1. What have you found most challenging as a Christian school leader?

For me, the most challenging thing is to awake and convey the message to the students that we are all children of God and that He wants to have a close relationship with each one of us. Make them know that, no matter how far away from God you went in your journey until now, never is too far for our Savior, and you always can count on Him to get back on track. God loves us and wants us back home.

2. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

It is a simple structure, with little actions to help me achieve medium and long term goals:

6 to 8 - waking up, praying (individually and also with my wife and kids), scripture study (individual), exercise, good shower, check the daily agenda and prepare for the start.

And here I must say... I'm on an intermittent fasting diet, so I'm not eating breakfast.

9 to 5 (sometimes staring at 8 and going to 6, 7...even late, since I'm dealing with many worldwide time fuses) - work talking to coworkers, clients, studios worldwide, checking material, preparing new material, having meetings, etc, etc, etc. I do all of these things taking breaks along the day to stretch, read articles, improve learning on new topics and proceedings. Oh, and taking 1 hour break for lunch and 30 minutes for a snack (always giving thanks and praying to God)!

After work - 5 minutes to check the next day agenda, make adjustments, etc.

6 to 10 - being with my family, discuss the individual study with them, so we end having a family scripture discussion exchanging knowledge and uplifting each other. It is not always possible or perfect, but it is always inspiring. We have dinner together, bring some insight and lessons learned during the day on scripture practical application, all in a natural way, without forcing anything... when our kids see the parents doing and sharing experiences, they naturally start doing too.

We pray together and individually, and go to sleep.

This is a normal business weekly routine. Simple.

3. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?

In my native language we have different words to express "to be" as being something or someone from "to be'' as being somewhere or as a transitional state. We used to say that "ser"(being something or someone) is way different from "estar" (being somewhere or a transitional state). It is hard for English speakers to express without further (and sometimes long as I'm doing here) explanation. So, the poor today surely can be the game changer guy in the future, if this person believes in who he is and the amazing potential he has (backing to the first question you asked). Once you are able to show the potential this person has, you will see amazing miracles happening in this person's life. It takes time, but it is absolutely worth it.

4. What's one book apart from the Bible that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Apart from the Bible or apart from religion? 😂

Well, I'll give you two:

"The Miracle Morning", that is a self-help book that exclusively focuses on morning habits and routines as tools with which you can improve your life.

The famous "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" presents an approach to being effective in attaining goals by aligning oneself to what he calls "true north" principles based on a character ethic that he presents as universal and timeless.

5. How do you find and keep great Christian teachers?

First, I have the Holy Ghost as my friend and guide, as taught in the John 14:26: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

So, having him as my friend, through a close relationship with God and Jesus Christ, keeping the commandments and covenants I made with Them, I'm able to truly rely on personal instruction and revelation when studying the word.

But also, because of this, we can identify good sources and the Truth when it is spoken. Personally, I have many in my church, but also outside my faith. I don't want to be unfair by mentioning one and forgetting the other.

But one thing is sure: we must have a close relationship with the Master source that is God Almighty in order to have access to this knowledge.

6. What's most important as a Christian school leader for developing a culture of wellbeing in your staff and students?

Be guided by the Spirit. It is not about you, it is about our God and His children being back together.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a Christian school leader so far?

I always was thinking and praying to know if I made a difference to someone in my life. Anyone.

More than 20 years ago I was a missionary leader and we were helping this family to find God in their life. A father, mother and two kids.

But they were kind of taking advantage of us and filling our agenda with many worldly tasks, and letting a little time for us to teach them and others.

At a certain moment I felt inspired to reprimand them for this. I struggled with that feeling for a week until I couldn't refrain myself. One day, while trying to teach them, I caught myself admonishing them... and the words were tough.

Really tough.

After that, they closed the doors for us. My companions were mad at me. My leadership told me I couldn't do that. I had a really hard time. I did pray many times asking "why?" and the answer, in the midst of my tears, was "Because I told you to do so. Nobody understands now, but now you know everything and everyone, because I am God".

More than 10 years later, when adoring in the temple, I felt a hand over my shoulder. When I turned, I found this man asking me "Hi Luiz, do you remember me?"

I really didn't, but he said "because of your reprimand back in that day, I'm here today". As he said those words, the Spirit testified to me "Here it is your answer if you ever made the difference in someone's life".

I couldn't help myself and cried... like a baby.

And the man kept going "Not only me, but my entire family is in the church because of that day. At the beginning, we were really mad at you... for months.

But then, we started to ponder about what you said, and we did pray about it; and the Lord did the rest. For your information, my kids served as missionaries too and they brought many to know about our Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you!"

So, maybe you will not understand the "whys", but you know that he knows everything and everyone, because He is God!