On September 15th, the UCKG opened its newest headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The church has been in the country for 17 years, since 1993, under the name of “Centre d’Accueil Universel” (Universal Help Centre).


Switzerland is an ecumenical country, with a population of about 8 million people and is one of the richest countries in the world. Despite all this, Switzerland has one of the highest suicide rates – about 1,400 people per year – which is the second highest in the world.


This has turned into a major concern of many institutions because these levels have been increasing, especially among young people.


Keeping this problem in mind, the UCKG is working and studying the best way to contribute in the fight against this plight that has taken so many lives.


Bishop Vitor Silva has been responsible for the evangelistic work in the country since January of this year. Meetings are held in the country’s three official languages: French, German and Italian, as well as in Portuguese. Out of all the foreign communities in Switzerland, the Portuguese speaking community is considered the largest, with Portuguese, Brazilians, Cape Verdeans, Angolans and Mozambicans.


Today, there are six churches that are opened daily in the country and one that opens twice a week, in the following cities: Geneva – Thônex has meetings in French and Portuguese (this is where our new headquarters is located), Geneva (center) has meetings in French and Portuguese (former headquarters), Zurich – has meetings in German and Portuguese, Lausanne – has meetings in French and Portuguese, Bern – in Portuguese, Lugano – in Italian and Portuguese and Basel – in Portuguese.


The new church began holding daily meetings as of the 15th of September 2010 and is located in Geneva, in the district of Thônex (Address: 94-96, rue de Genève – 1226 Thônex.


The main difficulty that the UCKG has encountered in performing its work in the country has been in regards to the evangelization, because it’s forbidden to advertise or hand out religious pamphlets in the street, but all this has been overcome through faith.


The following are pictures of a special service held on September 26th at the new headquarters in Geneva.

Bishop Vitor Silva