Making a difference

The City of São Paulo Thanks the Arsenal of Hope

On December 4, 2024, the Arsenal of Hope received the Salva de Prata, the highest honor granted by the City of São Paulo, for 28 years of service to the city. The promoter of the initiative was city councilor Carlos Bezerra Jr., a doctor and evangelical pastor, who for the last three years has held the position of councilor for social policies, the area on which the agreement between the Arsenal of Hope and the City of São Paulo depends. The words spoken in his speech during the ceremony are an important sign of the public recognition of the city of São Paulo for the work of our Fraternity.
Let's read them together...

«The Arsenal of Hope forced me to change my mental patterns: during my management I worked to transform the large structures, which receive many people, into smaller reception centers. In fact, literature, experience and work have always led me to believe that smaller spaces offer greater “humanization”, better conditions of reception, of support because the centers I knew, with more than 300, 400, 600 people were simply “warehouses of people”.
Then I met the Arsenale and I could not believe that they could accommodate more than a thousand men with such quality, dignity and respect. I confess that I was immediately confused.

Then I concluded that there are two elements that, in my opinion, are crucial in the work you have done in these 28 years. The first is you who make the Arsenale, missionaries, workers, volunteers, supporters... you are the soul of that house.
The Arsenale is not just a building – which, among other things, you have made beautiful – the Arsenale is the people, it is an arsenal of people, of solidarity, of peace, of life, of hope and of faith. Here, the first thing is the people who are the soul of the Arsenale.
And then faith: a faith to which I am very attached. We are brothers, I am Protestant, but I am your brother as a Christian, I feel like a brother in what you do because more than announcing the Gospel, you live it, in its broadest dimensions: in the promotion of justice, dignity, respect for life and this makes all the difference [...]. These are the elements that distinguish you.

This wonderful group of real, supportive, altruistic people who give themselves motivated by faith, a true faith that transforms, is such a necessary element in these times in which we unfortunately live experiences of faith that do not go in this direction, but rather towards the dehumanization, the market and the objectification of people.
I say these words to you with my heart, with deep respect. [...] It is for these reasons that I thought it was time for this city, through its main legislative seat, in the place of its highest popular representation, on behalf of the people of São Paulo, to say to each of you: Thank you!
Your presence is truly a very good and important thing.

The city of São Paulo is less unjust, less inhumane, less violent because you have courageously decided to replace weapons with “PEACE” and this is the kind of example that we must honor. In 50 years, when someone looks at the annals of the City Council, reading this name “Arsenal da Esperança”, they will say: “These people made a difference in the city of São Paulo!” That is why we are here, together, tonight. God bless you all, congratulations Arsenal of Hope, congratulations to all of you!”

Carlos Bezerra Jr.

Arsenal of Hope - São Paulo - Brazil
NP January 2025