Interview

By Orson Peter Carrara

The online channel Amigos de Nosso Lar is a story of success

Débora Priscila Rabelo (photo)  is a journalist and trained accountant in the Brazilian city of Novo Hamburgo, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. She is also the creator of the online Spiritist channel Amigos de Nosso Lar (Friends of Nosso Lar - Our Home), which has done remarkable work in the dissemination of Spiritism. She talks about the project in the following interview:


How did you become a Spiritist?

One fine day I began asking myself questions about death. Where would I go when my time finally came? Would everything simply come to an end? That had a very negative impact on me. So, after experiencing serious personal problems, which I wasn’t capable of dealing with, I decided to attend a Spiritist talk. And on that particular day, the issue on debate was precisely depression and suicide. That was one of the watersheds in my life. From then on, I began reading and researching all that I could find on the Spiritist Teachings. 

And how did you come up with the idea of creating the online channel?

On February 23rd, 2023, following inspiration from the Spiritual Benefactors, I created the Amigos de Nosso Lar Online Spiritist Study Group. The aim was to take the principles and ideas of Spiritism to those who were already Spiritists but also to those who didn’t know the Teachings. There are many people who, like me, live far away from any Spiritist Centre. Others aren’t able to attend the meetings in person for personal reasons. So this is an opportunity to make each one of us a point of light. And it’s a wonderful feeling to be able to be someone who’s able to take that light to so many people. 

Tells us more about the development of this online group.

I decided to take one step at a time and during the first year we only offered one live programme, called “Chat with the Friends of Nosso Lar”. I was looking after the channel on my own and I knew I wouldn’t be able to embrace the whole world. Then I felt it was time to expand and I contacted other Spiritist brothers and sisters and invited them to join us and talk about different Spiritist books, at their own time and convenience. The response was amazing and our audience grew quickly. The online Friends of Nosso Lar channel now offers a wide range of live and pre-recorded transmissions. That allows people to watch them whenever they’re able to, without interfering in their daily duties. 

What would you like to highlight from the content of the programmes available on the channel?

It’s the capacity the Spiritual Benefactors have of helping us and making something new out of the old. We shouldn’t underestimate the gift that the Spiritual World has given us through the Spiritist Teachings. It’s wonderful to follow the development of so many people avidly looking for information and giving back to. And it’s beautiful to see the impact that has on their lives. There’s no price for hearing from someone that you’ve met here on Earth that the words heard during a particular study group or prayer renewed their lives. Many people come to the channel in despair, with suicidal thoughts. I get many messages from people like that and we must offer a helping hand, not as an obligation but for love. 

What are the most popular themes with your audience?

Our programmes don’t focus on a particular issue. There’s a wide range of subjects discussed in the study and prayer groups, which is very useful for everyone. There are people who come to the channel looking for prayers, while others seek specific themes or the chat groups. Regardless of how they come to us, they end up finding out about all the activities and services offered, forwarding the videos to other people.   

What are the main lessons you have learned through your journey in Spiritism?

I would like to emphasise that we can't really appreciate the extent of the spiritual support that we get. The Friends of Nossos Lar - Our Home channel is so new, from our perspective, but it has already achieved so much. If someone feels lonely and is willing to study and to understand the Spiritist Teachings, bear in mind that we will be here to help you, always. The channel is not the work of our group only, or the Spiritual Benefactors. It’s the result of everyone coming together. And this union between all of us is more important than anything else. We must learn to live side by side, like brothers and sisters. Regardless of our religious affiliation, respect must prevail. Because, after all, love is the religion of Jesus Christ. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Slowly but surely, with the help of so many brothers and sisters, our channel has continued to grow. New projects are being developed and will be eventually unveiled and launched. You can find the Amigos de Nosso Lar channel on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Our email address is amigosdenossolar@gmail.com and of our channel is LINK-1. I thank you for this opportunity to publicise our work and I must express my gratitude to all the volunteers and the good Spirits who have been helping us. God is magnificent. We are given the opportunity of doing something different every single day of our lives. We can’t sit around looking through the window as life passes by. Let’s pray more for each other and we will find in love the answer for all that we seek.  

 

Translation:

Leonardo Rocha - l.rocha1989@gmail.com


 

     
     

O Consolador
 Revista Semanal de Divulgação Espírita