Valdemiro Santiago

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Valdemiro Santiago is an evangelical bishop 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.^[1]

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. According to Valdemiro, the Universal Church was turning into a mix of Catholicism and Macumba.^[2]

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.^[3]

[edit] Arrest

In 2003, bishop Valdemiro was arrested during a blitz in Sorocaba. 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.^[4]