064, USA

(754) 309-6800

Click to open the map

Hello, welcome.

We’re so glad you reached out! We’ll get back to you soon. Thank you, and may God richly bless your life. Remember: the Lord Jesus Christ cares about you!

Pastor Joel Costa