Elder DeMoraes to lead the Southwestern Union

The delegation of the 32nd Constituency Session has voted Elder DeMoraes to lead the Southwestern Union for the next five years. He comes to this role from the Texas Conference, where he was serving as president after a long ministry across our territory.

Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, Elder DeMoraes pastored at Houston Central Spanish, Houston Central English, Tyler English, and Houston Northwest before being called to the Texas Conference office. There he led Stewardship, Church Planting, and Ministerial, eventually serving as Executive Secretary. In 2018 he was elected vice president for Church Ministries at the Southwestern Union, and three years later returned to the Texas Conference as president. He holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Andrews University, and he is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

In his first words from the platform after being elected, Elder DeMoraes turned to his predecessor with gratitude. He thanked Elder Carlos Craig for his five years of steady, faithful leadership across the Southwestern Union, and for the example he has set for the officers, staff, and pastors who served alongside him.

Elder DeMoraes and his wife Alessandra, a nurse practitioner, have one daughter, Isabella.