About Us
Our Vision
To make Christ known across the nations through a vibrant Brazilian-style church.
Our Mission
Connecting people and transforming lives through Christ.
Our Story
The Abbachurch was founded as a Connect Group in October 2012 by the missionaries couple Sergio Reinaldo and Erita Carvalho, after an invitation has been sent by Australia Christian Churches to many countries to plant bilingual (English/Foreigner) churches in Australia.
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Over the years, we have been gathering together in several locations like houses, Community Centres until we were established where we are nowadays located at Perron Place, 61 Kitchener Ave, Vic Park.
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At the end of January 2024, the pastors couple Guilherme and Michelly Soares were invited to take over Abbachurch. They along with the current body of church's counsellors are guiding the church under the Holy Spirit's direction.
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Currently, Abbachurch is a church formed predominantly by immigrant and local Brazilians and other nationalities who gather together in communion as the body of Christ. Because we welcome Christians from many denominations, we are an evangelical charismatic Christian church founded on traditional biblical values, having a modern vision of evangelism and discipleship. We are in alliance with the Baptist National Nova Aliança ministry of São Luis, MA (home church of pastors Guilherme and Michelly) under the pastorate of pastors Reinaldo and Silvia Bezerra. Furthermore, Pastor Guilherme is an ordained pastor under the National Baptist Order of Ministers of the National Baptist Convention in Brazil.
Our Values
The Abbachurch core values are fundamental principles that influence and clarify what we do and how we do. They provide boundaries and parameters around the mission, leadership and ministry philosophy, priorities and strategy.
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Our core values answer the question “who are we? what defines us? what is really important to us? what are the non-negotiables?”. That means our core values guide our identity (who we say we are), our theology (who we say God is), and our activity (how we do what we do).
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The Apostle Paul encourages us to be "like-minded" and "one in spirit and purpose" (Phil. 2:2). We are committed to developing and pursuing values of the Kingdom of God. The following core values define who we are and what we are committed to:
We are a Christ-centred church
The person of Jesus Christ is central to all we do and through Him we have relationship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
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We are a Bible-based church
We are committed to the Holy Scriptures as the true Word of God and our final authority for rules and practices.
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We are a Spirit-filled church
We believe that each Christian should develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit and seek to use the gifts of the Spirit for the benefit of the church’s growing.
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We are a maturing church in discipleship
Our goal is to help people become fully genuine followers of Jesus Christ.
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We are a praying church
Our goal is become a house of prayer for all people and nations.
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We are a worshipping church
Our goal is to express our devotion to God through joyful praise and intimate worship.
We are a loving church
Our goal is to see every person loved and cared for in such a way that they feel accepted, valued and have a sense of belonging.
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We are a serving church
Our goal is to see every member developing their God-given abilities and using them to serve others.
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We are an evangelistic church
Our goal is to reach people who do not have a true relationship with God both near and far and influence our community for righteousness through evangelism, community outreach, missions and church planting.
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We are a contemporary church
Our goal is to present the message of Christ in a way that is meaningful to regular attenders and comprehensible to outsiders.
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We are a unified church
Our goal is to bridge racial, cultural, gender, socio-economic and generational gaps to create a community where all people can relate together in a spirit of love and fellowship.
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We are a quality church
Our goal is to pursue excellence in all aspects of church life in order to bring glory to God.
Our Beliefs
The Holy Scriptures, known as the Bible, is the inspired Word of God and our all-enough rule for faith and practice. Our basis for belief, fellowship, and ministry are rounded in these scriptures.
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​The Eternal Godhead
We believe in the unity of the true and living God who is the eternal, self-existent one, who has revealed himself as one being in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and who is the Creator and preserver of things visible and invisible (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 86:9-10; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28.19, Mark 12:29; John 1:1-3).
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The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune Godhead, who was and is the eternal Son of God; that he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary.
We believe in his sinless life, miraculous ministry, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, glorious ascension, and abiding intercession (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 24:39; Acts 1:9; 2:22; 10:38; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:8-10; Hebrews 7:25-26; 9:12; 1 Peter 2:22).
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the triune Godhead, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and is ever present and active in the work of convicting and regenerating the sinner, and sanctifying and guiding the believer into all truth (John 14:26; 16:8-11; Romans 8:14; 1 Peter 1:2).
