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Rev. John Amaral, Ph.D.

In 1978, I received the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.  Shortly thereafter, I married my wife, Connie, and moved to Tyler, Texas to attend East Texas Bible College.  Upon graduation, my wife and I returned to New England, along with our daughter, Regina, to become active in tent ministry and to teach in a local Portuguese church and Bible school.

In 1985, my family and I moved to Brazil as missionaries, where I became pastor of Bethel
Baptist Church and opened a Bible institute to train the local brethren in reaching out to the local community.  I also evangelized through a daily radio broadcast.

In 1987, my family and I (with the addition of our new daughter, Kristal) returned to the United States to accept the call to pastor a Portuguese congregation (which is  Christian Assembly today).  Although the church started solely as Portuguese, today the ministry also includes an English congregation.

Since 1987, I have functioned as the Senior Pastor of Christian Assembly (a non-denominational church) located at 1494 Fall River Avenue in Seekonk, Massachusetts.  Christian Assembly is a multi-cultural church involved in mission work in Brazil (with over eight churches), Haiti (two churches), Mexico, Portugal (Azores) and India.  The Church has also opened eight local churches in the surrounding cities and states, including the preparation of ministers and ordinations of pastors to carry out the work.

Throughout my years of ministry, I have gained the respect of other ministers and am often sought after for pastoral advice.  Today, my family and I, now including my son-in-law and grandsons, continue to serve the Lord at Christian Assembly.  My service as Senior Pastor is shared with Rev. Floriano Pereira (Pastor) and Rev. Sudarshan Komanapalli (Associate Pastor).

Experience

  • Aside from experience in missions and local mentoring, I have served for four years as President of the Portuguese Evangelical Alliance (1991 to1995).
  • Taught high school level (Christian Psychology and Christian Ethics) at New England Christian Academy in Swansea, Massachusetts (5 years).
  • Actively teach seminars, provide Christian counseling and evangelization through live weekly radio and television broadcasts.
  • Actively serve in prison ministry with the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department.
  • Board Member, North Carolina College of Theology.
  • Board Member, T.R.I.A.D. (Counsel On Aging).
  • Consistent mentoring of men and women for future ministry within the United States, as well as in Portugal, Haiti and Brazil.  This mentoring extends to mentoring for Chaplainship.
  • Participation (by invitation) in local and international conferences, specifically marriage conferences.

Education – Certifications, Degrees and Achievements

  • Ministerial Diploma – East Texas Bible College (Class of 1982)
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Counseling – Independence Bible College & Seminary (1991)
  • Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling Psychology – Independence Bible College & Seminary (1995)
  • Certification in Personality Profiles through WIDP (1997)
  • Doctorate in Theology – Academia Internacional de Doutores e Teólogos (2007, Brazil)
  • PhD in Psychology and Theology from Omega Bible Institute and Seminary (2007)
  • Certification of Carrying For People God’s Way with Light Learning Institute (January 2007)
  • Certification of Critical Incidents with Cape Cod Islands C.I.S.M. (March 2007)
  • Certification of Crisis Management Briefing with Cape Cod Islands (March 2007)
  • President’s Club Honor Graduates Award by Omega Bible Institute (April 2007)
  • Certification of Pastoral Crisis Intervention with University of Maryland – British Columbia (June 2007)
  • Doctorate in Divinity from North Carolina College of Theology (2008)
  • Credential of Board Certified Christian Counselor (2008) – International Board of Christian Counselors
  • Certification in Wellness Fitness Seminar & Peer Assistance with Mass Fire Fighting Academy (May 2008)

Community Service

  • Chaplain of the Mass Corps Fire Fighters (2006)
  • Chaplain of the Rehoboth Fire Department (since 2007)
  • Chaplain of the Seekonk Fire Department (appointed in 2008)
  • Affiliated with the Federal Fire Chaplains and the New York State Fire Chaplains
  • Member of  U.N.I.P.A.S. (non-denominational ministry of pastors and chaplains from all cultural backgrounds)
  • Interpreter for many local candidates
  • Invited to speak by a local Portuguese radio broadcaster to discuss differences within our community (considering the large Portuguese population of this region)
  • Outreach ministering at nursing homes.

Rev. Floriano E. Pereira

Pastor Pereira has been with Christian Assembly since its inception in 1986.  Throughout the years, he served in various capacities, such as Deacon and Church Administrator, until being appointed to Assistant Pastor in 1997.  Simultaneous to his pastoral role, Pastor Pereira continued to administer and oversee all departments within the Church.  In January 2009, through God’s direction, he began to transition into his current role as Pastor of Christian Assembly, having been officially installed as such in February 2010.  Serving along
side him is his wife, Eunice; son and daughter-in-law, Joshua and Nancy; and two daughters, Sarah and Rachel.

Aside from overseeing all the departments of the church, Pastor Pereira is active in conducting the Wednesday night Bible studies (English and Portuguese), lighthouse prayer meetings, men’s Fellowships and young couples’ fellowships.

Experience

  • Consecrated as Minister of the Gospel (1997)
  • Conduct weekly Sunday services, Wednesday Bible studies, Lighthouse prayer meetings
  • Oversee Adult Bible classes, Men’s Ministry, Young Couples Ministry, Youth Department
  • Instruct Mentoring classes for Church leadership
  • Missions work in Portugal, Haiti and India

Education – Certifications, Degrees and Memberships

  • Certification of Biblical Studies, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (CUME Division) (1987)
  • Ministerial Application Courses (video-based curriculum), Institute of Biblical Studies
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies, Central Christian University (2006)
  • Master’s Degree in Theology, Central Christian University (2010)
  • Member of UNIPAS (non-denominational ministry of pastors and chaplains from all cultural backgrounds)
  • National Director of the National Christian Chaplains Association