Marcos Baptista Mendes, was born on September 27, 1960, in the city of Nova Iguaçú, State of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. At the age of 14, he moved with his family to the city of Natal, capital of Rio Grande do Norte, where he still lives today. Marcos began his higher studies at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, studying Mechanical Engineering, but, at the same time, he dedicated himself to the Mechanics Course, at the former Federal Technical School of that State, where he met his future wife, Rose. After an unsuccessful internship at Petrobrás, he took the exam to become a Sergeant in the Military Police of Rio Grande do Norte, which he joined in 1984. It was instant love. In 1985, he went to the Paudalho Military Police Academy, where he graduated as PM Officer, having spent 31 years in the service of that Corporation, going to the Paid Reserve with the rank of PM Colonel. During this time, Marcos graduated in Human Rights from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (1997); in Public Security and Citizenship, from the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (1999) and achieved the title of Master in Social Sciences, from UFRN (2007). His encounter with Jesus occurred in 1992, during an evangelistic crusade in the city of Jaboatão-PE, becoming a member of the Assembly of God in Natal-RN and beginning a self-taught life of learning from the Scriptures. In 1996, he was consecrated a priest and took over his first church, in the Redinha neighborhood, remaining in that denomination for another 15 years, serving as leader of several congregations, coordinator of 5 sectors and director of the Department of Youth and Adolescents at state level. In 2012, he founded with Pr. Eliseu Moreira Silva, the Evangelical Church Assembly of God Peace and Life, having remained until 2020 as its 1st Vice-President, then leaving for the Viva Esperança Baptist Church, where he assists Pastor Renildo Diniz Lopes Júnior. On his journey serving the Lord, Marcos Mendes discovered the ALEF Mission in 2015, where he discovered a new love and the pleasure of serving vulnerable communities, through working in partnership with local churches. He currently serves as Project Director for that Mission. Marcos is married to Rose, is the father of Debora, Juliana and Marcos Filho, father-in-law of Paulo and Camila.Read more about this authorRead less about this author