Antonio Mendes

Antonio Mendes Gonçales is a distinguished executive and pastoral leader with over 60 years of dual-sector experience spanning corporate operations and ecclesiastical governance. Based in San Francisco, California, he currently serves as a Board Member and Executive Mentor for Lead by the Name, where he shapes the organization's strategic direction and mentors a global network of emerging pastoral leaders.

Prior to his current advisory role, Antonio dedicated 42 years as the Planter and Lead Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atibaia in São Paulo, Brazil. Under his visionary leadership, he founded the church in 1980 and successfully scaled it from a core group of 20 to a thriving congregation of 1,400 members across four satellite locations, directing a diverse team of over 10 pastors.

An expert in strategic governance for ministries, leadership development, and public speaking, Antonio is also the author of Biblical Ministry Philosophy: A guide for a solid ministry under eternal principles.