| Valdemiro Santiago | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 2, 1963 Palma, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Occupation | Evangelical pastor and leader |
Valdemiro Santiago (born November 2, 1963 in Palma, Minas Gerais, Brazil) is an Brazilian 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.[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[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.[2]
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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 angels 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.
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.[3]