Portuguese
Expanding Scripture Engagement for Portuguese-Speaking Communities
Portuguese is one of the most influential languages in global Christianity today. Across Brazil, Lusophone Africa, and Portuguese-speaking communities worldwide, pastors, missionaries, educators, and ministry leaders are called to teach, disciple, and shepherd from Scripture in Portuguese.
While trusted Portuguese Bible translations are widely used, access to modern, integrated Bible study environments in Portuguese remains limited. Many leaders rely on print resources, fragmented tools, or platforms designed primarily for English-speaking users—making deep, consistent study more difficult than it should be.
Word For All exists to help close this gap.
“Jesus lhes disse:
Vão ao mundo inteiro e anunciem as boas-novas a todos.”
Support for Portuguese Scripture engagement is administered through New Horizons Foundation.
Gifts supporting Portuguese Scripture engagement are administered through New Horizons Foundation in accordance with donor intent.
Who Speaks Portuguese — People First
Portuguese is the daily ministry language of millions of believers and leaders. It is used in:
- Local congregations and house churches
- Pastoral training and theological education
- Missionary work and church planting
- Preaching, discipleship, and Bible teaching
In many regions, Portuguese functions both as a primary heart language and as a shared language across diverse communities. Leaders often minister in contexts that demand clarity, accessibility, and faithful handling of Scripture.
For these leaders, Scripture is central—but meaningful engagement with Scripture does not always scale to ministry demand.
Portuguese Language Reach & Demographics
Portuguese is one of the world’s most influential languages for Christian ministry:
- Spoken by hundreds of millions of people worldwide
- Centered in Brazil, with growing reach across Africa and the global diaspora
- Increasingly significant in missionary training and sending movements
Portuguese-speaking churches represent a wide range of traditions and ministry contexts. A single investment in Portuguese-language Scripture engagement therefore has the potential to strengthen leaders and communities across multiple countries and generations.
Where Portuguese Is Spoken
Portuguese is spoken across much of the world, including:
- Brazil
- Lusophone countries in Africa
- Portugal and Europe
- Global diaspora communities
Because Portuguese is shared across borders and cultures, resources developed for Portuguese-language study extend far beyond any single country or denomination.
Portuguese in Christian Missions
- As the primary language of one of the world’s largest Christian populations
- As a language of pastoral training and theological education
- As a missionary-sending language reaching Africa and other regions
Despite this central role, many Portuguese-speaking leaders lack access to the depth of digital study tools commonly available in English. Strengthening Portuguese-language study infrastructure supports faithful teaching, long-term discipleship, and healthy church leadership.
Access vs. Engagement
In Portuguese-speaking contexts, Scripture is widely available—but effective study engagement often lags behind.
- Digital study platforms designed primarily for English users
- Limited availability of integrated study features in Portuguese
- Fragmented tools that hinder careful reading and comparison
- Continued dependence on print resources or informal workarounds
These limitations affect sermon preparation, teaching clarity, and discipleship depth. Word For All focuses on bridging this gap by enabling Portuguese-language leaders to study Scripture within a modern, reliable study environment.
Target Portuguese Bible Translations
The Portuguese localization initiative focuses on responsibly integrating trusted, widely used Portuguese Bible translations into a modern digital study environment.
This work does not create new translations. It enables existing Scripture to be usable, comparable, and study-ready for real ministry contexts.
- Nova Versão Internacional (NVI – português)
A widely used contemporary translation serving churches across Brazil and beyond. - Nova Versão Transformadora (NVT)
Valued for clarity and accessibility, particularly in teaching and discipleship contexts. - Almeida tradition (modern revisions)
Including updated editions that retain familiarity while reflecting contemporary scholarship. - Additional scholarly Portuguese translations
Selected based on theological credibility, ministry usage, and the availability of structured data such as footnotes and cross-references.
A core goal of this initiative is to support comparative study, enabling users to read and analyze multiple translations side-by-side—an essential practice for careful interpretation and teaching.
Where study metadata is limited or incomplete, part of the localization effort includes acquiring and preparing resources that help fill these gaps, strengthening Scripture engagement across translations.
Why Supporting Portuguese Scripture Engagement Matters
- Teaching becomes clearer and more faithful
- Discipleship grows in depth and confidence
- Communities are strengthened through sound biblical instruction
Language-appropriate study tools are foundational to the health of the Church. Supporting Portuguese-language Scripture engagement is an investment in leaders who serve faithfully and strengthen communities across cultures and generations.
Partnership & Stewardship
The Portuguese language initiative operates under the fiscal sponsorship of New Horizons Foundation, providing charitable oversight, financial accountability, and stewardship in accordance with donor intent.
Word For All focuses on execution and implementation, working with mission-aligned partners to ensure that donor support is applied responsibly toward Scripture engagement across languages.
Support Portuguese Scripture Engagement
Portuguese-speaking leaders are faithfully serving communities around the world. With access to the right tools, they can study Scripture more deeply and teach it more clearly.
Your support helps make that possible.
Gifts supporting Portuguese Scripture engagement are administered through New Horizons Foundation in accordance with donor intent.