Luiz Claudio Assis Pereira: 

“The teachings of Jesus and Spiritism lead us towards a common goal: inner reform” 

The new president of the Nosso Lar Spiritist Centre (Our Home) in Brazil’s Parana state talks about his plan ahead of the organisation

	Luiz Claudio Assis Pereira (photo), 46, is the new president of the main Spiritist group in the north of Parana state. A well-known Spiritist speaker in the region and president of the local branch of the Spiritist Federation, he first came into contact with the Teachings codified by Allan Kardec 10 years ago, in his hometown of Londrina, where he still
lives. In this interview he lays out his plans for his term ahead of the Nosso Lar Spiritist Centre:

You have long experience as a regional Spiritist leader. What is your assessment of the Spiritist Movement in the north of Parana state? 

I think it is important to encourage the exchange of information and general cooperation between the Spiritist groups in the region. I believe most groups still work in a very isolated manner, each one with their problems. We should focus on getting a common agenda and sharing problems and solutions. Also, there is lack of qualified volunteers and financial resources. 

You already hold the posts of president at the Irmã Scheilla Spiritist Group and the local branch of the Spiritist Federation. Why did you decide to apply for the post of president of the Nosso Lar group? 

That was not part of my plans. But my name was put forward by some of my fellow Spiritists. I thought over it for a few months and decided to take up yet another challenge. It is another opportunity of helping the Spiritist Movement. I am very eager to see everyone working together, as a team, focused solely on the advancement of Spiritism. I believe I can help it happen. But of course I am not an essential part of it, I am just another Spiritist volunteer doing my bit. 

What are your main goals as president of the Nosso Lar group? 

We need to work together in the Spiritist Centre to achieve our common goals. I know how difficult it is to look after an organisation with so many activities, volunteers and regular visitors. We are now working on a plan of action to meet those challenges. It will consist of three parts: 1) Gathering information about how the group works at the moment; 2) Draw up the new goals; Create an action plan.  

What do you think needs to be changed? 

I cannot criticise the work done so far. There are lots of positives and negatives, and I am sure that will be the same with the new board of directors. I believe we need to improve the communication of activities to everyone at the Spiritist Centre. We have no intention of bringing about radical change. What we want is to improve the quality of the courses and other activities offered at the organisation. Our biggest challenge will be to work together and in synchrony. 

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? 

Spiritism is going through a very important phase, as the Movement is growing fast. It is important that all of those in a position of power, in directive roles, be aware to that fact, guiding all volunteers to the core values of Spiritism, as laid out in the works of Allan Kardec and reliable complimentary works. I hear some say that the works of Allan Kardec are out of date and that we need change. But the books he published are up to date and entirely relevant, in the same way as the teachings of Jesus. We are the ones who need to change. That will only happen when we start to study more to fully understand the teachings, when we begin sharing what we learn and, more importantly, when we begin to put all of that into practice. The teachings of Jesus and Spiritism lead us towards a common goal: inner reform. Everything around us will change once we achieve that.