OUR HISTORY

Igreja Evangélica Baptista do Cacém's desire to create a preschool was already a dream from the 70's. However, due to several difficulties, the “dream” was being postponed.

The most concrete steps towards the realization of this dream were taken in April 1982, at the suggestion of Pr. Júlio Sérgio Felizardo, with the creation of a first Working Committee to study the feasibility of this objective, taking advantage of the availability of the Church's facilities during the week. The brothers Licínio Pires Lobo, Maria do Rosário Oliveira, Maria Ofélia Felizardo and Maria Hortense Alves were part of this Commission.

Meanwhile, the Church mobilized itself to raise funds for the work, through a sacrificial offer of love, and the creation of the Kindergarten Group of Friends, already in 1985.

The Church elected a new Labor Commission in March 1986 consisting of Maria Odete Gomes, Carlos Alberto Simões and Ana Maria Costa. This Commission presented the Church with a first report on the future preschool and, in July of the same year, the first contacts were made with the Lisbon Regional Directorate for Social Security and the Church approved the beginning of the Facilities' construction.

On November 9, 1986, Igreja Evangélica Baptista do Cacém unanimously voted to organize a Social Solidarity Foundation called "Centro Social Baptista", approving its Statutes.

The first Governing Bodies were elected on January 11, 1987, with the Board of Directors chaired by the then Pastor of the Church, Júlio Sérgio Felizardo, the secretary Maria Odete Gomes, and the treasurer Gracindo Machado Lopes. As members of the Fiscal Council, the brethren: José da Costa Silva as president, Álvaro Rodrigues Guimarães and Fernando Mónica da Costa as members.

On the 21st of the same month, the deed of Centro Social Baptista was celebrated in the 17th Notary Office of Lisbon. Its registration as a Social Solidarity Institution was requested on February 2, 1987, at the Central Registry of Private Social Solidarity Institutions.

The construction of the 1st floor aiming the installation of the Nursery was completed and dedicated to the Lord on February 1, 1987.

The extract from the Statutes was published in Diário da República nº 35, III Série, from 11.02.87 and on 23 March, Centro Baptista Social registration was granted as a Corporate Person. The recognition of the Institution as a Foundation for Social Solidarity was published on June 30, 1987, in nº 147 in Diário da República, II Series.

The opening of the Nursery and Preschool took place on September 2, 1987, with 5 children and 4 employees, two of them on a voluntary basis. On the 30th of November of that year, the first Social Security Cooperation Agreement was signed for 75 children to the nursery and kindergarten.

The huge demand for vacancies at the Institution led the Church to expand the existing facilities. Therefore, in February 1988, on the anniversary of the church, an offer was made to start this work. This offer amounted to 932,156 $ 00.

On October 31, 1988, two new agreements were signed with Social Security, for the services of Home Support and Day Care.

The following year, the Church raised an anniversary offer for the expansion works. This offer reached the value of 1,065,600 $ 00.

Still in 1989, spiritual work began with the elderly who attended the Day Center. This spiritual ministry was carried out weekly with songs and Bible study and its aim to provide the elderly with the knowledge of the love of God.

In September 1989 and having in perspective the increase in demand, a new Cooperation Agreement with Social Security was signed for Nursey and Kindergarten, expanding the number of children to 130.

The work started in the previous year was completed in February 1990 and the facilities were inaugurated with the presence of the Minister of Employment and Social Security, Dr. Silva Peneda.

In 1992, a donation was made for the purchase of facilities for a Nursing Home. This donation made it possible to acquire a property located at Rua Luís Sambo, nº 20 in Agualva, which, after carrying out the appropriate adaptation works, was inaugurated on December 6, 1992. This Home had a capacity for 15 female users.

Earlier this year, under the guidance of Pastor Daniel Pascoal, weekly Bible stories for children began. The purpose of this ministry was to teach the children the love for God and for their neighbor as fundamental Christian values.

On November 10, 1997, a new agreement was signed willing to expand the number of users benefiting from Home Support to a total of 20 people.

From 2001, we started to count on the collaboration of Pastor José Pinto Ferreira in the coordination of the entire spiritual area of the Foundation. It is important to register the development of this important ministry of the Institution, as well as the follow-up that the Pastor gave to the clients, visiting them in their illnesses and accompanying them in moments of anguish, sadness and discouragement.

Having into account the Institution's development and consequent structural increase, it was decided to hire a full-time Services Director. The Foundation's Substitute President, Sérgio Gomes, was invited to assume this role in February 2001.

In addition to those already mentioned, many were those who were part of the Social Bodies of the Foundation, among them: Bertília Pires, João Almeida Paulo, João Simões, Joaquim Ladeira, Severina Rocha, Raquel Pascoal, Joaquim Sarzedas and Isabel Gonçalves.

Since 2012, the Foundation has supported Crescer na Palavra - Associação Cristã de Educação, with which it has been strengthening a cooperative relationship in order to create a Christian-inspired Portuguese-speaking school in Portugal.

Currently, the Institution has a team of 35 employees, 1 doctor, 1 music teacher and 1 handicraft teacher, providing services to 41 children at the nursery, 89 children at preschool, 20 clients at the Home Support, 25 at the Day Center and food support with monthly baskets for about 30 families, through a Food Program for Needy Families.

Much has changed since the day the Foundation was able to open its doors to serve God and others. How we grew up! Often with difficulties, but we never felt alone, because we knew and know that God is always with us, giving us courage, wisdom, discernment and solutions.

We are grateful to all those who contributed to the success of the Institution, whether they are people or official entities, because we recognize their commitment, dedication and service. But the glory and honor for the existence of Centro Social Baptista belongs to God alone. Everything that was accomplished was by His power, His wisdom, His guidance and His provision. It is also to Him that we entrust our future.

"Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory for the sake of Your mercy and Your faithfulness." Psalm 115: 1