The Messenger

He speaks with absolute conviction. He’s already done a bit of everything. He lived four years in England where one day, after a binge, he tried to commit suicide in the sea. He tells us he was “saved by a miracle”, and on returning to Portugal decided to return to his faith and claim back his life. He now considers himself a street evangelist – something one sees in other countries, but which you don’t find too often here. He’s also a voluntary social worker helping out in a charity for people at risk.

Algarve 123: Are you connected to a particular church?

António José Correia:Yes, but it’s a personal project.

When did it start?

About a year and a half ago. It was my decision. I’ve visited many places, here in the Algarve and in Spain, but right now, I am staying in my own city.

Why?

I felt a calling. The way I see it – just as others see things their way – is that I have a special intimacy with God that makes me take this mission to heart.

What are you trying to transmit?

My initial message was one of love. The problem is that many people aren’t receptive to God and they didn’t like it when they saw a message like that. When I started all this, people felt confronted – as if there was someone showing them what they didn’t want to see.

So you’ve encountered problems for expressing your faith?

Yes. I’ve been badly treated by the authorities. At the beginning, I had to explain to them, Biblically, my point of view.

But Portugal allows for religious liberty. It’s a consecrated right in the Constitution…

That’s true, but what happened to me was also true. This is a nation where religious liberty exists, but the police often asked me to produce identification. If I did what I do by forcing people – forcing people to believe, it wouldn’t be honest because the Bible says we should respect our figures of authority.

But people in general - how did they react?

By treating me badly. Some whistled and booed. At the beginning, they called me names and blasphemed. They told me to go home. Twice, two different people tried to kill me by running me over.

Can you tell us of any positive experiences?

These days people from all over the world come to talk to me. They give me food, money. Sometimes they pray with me.

And what do people from other religions say when they meet you?

They encourage me, give me strength to go on. Some of them try to take me into their own religions. They give me pamphlets.

And what do you do with them? Throw them away?

No, I keep them in a drawer in my home, because I respect them, of course.

And if someone says they don’t agree with what you are doing?

We’d have to talk. It has happened before.

How do your friends and close family feel?

In the beginning they thought it was one of my jokes, that I was mad. Now they accept what I do.

Have you had any relationship breakdowns as a result, though?

No, I have a number of brothers and sisters, and I get on with all of them well enough.

Has anyone given you a nickname? Possibly not a very flattering one?

Yes, the Faro Prophet. But I am not a prophet. Spreading evangelism is written in the Bible…

So this is how you justify what you do?

Of course.

How did you get to this point?

I was converted to Christianity about three and a half years ago. I only began working in the street after that.

But how do you see yourself?

I am a street evangelist. A missionary in my home town. As far as I know, there’s a man like me in the United States and a young lady in England. There must be more people, but I don’t know about them. Currently, in Portugal, I don’t know of anyone…

What do you earn from all this?

Nothing at all. My salary is seeing people happy, and converting whoever wants to be converted. But I don’t lack for anything.

Where does your faith come from?

When I was a child, my mother took me to an Evangelical church. I heard Bible stories, and there the seed was born. Much later, I left everything behind me and started down other paths. I began doing the wrong things. I stole from my family, and then from others. I didn’t end up in jail because God took pity on me. I’ve had my problems with the courts and the law – the biggest was when I began stealing motorbikes and cars and put other people’s lives at risk as well. It was pretty bad.

And then?

Luckily, I found my way.

Are there many cases like yours?

Many.

Are there people who confuse your faith with fanaticism?

Perhaps. But if there are, they haven’t told me so to my face.

In the Algarve, where have you taken your message?

I’ve been to Portimão, Almancil, Quarteira, Olhão, Vilamoura and Lagos.

And you make all your own material?

Yes, everything. I write and produce it all. In the future, i will have a new placard that will be marvellous. It’s a message of Hope.

Are you going to travel?

No, I am going to stay in Faro.

How long do you think your faith will last?

It will last as long as I remain a humble person willing to hear others.

What other ideas do you have?

I would like to put Biblical messages up in the buses and trains – for people to read them and reflect on their lives. I am also working on short films, directed by me, to post on Youtube. I would also like to study and set up a centre for Bible study in Portugal, or Brazil.

How do you see other religions?

There are many doctrines, but one thing is certain: the Bible has existed for more than 3.500 years. It has been through fire, through war, through kings who have demanded its destruction, and it is still here to teach and correct what’s wrong - because it is an educational book. I think if everybody in the world lived by the teachings in this book, there wouldn’t be half the mess and problems that exist today …

Thank you for the interview.