Hello Bishop,

My name is Pastor Marcelo, who has been working in Nicaragua. Currently, I am in Argentina awaiting my immigration documents so that I may return to the United States. This week, I was telling Bishop Romualdo my testimony of when I was arrested in Mexico and he suggested that I write it down for you in an e-mail.

In 1998, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God began to draw the attention of many religious leaders there due to its significant growth in Mexico, much like it does in all the countries where it’s present. These leaders wanted to restrain the growth and development of the church. During a Friday night prayer vigil at our headquarters, I began a 24 hour fast for the deliverance of the people, which coincidently would end at the same time as the vigil. What nobody expected was that during this vigil the pastors of the church would have to face true persecution.

During the intermission, around 4am, about 30 immigration officers who had intermingled with the people, tried to arrest us – they even had some of our pastors in a headlock.

We were able to escape, thanks to the intervention of the people who supported us throughout this whole ordeal. There were about three thousand people at this event, making it difficult for them to arrest us in the church and allowing the pastors to have time to look for a way to escape. Some climbed on the roof and hid in the water tank compartment. One pastor wrapped himself in a cloth and hid below the altar, others managed to jump over the wall and run across a neighbor’s roof and out onto the parking lot. I, for example, along with some of the other pastors, mixed in with the crowd as they tried to leave the church. The officers formed a human chain and surrounded our headquarters, but with the help of the people that began pushing through them, we were able to pass through without being held back. I had already crossed the street and was practically free from the confusion, when a member loudly called out my name, which caught the attention of some officials and within minutes they were behind me placing me under arrest. I was the only one arrested; all of the other pastors and wives were able to escape.

The odd thing was that we all had our documents in hand. What we did not know was that the authorities had found a way to annul our legal stay in the country, a detail that was brought to our attention for the first time that very morning, when there was no way to resolve the problem since it was only about 4am that Saturday.

It’s the same thing we’ve seen, from the time of Jesus and the apostles until today since the beginning of the UCKG. When God’s work begins to develop, it bothers RELIGIOUS leaders who plot schemes and tricks out of their frustration, to stop our growth.

After I was arrested, they held me in a police van for 4 hours. As this was happening, they kept searching for the other pastors and wives who had escaped. During this time an officer came in, sat down beside me and insulted me by calling me a thief, crook, mercenary etc … His anger was obvious. Their objective of course, was to arrest all of the pastors, but things had not gone as planned. Infuriated, the officer said, “Well, enough talking …” He then drew his gun and as he slowly stroked it he asked, “Where are your friends?”

I said, “I don’t know and even if I did I wouldn’t tell you.”

He, in turn, tried to psychologically intimidate me with the gun in his hand. Realizing their intent, I looked dead in his eyes and said: “Let me tell you something, my friend. I’m not afraid of death or of dying because I’ve died a long time ago.” Now extremely upset, the officer got up and I was moved from the van to a bus with bars on the windows where I sat for about ten minutes. Suddenly, a man and a woman officer came in, approaching me with cigarettes in their mouth, they withdrew my documents and out of nowhere exclaimed, “YOU DISGUST ME, YOU DISGUSTING BALD MAN… I AM THE DEVIL, SO CAST THE DEVIL OUT OF ME!” They said this sarcastically and laughed.

I confess that I started getting worried because we rode around for an hour and a half through deserted areas. For a moment, I thought they would kill me. What I did not know was that the immigration building was far from the city. Upon arrival, I was introduced to an immigration lawyer. During the interview, he tried several times to have me state that I had assets in my name. In fact, what I think they were looking for was a reason to accuse and discredit the UCKG in Mexico.

Bishop, at this point I remembered what the Lord Jesus said: that we would be brought before governors and authorities, but we should not worry about how to answer them because the Holy Spirit would give us direction.

At this prison, people of the same nationality were put together but I was not placed in the cell with the other Brazilians. On the other hand, they put me in a rundown cell without electricity and water.

On Sunday, the most special day for any pastor, I was physically trapped but my spirit was free. I did not accept to be in that place without being able to minister God’s blessings in the lives of those who suffer. In the courtyard, I was able to gather 20 men and perform a 25 minute service with them. I had high spirits despite what was happening because I was sure that God was with me to help those men. I was in prison for seven days without taking a bath, wearing the same clothes, eating only tortillas and eggs. When I said I was thirsty, they laughed at me and told me to shut up.

After seven days they decided to deport me to Brazil. As I was leaving, some of the prisoners grabbed my hand and placed it on their heads and asked me not to stop praying for them. They took me to the airport, dirty and smelly, escorted by officers. Already on the plane, a voice came through one of the officer’s radio requesting to urgently have me removed from the plane. That was the answer I was waiting for.

Hours earlier, a Mexican judge, issued a court order giving judicial support to all the pastors, giving us time to sort out our legal documents since we did have lawful rights to reside in the country prior to this incident.

With this order, they were forced to take me off of the plane and let me go. After a good long shower, I was able to continue with the mission that Lord gave me, to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.

Even though RELIGIOUS leaders may try to silence and detain us, nothing can stop those who are of faith.

Note: In 1998, we had about 25 UCKG churches in Mexico. Currently, there are more than one hundred and we will soon be opening many more.