Aguiar Valvassoura led the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil for 10 years, tripling its membership during that time. After receiving the notice that Valvassoura would retire from this post September 30, Jerry D. Porter, general superintendent in jurisdiction for the South America Region, and Verne Ward, Global Mission director, in consultation with Christian Sarmiento, South America regional director, and additional Brazil leaders, selected Manuel Gamaliel Lima as director for Brazil.

Manuel Lima was born December 10, 1960, in Campinas, Sao Paulo. He has been married to his wife, Lídia, for 32 years, and they have five children: Raquel Lima (married to Leandro Penteado), Lucas (married to Gislane Lima); Pedro; Mateus, and Caio. He began pastoral ministry in 1983 in the Cosmópolis, Sao Paulo Church of the Nazarene. He planted churches while serving as pastor during his time as the first superintendent of the Brazilian Amazon District. Since 2011, he has served as the field strategy coordinator for Northwest Brazil.

Additional leaders were also given new assignments: Gerson Cardoso, field strategy coordinator for Brazil North; Luis Henrique Biazon, field strategy coordinator for Brazil Central; Wagner de Sousa, field strategy coordinator for Brazil South; and Geraldo Nunes, Brazil’s coordinator for Holistic Ministry.

Gerson Cardoso was born December 26, 1961. He has been married to his wife, Ana Maria, for 30 years, and they have a son named Mateus. His ministry began in 1983 as an assistant pastor for the Jardim San Pedro Church of the Nazarene in Campinas, a congregation of 1,200 members, where he has served as the lead pastor since 1987. He currently serves as district superintendent for Brazil’s Northeast Setentrional District. In his dedication to the Lord, he has developed multiple ministries and planted 11 churches in different parts of Brazil.

Luis Henrique Biazon was born November 22, 1961. He has been married to his wife, Claudia, for 26 years, and they have three children: Marcela, Pedro, and Ana. His ministry began in 1985 when he planted the Rio Claro Central Church of the Nazarene, now a congregation of more than 1,500 members, where he currently pastors. He is also the district superintendent for the Northeast Paulista District. During his ministry he has planted nearly 100 churches.

Born July 25, 1965, Wagner de Sousa married his wife, Angela, July 28, 1990. They have two children, Esdras and Jonatas. His ministry began in the Central Church of the Nazarene in Campinas in 1986. Since then, they have served the Lord in various capacities. Wagner is currently district superintendent of Sao Paulo and pastors the Paulinia Church of the Nazarene.

Geraldo Nunes Filho has been a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene for 34 years, currently serving the Castelo Church of the Nazarene in Campinas. He is the founding director of GERMINE, Global Leadership Institute. He is also the founder of Nazateen Ministries youth ministry. He was the founding president of the Nazarene College of Brazil and rector of the Nazarene Theological Seminary of Brazil. Nunes has also been involved in the creation of ministries, church planting, and developing leaders. He and his wife, Pastor Waner Nunes, have two children, Lucas and Louise.

--Church of the Nazarene South America Region