english to spanish translator for church astoria new york

Pastor Steele said the immense and growing cultural and religious diversity in the area is demonstrated by the fact that “two and a half blocks down from the Church, there is a Muslim mosque, and on the back street, a Buddhist center.”Īmid that diversity, Steele set out six months ago to widen the embrace of the Brazilian Missionary Church.

But, so have the populations of other immigrant groups. In Astoria, the number of Brazilians has actually increased – up from about 500 in 2006 to 3,300 in 2010. Throughout New York City, churches that serve ethnic communities can easily find themselves struggling for survival when neighborhood demographics change. With his background, Steele is the perfect figurehead to sweep in and erase the ethnic boundaries separating the very multicultural Astoria neighborhood (home to over 100 ethnic groups, according to the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition Inc.) and a tight-knit 60 or 70-strong congregation of what was long-known as the Brazilian Missionary Church. The latter was acquired during the 16 years Steele and his wife, Miriam, worked as missionaries in Brazil. The celebration was “so Brazilian, so warm and embracing,” said Steele, who speaks English with a Midwest inflection and fluent Portuguese with a Rio accent. A tiered cake bore an edible figurine of the pastor, represented by his signature glasses, bald head and generous beer belly. In the luncheon room above a small missionary church in Astoria, a crowd chattered in Portuguese around buffet trays of crispy bacon Farofa, and assorted churrasco. Credit: LIZ FIELDSĪ Brazilian church in Astoria is fighting for survival amid changing neighborhood demographics, coming up with some innovative ways to grow and encompass the area’s diversity.Īt Pastor Gerald Steele’s surprise 67th birthday party in September, it was clear that the Brazilian community in Queens has welcomed the Columbus, Ohio, native as one of their own. Pastor Gerald Steele stands in the House of Prayer for All Nations after the Sunday service.

English to spanish translator for church astoria new york