About Jefferson M. Furtado

I’m Rev. Dr. Jefferson M. Furtado, a United Methodist pastor, writer, and theological leader deeply committed to building communities of grace, justice, and belonging. I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and have been serving in the United States since 2001. My cross-cultural journey continues to shape my ministry, drawing from Wesleyan theology, Black and Latin American liberation thought, and my lived experience at the intersections of race, migration, and faith.

With deep experience in multicultural and urban ministry, I strive to preach and teach in ways that are dynamic, Christ-centered, and grounded in Scripture. I carry a profound love for Jesus and a passion for helping the Church grow into a more expansive, courageous, and Spirit-led community—one that centers marginalized voices and challenges injustice.

Throughout my ministry, I’ve had the privilege of walking with congregations through seasons of transformation and growth. I lead with a blend of spiritual depth, emotional intelligence, and organizational clarity—helping communities navigate conflict, restructure ministries, and cultivate financial sustainability. I value collaboration and seek to foster trust, healthy staff dynamics, and shared vision.

I currently serve as the Senior Pastor of Hilldale United Methodist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee. I also serve as a District Superintendent and as Secretary of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference, where my work spans clergy development, conference governance, and strategic planning.

I hold a Doctor of Ministry degree with research focused on Wesleyan discipleship and the vows of the baptized life: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. I’m also the author of Rooted in Discipleship, a practical theological framework for forming faith communities committed to spiritual depth and social transformation.

At the heart of my calling is a deep belief that the Church is most fully itself when it reflects the wideness of God’s grace—a kin-dom where everyone has a seat, every voice is honored, and every life is part of the story.

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My latest posts

Latest Posts

Will We Let Justice Flow?

Being Black in America has never been an easy proposition. While the Black experience in this nation has known moments of profound hope—emancipation proclaimed, rights codified, barriers broken—we must not deceive ourselves into believing that the original sin embedded in the American enterprise has failed to leave an indelible mark on the nation’s soul. That sin has shaped not only institutions and laws, but the collective psyche of every generation and every person whose fe

Diverse Black figures gathered across generations, connected by flowing tapestry-like threads. In the background, an unfinished, fading tower rises symbolically, contrasting with the warmth and movement of the people below.

Beyond Babel: A Call to See, Listen, and Learn

One of the great gifts education offers us is learning to see the world through new lenses. Too often, Black History Month becomes a moment rather than a practice. The Black experience in America is not a single story, but a tapestry—woven from faith, struggle, joy, and resistance. The story of Babel reminds us that the danger is not working together, but building without humility or listening. May this month help us see, learn, and live differently.

New Year... New Beginnings...

Standing at the threshold of a new year, we often feel pressured to plan, perfect, and resolve. Yet Scripture offers a different posture. The Apostle Paul admits, “It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected.” Faith, he reminds us, is not about arrival but becoming. We press on not by sheer resolve, but by grace—because Christ has already taken hold of us, and God is not finished with us yet.

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jefferson.furtado@gmail.com