Valdemiro Santiago
Encyclopedia
Valdemiro Santiago is an Brazil
ian evangelical pastor
and leader
of the World Church of the Power of God. Graduated from the Order of Evangelical Theologians from Latin America, he has been an evangelical minister for more than 30 years.
Santiago was allegedly expelled from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
(UCKG) after an extramarital affair was discovered. Santiago claims he left the church on his own free will, after some misunderstandings with Bishop Edir Macedo
, leader of the UCKG
Santiago founded the World Church of the Power of God soon after he left the UCKG. In a short period of time, the church already had temples full of members in all Brazilian States, 10 of them only in the Rio de Janeiro state
.
Valdemiro account that swam more than seven hours with cramps, pain in the arms, legs, eyes bleeding due to the salinity of the sea, and most worrisome, in the midst of huge sharks that swam around them. Several times he cried for his God. At the time, he weighed 153 pounds. His companion who had been on the marker was rescued by a fishing boat.
Valdemiro says that God sent angel
s to save him. He says he was unconscious for some time and, upon waking, was being loaded two angels, who at first believed to be two men. He asked them what language they spoke and they responded in any language he knew, including the English language. Angels advised him not to talk, just rest, they were there to help you. The Apostle told this story in an interview with Ecclesia magazine, edition of 126.
. He was carrying in his car a short rifle, two carabiners and ammunition. More ammunition was apprehended during a search at his house, in the same city. Santiago claimed that the guns were for hunting and that he was taking them for a friend.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian evangelical pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
and leader
Leader
A leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...
of the World Church of the Power of God. Graduated from the Order of Evangelical Theologians from Latin America, he has been an evangelical minister for more than 30 years.
Santiago was allegedly expelled from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God is a Pentecostal Christian organisation established in Brazil on July 9, 1977, with a presence in many countries...
(UCKG) after an extramarital affair was discovered. Santiago claims he left the church on his own free will, after some misunderstandings with Bishop Edir Macedo
Edir Macedo
Edir Macedo Bezerra is a Brazilian religious leader. Macedo was raised Catholic, but by 1970 was a Pentecostal. He founded the "Neo-Pentecostal" Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil in 1977....
, leader of the UCKG
Santiago founded the World Church of the Power of God soon after he left the UCKG. In a short period of time, the church already had temples full of members in all Brazilian States, 10 of them only in the Rio de Janeiro state
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
.
Victim wreck
The pastor was the victim of a shipwreck. According to reports from the priest himself, on May 21, 1996, Valdemiro and some companions went by boat to fish on the high seas. When they were about two miles from the beach, they realized that the boat was heavier than normal. When they were 20 kilometers from the beach, the water entered the basement and the boat began to sink. Valdemiro have distributed the three life jackets among his companions, told them to stay on float the boat he would swim toward the beach to get help. Two of his companions who decided to follow him to swim in the waters disappeared.Valdemiro account that swam more than seven hours with cramps, pain in the arms, legs, eyes bleeding due to the salinity of the sea, and most worrisome, in the midst of huge sharks that swam around them. Several times he cried for his God. At the time, he weighed 153 pounds. His companion who had been on the marker was rescued by a fishing boat.
Valdemiro says that God sent angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s to save him. He says he was unconscious for some time and, upon waking, was being loaded two angels, who at first believed to be two men. He asked them what language they spoke and they responded in any language he knew, including the English language. Angels advised him not to talk, just rest, they were there to help you. The Apostle told this story in an interview with Ecclesia magazine, edition of 126.
Arrest
In 2003, bishop Valdemiro was arrested during a blitz in SorocabaSorocaba
Sorocaba is a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Sorocaba is the fourth largest city in the state of São Paulo. Outside the Greater São Paulo region, it ranks behind only Campinas, Sao Jose dos Campos and Ribeirão Preto...
. He was carrying in his car a short rifle, two carabiners and ammunition. More ammunition was apprehended during a search at his house, in the same city. Santiago claimed that the guns were for hunting and that he was taking them for a friend.