An eight-year-old girl has become an unexpected star figure in the fast-growing evangelical movement, reflecting a broader trend of children emerging as influential religious voices through social media.
Ester Souza, who lives in São Paulo state in rural Brazil, prepares for the pulpit with a routine that contrasts sharply with typical childhood play.
She changes out of her T-shirt and shorts, braids her long hair, and applies light makeup before entering her father’s small church, where congregants wait attentively for her weekly sermon.
“My heart is racing,” she says before stepping up to preach.
Standing behind an open Bible with a poise far beyond her age, Ester recounts her personal testimony, a severe kidney infection, months in the hospital, a transplant, and near-daily dialysis.
Her message is one her audience has come to expect.
“The doctors said no,” she declares, “but God said yes.”
Members of the congregation respond with cries of “Hallelujah!” and “Praise the Lord!”
A Viral Presence with Millions of Followers
Thanks to her large social media presence, Ester has become a national figure in her nation’s growing Evangelical movement.
Ester’s mother uploads her sermons to social media, where the child preacher has amassed nearly two million followers.
A clip of her testimony on the variety program Show de Calouros has exceeded 11 million views.
She is among a growing number of children whose preaching has flourished online as evangelical Christianity expands across Brazil.
Researchers note that the shift accelerated with the rise of social media.
“At first, these children would preach and only later record their sermons to share the message,” researcher Vânia Morales Sierra said.
“Today, the internet is both the means and the end.”
Evangelical Growth Reshapes Brazil’s Religious Landscape
Brazil, home to the world’s largest Catholic population, has seen its evangelical share rise from 6.5% in 1980 to more than 26% today.
Demographers expect evangelicals to form a majority by 2050.
The Catholic Church continues to focus on youth engagement, including World Youth Day events that draw millions, but pathways to leadership remain limited for minors.
Evangelical congregations, meanwhile, allow children to step directly into preaching roles.
Supporters See Inspiration; Critics Raise Concerns
Supporters describe child preachers as vessels of sincerity and faith, but critics warn about the intersection of childhood, religion, fame, and digital pressure.
The case of 15-year-old preacher Miguel Oliveira, who declared online that he could “cure leukemia” and later faced threats, scrutiny from child protection authorities, and a suspended Instagram account, has fueled debate over the emotional pressures and ethical questions involved.
“A child has the discernment to know right from wrong,” Sierra said.
“But the key question is whether they have the guidance necessary to reflect on the consequences of their actions.”
A Family Shaped by Illness and Faith
Ester’s parents, both pastors, say they initially expected her to become a gospel singer.
They posted videos of her from the age of three.
Her first sermon in 2019 surprised them when she recited Psalm 91 at a family prayer gathering.
Months later, severe kidney failure put her in long-term hospitalization during the pandemic.
Ester recalls feeling afraid when her parents could not stay with her.
“One night, I saw a man in a shining white robe, and he said he would take care of me,” she said.
“I think it was God.”
She received a transplant in 2021 and soon after began preaching regularly.
Her father, Pastor Lucas Souza, says their family is mindful of the criticism child preachers receive, particularly after public scrutiny of other young influencers.
“If I wanted to push Ester to gain millions and millions of followers using these practices of casting demons and healing, I could have,” he said.
“But it wouldn’t be in a positive way.”
A Child Balancing Fame and Normal Life
Ester now preaches weekly at her family’s church and occasionally travels to speak elsewhere.
She also participates in some advertising opportunities.
Yet outside church, she remains a typical eight-year-old who loves soccer, drawing, sandcastles, and Disney characters.
“Don’t you think I look like Moana?” she asks, pointing to a picture of the animated heroine.
Her father helps maintain her social media presence, occasionally reminding her to film daily updates.
At a park near her home, Ester negotiates for extra time to keep playing before recording a new message.
After brushing the sand from her hands, she shifts seamlessly back into influencer mode.
“Hi, my loves,” she says into the camera, smiling brightly.
“How are you guys doing? Are you okay?”
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