Márcia Carolina Pontes (photo) is a geographer in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza, in the north-eastern state of Ceará. She is an active member of the local Spiritist Movement, working as a volunteer at the Paulo e Estevão (Paul and Stephen) Spiritist Centre, or GEPE. She also volunteers at the Casa do Caminho Spiritist Centre. 

During the coronavirus pandemic, she and her teenage daughter, Letícia Pontes, began a project producing videos to take the Gospel and the Spiritist Teachings to children, as she explains in the following interview. 

What is the “To Evangelise is to Love” project about?

It is a project aimed at disseminating the Spiritist Teachings and the Gospel of Jesus through videos. We produce the videos together – my daughter, Letícia Pontes, and I – and we also invite children from other Spiritist Centres and from other parts of the country to learn more about the lessons of Jesus and to exchange their experiences. 

How did it come about?

With the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Letícia was no longer able to perform at Spiritist events. She began singing at the age of 6, advised by the Spiritual Benefactors. She is now 13. Well, we received guidance from the Spiritual Mentors saying that she must start producing little videos for children, with tips and information about books, songs, Spiritist films and also the Gospel of Jesus. As we started producing them, we received further guidance from the Spirit World, telling us to invite children from other parts of the city and the country to join in, talking about the Gospel of Jesus. 

And how was your and your daughter’s first contact with Spiritism?

I was lucky to have been brought up by a Spiritist mother. And even though my husband is Catholic, he never created any obstacles for me to introduce Letícia into Spiritism. I can say that she began to be evangelised when she was still inside my belly. I used to read the Gospel for her when I was pregnant. And she joined the first Gospel groups when she was still a baby. 

What has been the reaction to this project?

Very good. When people find out about it they love it. It’s something apparently simple, but it’s new and innovative as it has a child as the main presenter, speaking about the lessons of Spiritism and the Gospel of Jesus to other children, in a playful and stimulating way. And I’ve been really impressed by the love and dedication shown by all of those – parents and children – who have collaborated with the production of the videos.  

As your daughter is the protagonist of the project, how much do you think she has learned from this whole experience?

Letícia has had very positive results. She comes up with ideas for themes to be discussed and different ways of interacting with the children and also with the puppet that plays a role in the videos, called Poliana. Not to mention the fact that all this has led to great personal development for her. Letícia was always a very sweet and calm child, even though she’s now entering adolescence. In the family, she debates a number of issues with passion, but always with maturity, while at school everyone says she remains a very calm, centred and well-behaved girl, always optimistic and positive. Her friends say she’s a happy girl, she’s fun and always willing to help. I believe that all this is helping her shape her personality, which is particularly important in this transition phase from childhood into adolescence. 

What do you think is the most remarkable aspect of this experience?

It’s how naturally and easily Letícia accepts all the guidance from the Spiritual Benefactors, the Spiritist Teachings and the Gospel of Jesus. 

And what’s your best memory from the project?

I always get very emotional when Letícia puts into practice what she learns in the Spiritist Teachings and the Gospel of Jesus. She is very discreet and rarely mentions when she helps someone. But there was one occasion when one of her best school friends was going through a very serious crisis and she embraced her and showed her the importance of life. She talked to her about how she could always rely on God and Jesus for help at times of trouble. She was so happy with the results, as her friend felt so much better after they talked, that she decided to share the experience with me. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

According to the Spiritual Benefactor who guides us, Letícia’s work is aimed at encouraging other children and young people to play a more active role in Spiritism. After all, the Spiritism Movement still lacks a bigger participation of children and young people. We are fully aware that the To Evangelise is to Love project doesn’t belong to us, but to God instead. We are mere tools that our Spiritual friends use to make it happen, giving us this time the opportunity to do the right thing. Our main hope is that the Project becomes an inspiration for others and that in the near future we will be able to see many other children doing something similar. May Jesus help us to carry on strong, remaining always on the path of kindness, charity and love.  

Editor’s Note: