Pastor Joel Ferreira

Pastor Joel Ferreira, age 84, of Marlborough, passed away Friday, November 27, 2015 at The Reservoir Center for Health and Rehabilitation. He was the husband of Ana E. (Freire) Ferreira to whom he has been married for the past 41 years.

Born in Catanduva, Sao Paulo, Brazil, a son of the late Policarpo E. and Tereza (Oliveira) Ferreira, he lived in Fall River for many years.

A graduate of Seminário Teológico Batista do Sul do Brasil, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology. A retired Minister and Missionary, he spent his life as an evangelist and pastor, preaching and teaching the Bible and raising up congregations in Brazil and the US among the Portuguese-speaking communities of Southeastern New England. In the 1960s he was among the first radio preachers in Brazil and produced an evangelical movie in the 1990s, “Quando as Lágrimas Rolam.”

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters: Miriam E. Ferreira and her husband Gustavo Gonsalves of New York, NY, Debora E. Ferreira and her husband Luciano Begnami of Marlborough, MA, four sons: Samuel L. Ferreira and his wife Patricia of Brazil, Daniel M. Ferreira and his wife Andrea of Boston, David J. Ferreira of Palm Beach, Florida, and Cezar T. Ferreira of Vero Beach, Florida, one brother: Azor Ferreira, two sisters: Debora and Eunice Ferreira all of Brazil, seventeen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 10:00AM in Christ the Rock Assembly of God Church, 414 Rock St., Fall River. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours Tuesday, December 1, 2015 from 5:00 to 8:00PM in the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Cherry Place, 178 Winter St., Fall River. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to JAMI (Junta Administrative de Missões), a non-profit organization. JAMI exists to serve local churches associated with the National Baptist Convention in Brazil as it sends missionaries into God's harvest field. Additional details will be provided at the wake and at the funeral service. Burial in Oak Grove Cemetery, Fall River. For tributes or directions: www.waring-sullivan.com