Most Tattooed Man in Brazil Gives Up Everything to Follow Jesus and Become a Missionary

Brazil's Most Tattooed Man Leaves Everything Behind to Become a Christian Missionary

Leandro de Souza, once known as the most tattooed man in Brazil with over 170 tattoos covering 95% of his body, has received a full scholarship to study theology at an evangelical seminary in Pernambuco, Brazil.

The transformation began approximately four years ago when de Souza, who had been living on the streets battling addiction and cycling through prison, first encountered evangelists at a municipal shelter in Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul.

Within just 15 days of attending his first service at Assembleia de Deus in Bagé, de Souza was baptized.

One day I was rescued from the streets, from addiction, from prison.

Since his conversion, de Souza has been actively involved in evangelism and social outreach through his church. He is now preparing to leave his current job to dedicate himself fully to theological studies and missionary work.

As a visible symbol of his spiritual transformation, de Souza has also begun the process of gradually removing his tattoos.

My dignity was restored. It's not about me it's about Jesus.

His story, originally reported by Diario Cristiano, has inspired Christians across Latin America and beyond. De Souza's journey from homelessness and incarceration to seminary student stands as a powerful testimony to the redemptive power of faith.

I'm super motivated and happy... Wherever He leads me, I want to go.

From 170 Tattoos and Prison to Seminary: Leandro de Souza's Radical Conversion Story

De Souza's scholarship covers his full theological education at the evangelical seminary in Pernambuco, where he will train for ministry and missionary service. His church community at Assembleia de Deus has supported his journey from the beginning, walking alongside him as he rebuilt his life from the ground up.

The Crusader's Opinion

This is what the Gospel does. It takes the man the world threw away and makes him new. Leandro de Souza was homeless, addicted, imprisoned, and covered head to toe in ink. The world had no use for him. But Christ did. Fifteen days. That's all it took from the moment he walked into a church to the moment he went under the water in baptism. That's not a self help program. That's not therapy. That's the Holy Spirit doing what only He can do. While the secular world spends billions on rehabilitation programs that barely work, the Church keeps doing what it has done for 2,000 years: transforming lives completely and permanently. This man is now leaving everything to go preach the Gospel. That is the real revolution.

Take Action

• Share Leandro de Souza's testimony on your social media to encourage others who feel beyond redemption.
• Support missionaries in Latin America through The Shepherd's Shield.
• Donate to Open Doors USA to support persecuted Christians and ministry work worldwide.
• Volunteer at your local homeless shelter or addiction recovery ministry. Be the person who shows up for someone the way those evangelists showed up for Leandro.
• Pray for Leandro de Souza's seminary studies and missionary calling. Pray that his testimony continues to reach people who have lost all hope.