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Pastor Mario Gomes Installed at Toronto Portuguese Adventist Church

January 21, 2026 | Ontario Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

It was a truly momentous and joyful day for the Toronto Portuguese Seventh-day Adventist Church as the congregation warmly welcomed Pastor Mario Alberto Kijingo Gomes and his family into their church family. The special service marked the beginning of a new chapter of ministry and fellowship, filled with gratitude, hope, and anticipation of God’s leading.

The occasion was graced by the presence of Pastor Jakov Bibulović, president of the Ontario Conference, who attended with his wife, Ljubica, and their daughter, Isabela. After Mrs. Bibulović read a brief biography of Pastor Gomes, Pastor Bibulović addressed the congregation, offering words of counsel and encouragement. He urged Pastor Gomes to remain humble in his leadership, emphasising that true authority in ministry comes from God alone. As he affirmed, “He (God) will give you His spiritual authority to lead His Church.”

Pastor Mario Gomes hails from Luanda, Angola, and is an ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister with more than 14 years of pastoral experience in the South Union of Brazil. He is widely recognised for his passion for church planting, leadership development, and evangelism. During his ministry in Brazil, he successfully planted eight churches and was honoured as an Honorary Citizen of Palmital in recognition of his positive impact on the local community.

His academic background reflects a strong blend of theological depth and administrative expertise. Pastor Gomes holds a Master’s degree in Ecclesiastical Administration from the Adventist Institute of Paraná, a specialisation in Church Planting through a partnership between the General Conference and the South Brazil Union, an MBA in Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Northern Paraná, and a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from the Adventist University of São Paulo. This combination equips him to lead with both spiritual insight and strategic vision.

From 2010 to 2024, Pastor Gomes served as Senior Pastor and Church Planter in Paraná, Brazil, where he led multiple congregations and trained leaders with a strong missionary focus. Earlier from 2008 to 2010, he served as chaplain at Telêmaco Borba Adventist College, guiding young people in their spiritual and academic journeys.

In 2024, Pastor Gomes embraced a new mission field in Canada as a Volunteer Pastor and continuing his lifelong commitment to church planting and disciple making. Fully aligned with the global “I Will Go” initiative, his ministry centres on spiritual revival and the multiplication of disciples who make more disciples. He firmly believes that every baptism is a celebration of heaven on earth.

Pastor Gomes treasures his wife, Heloise Helena, and their two sons, Lorenzo (10) and Khalel (5), as his greatest support and mission partners. His guiding principle:

“Summoned to go, equipped to serve, committed until He returns.”

His ministry direction is rooted in Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”