Alex was born to Brazilian nationals in New York and grew up in Brazil and Miami. Since his childhood he began to live a life of crime and violence. In 1993, during his sentence of 15 years in a Florida State prison for drug trafficking, at the age of 23, he came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. God reached into that cell and began to change his hardened heart with the Saving Blood of Jesus. Released in 1999 after only serving 6 ½ years, Alex began a new life outside of prison with Jesus. Three weeks after his release he met Erika and three months later they were married.
Erika was also born in inner city New York. At the age of nine when her parents finally separated, she was introduced to Jesus, her Heavenly Father who would never leave or forsake her. With this hope she began to learn more of God through His Word. Being young and unguided God patiently walked her through life’s challenges. After college, she moved to Miami to attend Midwifery school. It was there and then that she met Alex when he walked into her office.
On January 2, 2000, Alex and Erika began their life together. Since then, Alex has had a successful personal training business and Erika is a Licensed Midwife in the State of Florida. They have five beautiful boys and one darling daughter. They have been attending Calvary Chapel of Miami Beach since 2000. In 2004, realizing that God had given them everything they ever wanted, they felt the strong desire to give it all back to God. After praying for a vision on how to serve The Lord with their whole life as a family unit, God answered them with a burden in their heart for the lost children of Brazil.