The ‘Go’ Ceremony With the Changing of the Flags Concludes the Temple of Solomon’s 10th Anniversary Celebrations

On July 31st the Temple of Solomon in São Paulo Ended Its 10th Anniversary Celebrations With a Grand Ceremony That Included the Changing of the Flags

The Temple of Solomon in São Paulo concluded its 10th anniversary celebrations on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, with a grand ceremony featuring the Changing of the Flags. The festivities attracted thousands of visitors from diverse cultures and nations, who experienced a series of unique events over ten days.

Changing of the Flags Ceremony

The final day’s highlight, the Changing of the Flags ceremony, began at 7 PM (local time). Before the flag ceremony, attendees enjoyed a performance by the São Paulo’s Youth Orchestra, which performed uplifting songs of faith.

The ceremony, held on the Temple’s Esplanade, featured the hoisting of flags representing the 148 countries where The Universal Church operates. This marks an expansion from the 110 flags displayed at the Temple’s inauguration in 2014. On this special occasion, flags for Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Thailand, Serbia, and Sri Lanka were added.

Bishop Renato Cardoso opened the ceremony with a prayer and a message of faith. He emphasized the importance of living the Truth to spread the Word of God. “The obligation of the saved is to take the Word of salvation to those who do not yet know it. But, to do this, if you want to take the Truth to the world, you need to live it,”  he said.

Following the prayer, pastors and new missionaries raised the flags for all nations where The Universal Church conducts its evangelistic work.

Global Participation

Among the international participants was a delegation from Senegal, who traveled 22 hours from their country, with a stop in Ethiopia, to join the celebrations. Pastor Cristian Lagares, responsible for The Universal Church’s work in Senegal, expressed his joy at the event. “It is gratifying to see the Word of God reaching all nations and transforming lives. To raise the flag of Senegal here is a special honor,”  he said.

Juciara Cassiano, who has been in Jamaica for nine years, noted the significance of the event, saying, “Everyone is enchanted by the grandeur of the Temple. Seeing new people joining the Church because of this event is a great victory.”

Cleide Araújo Carvalho, who attended the Temple’s cornerstone laying in 2010 but had been away due to personal struggles, shared her gratitude for the opportunity to return. “Knowing that I can experience this moment again is an honor and a privilege,”  she said. Her daughter, Patrícia Araújo, 17, also felt privileged to be part of the ceremony.

Night of Salvation with Bishop Macedo

At 8 PM, the Night of Salvation began with Bishop Edir Macedo and his wife, Ester Bezerra. Bishop Macedo spoke about the relationship between marriage and one’s relationship with God. He emphasized that being right with God also means being right with one’s spouse. “When you are right with Him, you are right with your spouse. If you are wrong with your spouse, there is something between you and God,”  he explained.

He further discussed the concept of Truth as God Himself, asserting that living in Truth may involve suffering but will ultimately bring honor. “When you submit yourself to the Truth, you will certainly suffer because of it, but it will honor you in the future,”  he stated.

Bishop Macedo encouraged attendees to embrace the Truth and allow the Holy Spirit to guide their lives. “When you deny the lie and embrace the Truth, the Holy Spirit comes upon you,”  he concluded, leading a prayer for everyone present.

Photos: Demetrio Koch and Provided