Who 'Zé Maria' was
José Maria Barbosa Silva (1938-2023) was an Adventist pastor remembered as one of the most beloved and creative leaders of youth ministry in South America. The affectionate nickname —Zé Maria— became the hallmark of a distinctive way of speaking to the heart of new generations.
He was born in Patos, in Paraíba, on October 8, 1938, into a Catholic family. As a teenager he was sent to the former Ginásio Adventista do Nordeste, where, in 1953, he came to know the Adventist faith and was baptized. He graduated in theology from the former Brazil College (now UNASP, São Paulo campus) in 1963.
Over more than four decades of service, he was a pastor, missionary, professor, and administrator — but he became known, above all, for his work with Pathfinders and young people. He passed away on March 15, 2023, at the age of 84.
From Peru to Brasília
Newly graduated, José Maria felt the missionary call and, in 1964, moved to Peru, where he served for several years in the former Inca Union — in Lima, in the Lake Titicaca region, and in Arequipa.
In 1971 he returned to Brazil as pastor of the Pilot Plan Church, in Brasília. It was there that he began to stand out in his work with Pathfinders, leading the Cruzeiro do Sul Club.
Read alsoHow the Pathfinders Arrived in BrazilThe first camporees
In 1975, José Maria took over the leadership of youth in Rio Grande do Sul. The following year, in November 1976, he organized what is remembered as the first Pathfinder Camporee of the state, bringing together 16 clubs and about 600 Pathfinders.
Years later, now serving in the central region of the country, he led the first Camporee of the Brazilian Central Union, held in 1987 in the city of Avaré (SP), with the theme 'He is at the helm'. These events helped establish the camporee as the great gathering of Pathfinder youth in Brazil.
Division director and the birth of the Adventurers
In 1990, José Maria was elected youth director of the South American Division (SAD), a position he held until 2002. Leading the continent's youth, he invested heavily in training leaders and producing support materials.
It was during this period that he took part in the process that made official the establishment of the Adventurer Club in South America, in 1998 — the sister club of the Pathfinders, aimed at children ages 6 to 9. He also collaborated with pastor Cláudio Belz on recording CDs for the youth, and in 1993 he held the 2nd Division Camporee, in Ponta Grossa (PR).
Final years and legacy
After the Division, José Maria turned to teaching. He was a professor at the Latin-American Adventist Theological Seminary (SALT) and took on the university chaplaincy at UNASP, where he remained until retirement, closing out about 44 years of work in the organization.
A scholar, he completed a master's degree at Andrews University (United States) and wrote articles and devotionals for Brazil's Adventist publications. He became known as 'the leader of a generation' — a reference to the affection with which he touched thousands of young people and Pathfinders across South America.