Maranatha Christian Church dedicates Philadelphia church on January 24

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Maranatha Christian Church dedicates Philadelphia church on January 24

The opening worship service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Pastors from the Brazilian headquarters will be present for this special event.

Building was purchased in December 2025 by the Maranatha Christian Church Presbytery

Maranatha Christian Church will dedicate its newly acquired church building in Philadelphia on Saturday, January 24th, at 7:30 p.m. at 4300 Benner St. For this special service, the church has invited pastors and religious leaders from other denominations, members of local law enforcement, and teachers from the School System, and is expecting to welcome community members from Philadelphia neighborhoods and surrounding towns.

Pastors from the Brazilian Maranatha Christian Church Presbytery will be present for this special event. The President of the worldwide Maranatha Christian Churches Presbytery, Pastor Alexandre Gueiros, is expected to transmit a message from Brazil. The President of Maranatha Christian Church of America, Pastor Humberto Henriques, will also deliver opening and closing remarks.

“It is a great victory for us to keep those doors open for the proclamation of the Gospel. During the purchasing process, the community has expressed to the city of Philadelphia the desire to maintain the building as a church, as they understand and value this source of Good News, salvation, hope, and a message of peace for troubled times,” said Pastor Humberto Henriques. “Our mission is to announce that Jesus is coming soon to rapture the faithful, and we can affirm this based on the prophetic signs being fulfilled in our days,” he added.

The Maranatha Christian Church has experienced consistent growth in its membership across North America, attracting individuals from diverse national backgrounds, including Brazilians, Americans, Latinos, Africans, Eastern Europeans, and others. In 2023, the church purchased the building of the First Congregational Church in Gardner, Massachusetts. The following year, in 2024, it acquired the Elmwood Community Church building in West Hartford, Connecticut.

The name “Maranatha” means “The King is coming,” a word found in 1 Corinthians 16:22 that expresses the believer’s longing for the return of Jesus Christ. At the Philadelphia location, services and events are offered in both English and Portuguese, along with some services exclusively in English.

About Maranatha Christian Church

Originating in Vila Velha, Brazil, Maranatha Christian Church is a Pentecostal denomination with over 5,000 churches in Brazil and locations in several countries worldwide, including the Americas, Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. In the United States and Canada, there are approximately 40 churches, including one in Newark, NJ, and New York City. The church in Philadelphia is conveniently located to serve members from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.

Guided by the Holy Spirit and without spotlighting individuals, everyone volunteers, including pastors. The church doesn’t ask for donations during its services. In October, the Maranatha Church will celebrate its 58th anniversary. Using modern communication technologies, churches worldwide are connected weekly to the Sunday Bible School broadcast, available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Brazilian Sign Language (Libras).

“We enjoy a unique kind of fellowship because all our churches follow the same teachings and doctrine. We participate in the same Bible studies at any of our churches worldwide. This uniformity allows you to feel at home in any of our locations,” emphasized Pastor Humberto Henriques.

The Maranatha Church in Philadelphia had rented a space on Old Ashton Road for two years before purchasing the property. The services are open to the community, and the hours are as follows: Sunday Bible School at 10:30 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; and Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 8:00 p.m.