From https://movimentodosirmaos.blogspot.com/p/jose-ilidio-freire.html
José Ilídio Freire was born in Lisbon on October 15, 1892, son of Joaquim Marques Freire and Amélia Adelaide, and converted to Christianity at the age of 17.
While still in Lisbon, in 1909, attending evangelical conferences of the Young Men's Christian Association led by Rodolfo Horner, he heard about the message of the lost sheep based on the text of Luke 15:4-7. This message spoke to him deeply, and upon arriving home, he knelt by his bed, prayed to God, confessing his sins and asking for forgiveness.
He met with the group in Amoreira, a neighborhood in Lisbon.
He married Etelvina de Morais in 1915 and soon became the father of a girl, Eunice. Later, David was born.
Until 1920, Freire had a good job as a bookkeeper in Lisbon , until he made the decision to dedicate himself fully to the ministry, working in itinerant evangelization, distributing literature to prisoners. It was a difficult decision, given the circumstances in which, while having to provide for his family, he faced strong opposition from the religious fanaticism of his time in Portugal, ranging from stonings to death threats: "Kill him, he's a Protestant." The fruits of his ministry confirm that he made the right decision. He never became discouraged, always striving to live the truths described in Romans 1:16.
In 1922, Freire created the "Ambulância de Instrução Evangélica" ("Ambulance of Evangelical Instruction") and traveled the country distributing literature.
He traveled through cities and towns on foot or by cart, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, and whenever he needed to rest, he would lean against the back of his cart.
He became a widower, and in 1962 he remarried. His second wife was the missionary Lillie B. Freire. In September 1982 he became a widower again.
Freire was a writer. He is the author of much evangelistic literature and translator of several pamphlets from English to Portuguese. His name is mentioned in our hymnbook "Hinos e Cânticos" ("Hymns and Spiritual Songs") as the author of 19 beautiful hymns and choruses, among them the well-known "Um Só Rebanho" ("One flock") (HC 580).
José Ilídio Freire was a God-fearing man, consecrated to God and an example for all Christians. He was a man of prayer, and therefore the work he accomplished bore fruit. It is said that every morning he would rise from his bed, open his bedroom window, and contemplate the heavens, longing for the return of Christ. The lyrics of his hymns confirm how much he loved heaven!
Freire left on June 19, 1987, in his hometown.
