Hidden in Sight: Preachers in Rio Rescue Souls of Addicts

New photo essay shows a view of Brazil beyond the World Cup.

Brazil Preachers Look to Save Drug Addicts - Beyond the tourist attractions of Rio De Janeiro, where thousands will ascend in June for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, street preachers take the streets at night to rescue the souls of crack addicts in the favela of Jacarezinho. Take a look at images from the Associated Press, showing a world beyond the city's main attraction. — Natelege Whaley (@Natelege_) In the photo of above, Pastor Celio Ricardo prays with members of God's Love rehabilitation center before heading out to minister to addicts in the streets.  (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Brazil Preachers Look to Save Drug Addicts - Beyond the tourist attractions of Rio De Janeiro, where thousands will ascend in June for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, street preachers take the streets at night to rescue the souls of crack addicts in the favela of Jacarezinho. Take a look at images from the Associated Press, showing a world beyond the city's main attraction. — Natelege Whaley (@Natelege_) In the photo of above, Pastor Celio Ricardo prays with members of God's Love rehabilitation center before heading out to minister to addicts in the streets.  (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Preparation - A former drug user and trafficker and member of the God's Love rehabilitation center reads his notes before going with members of the church to rescue souls. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Preparation - A former drug user and trafficker and member of the God's Love rehabilitation center reads his notes before going with members of the church to rescue souls. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

The Helpless Line Up - Drug addicts line up to receive food from God's Love rehabilitation center while members talk to those who will listen about quitting. Pastor Ricardo relies on food donations to stock his shelves. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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The Helpless Line Up - Drug addicts line up to receive food from God's Love rehabilitation center while members talk to those who will listen about quitting. Pastor Ricardo relies on food donations to stock his shelves. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Distributing Food - An addict eats food distributed by Pastor Ricardo's church. The spiritual leader calls his efforts hit-and-miss in trying to convince the addicts to quit. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Distributing Food - An addict eats food distributed by Pastor Ricardo's church. The spiritual leader calls his efforts hit-and-miss in trying to convince the addicts to quit. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Former Addicts Help Current Addicts - Pastor Ricardo and his team of street preachers offer the addicts a makeshift shelter next to his Love of God church. In the photo, a man lights his crack pipe. Some of the preachers helping, including Ricardo, used to be addicts as well.  (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Former Addicts Help Current Addicts - Pastor Ricardo and his team of street preachers offer the addicts a makeshift shelter next to his Love of God church. In the photo, a man lights his crack pipe. Some of the preachers helping, including Ricardo, used to be addicts as well.  (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Brazil No. 1 Consumer of Crack Cocaine - A woman rests her head against a wall in the area known as 'cracolandia' or 'crackland.' Brazil is currently the world's No. 1 consumer of crack cocaine, according to the Federal University of Sao Paulo.  (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Brazil No. 1 Consumer of Crack Cocaine - A woman rests her head against a wall in the area known as 'cracolandia' or 'crackland.' Brazil is currently the world's No. 1 consumer of crack cocaine, according to the Federal University of Sao Paulo.  (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Addicts Lay on the Ground - After midnight, drug addicts lie on the sidewalks of Jacarezinho. Police stand by watching the grim scene. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Addicts Lay on the Ground - After midnight, drug addicts lie on the sidewalks of Jacarezinho. Police stand by watching the grim scene. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Prayers in the Streets - Members of God's Love are shown in the photo praying for a woman who is addicted to crack.  (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Prayers in the Streets - Members of God's Love are shown in the photo praying for a woman who is addicted to crack.  (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Tackling Spiritual Issues - A former drug user holds the head of an addict and prays for him. Pastor Ricardo says the biggest challenge is making sure the physical needs of the addicts are tackled. "At first they need to rest because this drug leaves them hallucinated," he told the Associated Press.(Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Tackling Spiritual Issues - A former drug user holds the head of an addict and prays for him. Pastor Ricardo says the biggest challenge is making sure the physical needs of the addicts are tackled. "At first they need to rest because this drug leaves them hallucinated," he told the Associated Press.(Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Two-Thirds Relapse - "They lose hunger, they lose the will to live. They want to drug themselves to death, and here we try to reverse that situation," Ricardo adds. He says he encourages the addicts to remain at his rehab center for at least nine months to avoid relapsing, according to CNN. But at least two-thirds return to the drug.   (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Two-Thirds Relapse - "They lose hunger, they lose the will to live. They want to drug themselves to death, and here we try to reverse that situation," Ricardo adds. He says he encourages the addicts to remain at his rehab center for at least nine months to avoid relapsing, according to CNN. But at least two-thirds return to the drug.   (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)