The Influence of Ellen G. White in Brazil: Works, Translations, and Legacy

Abstract

This article analyzes the trajectory and impact of the works of Ellen G. White in Brazil, co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church. Although White did not directly focus on the country in her writings, her influence was manifested through the massive translation and distribution of her literature, which accompanied the expansion of Adventism. The investigation covers the period from the early arrival of Adventist literature in German, through the first translators, to the consolidation of her publications as a large-scale editorial phenomenon in the Brazilian religious landscape. Methodology The research employs a historical-bibliographical approach, examining primary and secondary sources to reconstruct the process of the introduction and dissemination of White's writings. SDA periodicals, such as the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, missionary reports, publication catalogs, and biographies of central figures like Guilherme Stein Jr., White's first Brazilian translator, were analyzed. The study concludes that Ellen G. White's influence in Brazil was established through a robust translation and publication project, driven by the leadership of the SDA Church and the Casa Publicadora Brasileira (Brazil Publishing House). The training of translators at the Seminary and, subsequently, mass distribution missionary projects like "Impacto Esperança" [Hope Impact], were crucial in popularizing her writings. The result is White's prominent position among the most-read authors in Brazil and Portuguese being the second language into which her works have been most translated, consolidating her lasting legacy in the country.