The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the World, known as the Tocoistas, traces its beginnings back to July 25, 1949. This pivotal moment occurred after a prayer by His Holiness Prophet Simão Gonçalves Toco during the International Protestant Missionary Conference in Kalina (formerly Leopoldville, now Kinshasa) held from July 15 to 21, 1946. The fervent plea for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Africa laid the groundwork for what would become the Tocoist movement.
The seeds of this movement were sown earlier, in April 1943, when a choir of 12 boys formed the nucleus of what would evolve into the Tocoista community. The movement gained significant recognition in 1946 when Simão Gonçalves Toco, along with two others, attended the aforementioned conference.
The defining moment arrived on July 25, 1949, during a prayer vigil at Toco’s residence in Leopoldville. Witnesses reported experiencing a profound presence and witnessing miraculous events, signaling the descent of the Holy Spirit in Africa. This event marked the birth of the Tocoista movement.
However, the movement encountered resistance and opposition, particularly from colonial authorities who accused them of practicing rituals associated with a hierarchized mystical religious doctrine and preaching the coming of a new Christ. Toco and many followers were consequently arrested and deported from the Belgian Congo to Portuguese-controlled Angola in 1950. Despite these challenges, the Tocoista movement persisted and even flourished, with Toco maintaining communication with his followers through letters during his exile.
In 1974, with Portugal’s withdrawal from Angola, Simão Gonçalves Toco was able to return home. His return played a crucial role in fostering reconciliation among Angola’s liberation movement leaders, anticipating potential conflicts after independence..
Today, the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the World – Tocoistas, spreading its message across five continents, a testament to the enduring legacy of Prophet Simão Gonçalves Toco’s Prophecy.
The term “Tocoistas” was originally applied, with derogatory purposes, by Portuguese colonizers to all who adhered to the biblical teachings taught by Prophet Simão Gonçalves Toco. However, over time and to this day, members of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the World adopted this term with honor and pride.
