ABOUT us

OUR STORY

A smiling man and woman holding hands in a city square with a neoclassical building in the background, flags flying above, and people sitting on benches.

THE BISPO FAMILY

Manoel and Florina have been married since September 2022, and have one child, a baby daughter, Junia Maria. Florina is from Switzerland, Manoel is from Brazil and has lived in New Zealand for 15 years, and Junia is a citizen of New Zealand, Switzerland, and Brazil. That’s right, she holds three citizenships.

Manoel grew up in a rough neighbourhood in São Paulo, Brazil. By the age of 12, he had an encounter with God when He spoke to him, saying: ‘One day, I will take you to the nations’. Manoel decided to follow Jesus and began serving in the church in different departments, and particularly enjoyed evangelising on the streets. Through God’s grace, Manoel overcame poverty and moved to New Zealand at the age of 20, where he spent 15 years. That season was transformative, where Manoel gained vast ministry experience, where God shaped his character and where the call of God was ignited in his life.

Florina grew up in Lucerne, Switzerland, and gave her heart to Jesus at 4 years of age (she does not remember that, but her mother told her). Florina began serving in her local church at a young age and worked for 3 years at Campus für Christus (Campus Crusade) in Switzerland, training and supporting churches running Alpha. In 2018, she attended Bible College in New Zealand and met Manoel. Altogether, Florina spent three and a half years in New Zealand and grew in her ability to disciple people and create environments for other people to flourish.

After living, serving, pastoring, pioneering, and leading ministries in New Zealand, God called our family to Switzerland. We packed our bags and moved to Zurich in January 2025 with the dream of building a Strong Church. We believe God wants to do something significant in Switzerland, and we want to be part of what He is doing in this nation. God directed our paths, and we are now planting Strong Church.

“Finally, be STRONG in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Our VISION

Strong Church exists to be a place to BELONG,

where people DISCOVER JESUS,

GROW stronger in faith,

and be empowered to IMPACT in their world.

Our mission

We reach, train, and empower individuals to discover

and live out their God-given purpose.

our values

We are Christ-centred, Life-giving, Soul-winning, and Discipleship-driven.  

  • We believe Christ is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18) and the cornerstone of our life (Ephesians 2:19-22). He alone deserves the glory. We seek to glorify Jesus with our lives.

    We honour His Word, cherish His Presence, are committed to His Mission, and are passionate about His Bride (the church).

  • We believe that Jesus came to give us life and life to the full (John 10:10). As believers in Christ, we have rivers of living water that flow from within us, which bring life to every environment (John 7:38).

  • We believe the ‘Great Commission’ is not the ‘great suggestion’. We intentionally go into our world and share the good news of Jesus with others (Mark 16:15). We are open and available for the Holy Spirit to use us to reach others. Every believer is empowered to share the gospel in their world.

  • We believe we are called to be disciples of Jesus (Luke 14:33). We are also called to make disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28:19). Discipleship is where God redeems and transforms us. In this process, we discover our identity in God, mature in our faith, become more Christ-like, and fulfil our God’s purpose for our lives.

PARTNER WITH US IN GIVING.

Why plant a church in zürich?

  • The Canton of Zürich has over 1.6 million people and is one of Europe’s most strategic places, a global hub for finance, innovation, and education. A place with world-class infrastructure, cultural richness, and international diversity. 

    Yet beneath the prosperity lies a spiritual hunger. Many live disconnected from God, burdened by a performance-driven culture, and searching for meaning in life. Although faith may exist in form, a vibrant relationship with Jesus is often missing.

    In a nation where only 2% of people are actively (weekly) involved in Christian communities, Zürich is a mission field ready for God's fresh move, a new expression of church—a spiritual renewal!

  • A Multicultural Mission Field:

    Zürich’s population is multiethnic and multilingual:

    • 42.5% have an immigrant background

    • A high percentage of the population speaks English

    • Thousands arrive for work, study, or refuge, often without access to a life-giving church community.

    This diversity isn’t a barrier; it’s an opportunity. We believe God is positioning the Church to bridge cultures, languages, and generations, reaching locals and foreigners alike with the hope of the Gospel. Zürich is set up for global influence. Making disciples in this city means making global disciples.