The Holy Scriptures
We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, namely the Old and New Testaments in their original writings. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is infallible, inerrantly revealing the will of God concerning us all in all things necessary to our salvation, and is supreme and sufficient in authority in all matters of faith and conduct. The Bible does not simply contain the Word of God, but is, in reality, the complete revelation and very Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that whatever is not contained therein is not to be enjoined as an article of faith (Matthew 5:17-18; 24:35; John 4:39; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
The Devil
We believe in the personality of the devil, who, by his influence, brought about the downfall of man, and now seeks to destroy the faith of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:1-15; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; John 13:2; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8).
The Fall of Man (Spiritually Lost Condition)
We believe that man was created by God by specific immediate act and in his image and likeness, morally upright and perfect, but fell by voluntary transgression. Consequently, all men are separated from original righteousness, being depraved and without spiritual life (Genesis 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21, Luke 19:10, John 3:17, 18 & 36).
The Atonement
We believe that God’s answer to man’s sinful state is in the death of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, on the cross, whose sufferings and shed blood have made full atonement for the sins of the whole world, both original and actual, and that there is no other ground for salvation (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:25-26; 1 Peter 1:19-20).
The Salvation of Man
We believe that salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This experience is also known as the new birth and is an instantaneous and complete operation of the Holy Spirit whereby the believing sinner is regenerated, justified, and adopted into the family of God and becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus and heir of eternal life (Titus 2:11; 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 5:1).
The Church
We believe that the church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of its great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the firstborn whose names are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
The Water Baptism
We believe that baptism, by single immersion, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is enjoined on all who have repented and have believed in Christ as Saviour and Lord, and that it is symbolic of our identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47-48; 2:38-39; Romans 6:4-5; Colossians 2:12).
The Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of his sufferings and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of his second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26), and is enjoined on all believers “until He comes” (Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:1520; Acts 20:7).
The Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. We believe it is the glorious provision for every believer in Christ to be made pure in heart and wholly sanctified, through the operation of the Holy Spirit, by the blood of Jesus and the Word of God (John 17:15-19; Acts 15:8-9; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 5:23-24; Hebrews 2:11; 10:16-19).
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
We believe that baptism in the Holy Spirit is the bestowing of the believer with the power to be an effective witness for Christ. This experience is simultaneous to the new birth whilst the manifestation of the gifts might happen afterward and during the believer's lifetime; it is received by faith and is accompanied by the manifestation of the Holy Spirit's gifts.
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The Gifts
We believe in the present-day operation (continuity) of the nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. We also believe in the ministry gifts of Christ, as recorded in Ephesians 4:11-13.
The Divine Healing
Following the teachings of the scriptures, we trust our heavenly Father to protect and heal our bodies from sickness and disease. We believe that divine healing for the body, as with all redemptive blessings of God, has been provided for us by the atoning death and victorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; it is the privilege of all believers and it is appropriated by faith in our heavenly Father’s unfailing promises (Exodus 15:26; Psalms 103:3; Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; 1 Peter 2:24; James 5:14-15).
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the imminent, and personal return of our Lord Jesus Christ to gather his people to himself. Having this glorious hope and earnest expectation, we purify ourselves, even as he is pure, so that we may be ready to meet him when he comes. (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; Titus 2:13; James 5:7-8; 1 John 2:28; 3:2-3).
The Millennium
We believe this is a controversial doctrine with different viewpoints that do not affect the dynamic of our church services or the core doctrines. Having said that, Abbachurch respects the most traditional viewpoints related to the Millennium like premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism, and encourages all of those believers to serve God along with us.
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The Punishment of the Wicked
We believe in the everlasting punishment of the wicked (in the sense of eternal torment) who wilfully reject and despise the love of God manifested in the great sacrifice of his only Son on the cross for their salvation (Matthew 25:46; 13:49-50; Luke 12:47-48; Romans 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 20:11-15).
We believe that the devil and his angels and whoever is not found written in the Book of Life shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15).
The Resurrection
We believe in the final resurrection of both saved and lost in which the former receives eternal life with God while the latter is everlasting separated from God. (John 3:36, John 5:28-29, 2 Thess. 1:8-9, Rev. 20:11-15).
The New Heavens and the New Earth
“We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation chapters 21-22).
The Creation
We believe that the heavens and earth and all original life forms, including humanity, were made by the specific immediate creative acts of God as described in the account of origins presented in Genesis, and that all biological changes which have occurred since creation are limited to variation within each species.