Marlon sported a silver crucifix, black clothes, and high-top sneakers. A former rapper, he abandoned the underground world of rhymes and decided to found the White Table Church , a segmented neo-Pentecostal church. His brother, Aron, known as a kind progressive, conceived a fast-food restaurant chain and recently organized an NGO for sustainable food. Aron's favorite catchphrase was: "the cross is a praise of torture." In turn, Marlon repeated two maxims in his church services: "The Devil is a naked man with a penis similar to the 'Michelin Man'" and "God doesn't bet with losers."
Marlon and Aron were twin brothers, sons of an evangelical pastor (an ex-convict) and a mother who practiced Candomblé. Marlon followed in his father's footsteps. Aron honored his mother's ancestry.
The pastor began Monday's service with his favorite phrase: “Brothers and sisters, the devil is a naked man…” And he continued: “He is sin in its absolute nakedness. Therefore, against the enemy, only this sacred cloak will defeat him. Glory to God, brothers and sisters! For today's service, at the end, we will be dissecting him, asking for the bread of angels, the holy tithe. Each brother and sister can give the worker an initial bid of 500 reais for a piece of him. If you want to please God even more, you can double the bet because He doesn't cheat, brothers and sisters. He is the supreme good of the players in this world. God doesn't bet with losers! This world, brothers and sisters, is divided between the gambling of good and the gambling of evil. Glory to God! Money can be tares or wheat, brothers and sisters, so when we make it grow in our church, we will know, with the discernment of the scriptures, how to separate them at the right time of harvest. Hallelujah, brothers and sisters!”
Marlon finished his sermon and moved on to the testimonies of the assembly.
"Sister, what is your name and profession?"
“Sara is my new name. I used to be from the job. ”
"Prostitute... brothers. And, sister, how much did she earn for it?"
"Gross, ten thousand reais per month, pastor."
"It was a good salary... but sister, what made you give up the scourges of the flesh and the slime of Satan?"
"Pastor Marlon, it was the Trunk of Jericho!"
“Sister, the Trumpet of Jericho is powerful. Tonight it will sound, defeating the enemy, and one of the seven keys will open the door of perseverance. In the coming days, at each service, one key will open another. Which one do you want to be opened?”
"Pastor Marlon, I want the one with the blunt doorknob."
“Sister Sara, let us break down the heavenly gates and seal the infernal ones. Kneel here and, after my words, speak those that spring from your heart.”
(Gospel music in the background)
I want to, I want to
Heal me and pour your oil on my pain.
"Restores the freshness of this flower."
"Sister Sara, I declare great faith!"
"Pastor Marlon, accept me as a defendant..."
"Receive, sister, from my lips, the heavenly omen!"
"I receive, pastor, from your drill, the foreskin that is being penetrated."
This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Unicamp.
Cover illustration by Fernando Morato:
