Bishop Edir Macedo
The founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, Bishop Edir Macedo, was born in Rio de Janeiro. In 1963, he began his professional career as a public servant. He started as an office assistant at the State Lottery of Rio de Janeiro (Loterj) and later worked at the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) as a researcher during the 1970 economic census. He went on to complete 16 years of service as a public employee but left his position to dedicate himself fully to the Work of God—a decision that, at the time, many considered to be madness.
He is married to Ester Bezerra, with whom he has two biological daughters, Cristiane and Viviane, and one adopted son, Moysés. Edir Macedo often emphasizes the importance of his wife’s support. He says she plays a vital role in the family: she raises the children to be people of faith, takes care of her husband and the household, and leads a busy daily life. However, what sets a woman of God apart is that she does everything under the guidance of the Lord.
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Edir Macedo has an extensive academic background: he holds degrees in theology from the Evangelical Faculty of Theology United Seminary and the Faculty of Theological Education of the State of São Paulo (Fatebom). He earned a doctorate in theology and Christian philosophy, and he holds an honorary degree (Honoris Causa) in divinity. He also completed a master’s degree in theological sciences at the Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities of Spain (FEREDE), in Madrid, the capital of Spain.
Today, recognized as one of the most respected evangelical leaders in the world, he has held gatherings that have brought together millions of people. Among the many social works he has led, one of the highlights was the collection of 700 tons of non-perishable food for underprivileged communities during an event held in the Anhangabaú Valley in São Paulo’s capital.
As a Christian author, Edir Macedo stands out with over 10 million books sold, spanning more than 30 titles. His bestsellers include Orixás, Caboclos e Guias and In the Footsteps of Jesus, which together have sold over 3 million copies. More recently, he published the first and second volumes of his memoir series, Nothing to Lose.
A Publishing Phenomenon
The release of the first two books in his memoir trilogy sparked a major revolution in the publishing market.
The book Nothing to Lose, published by Planeta Publishing House, is based on an in-depth interview given to journalist Douglas Tavolaro.
In this autobiography, the founder of the Universal Church addresses controversial topics, personal struggles, moments of persecution and overcoming, and reveals secrets kept for decades—along with intimate details of his life. He also shares his perspective on polemic events, such as his 1992 imprisonment, recounting the details and lessons learned during the 11 days he spent behind bars with common prisoners.
The first book was launched in several cities across Brazil and broke sales records wherever it went, becoming a publishing phenomenon in 2012 and repeating its success in other countries. It remained at the top of bestseller lists for months.
Artists, politicians, public authorities, and ordinary people were all curious to discover more about the man whose faith remained unshaken in the face of relentless persecution.
Nothing to Lose 2 followed the success of the first volume. It discusses topics such as the purchase of the first radio station and TV Record, the construction of the replica of Solomon’s Temple, among others—leading readers to important reflections for their own lives.
