Kleberson Alves

From Rock Bottom to a Missionary Path: The Story of Kleberson Alves

There was a time in Paulínia, São Paulo, when Kleberson Alves lived fast and lived far from God.

The rhythm of his days was wild and reckless, a spiral of parties and drugs that seemed to have no end.
Church was not part of his vocabulary. Faith was something other people had.

Until the day he hit rock bottom.

It was there—in the lowest, darkest place—that God met him.

Through the gentle persistence of a young woman who loved him (Diulien, now his wife) and the grace-filled influence of her family, Kleberson walked through the doors of a small Pentecostal church.

That first evening, the pastor welcomed him and, in a surprising act of trust, handed him the keys to his car.
Kleberson, who had spent years living recklessly, didn’t expect that at all.

The pastor knew exactly who he had been and how he had lived. That made the trust even more shocking.

Kleberson drove for hours that night, enjoying the freedom of the open road—unaware it would be the last time he would drive aimlessly like that. More than the car itself, what marked him was the trust:
“He knows my past, and still he trusts me? Why?”

That simple gesture became for him a glimpse of grace.

When he returned, he handed the pastor not only the car keys but also the earring he always wore, leaving it behind as a quiet symbol of change, of a new direction being born.

From that day on, something began to shift in him.

 A Grandfather’s Table

In time, he began to sit at the table of Diulien’s grandfather—a former military man who had become a pastor.
This man was tough, with the no-nonsense discipline of a soldier, but he carried a patient wisdom that met Kleberson right where he was.

Kleberson came with countless questions about the Bible, about life, about faith.
And over simple meals, this grandfather-mentor answered them all—sometimes firmly, sometimes gently—always inviting him to stay, to learn, to grow.

Those conversations became another turning point.

Little by little, the Word began to grip him.
He read Scripture hungrily, word by word.
He studied it, clung to it, and began to follow the path that God was setting before him.

A Calling and a Partner

Diulien stood by him through it all.
As he grew, his heart turned from rebellion to service, and their marriage became a strong partnership in ministry. She follows this calling as if it were her own, walking side by side with him in family ministry.

Kleberson began to serve in the church, helping wherever there was a need. Over time, the same pastor who first welcomed him became his mentor. With the grandfather’s blessing, Kleberson began to preach, teach, and shepherd others as an assistant pastor.

Eventually, he made a choice that few understood: he left a successful job in industry—steady pay, security, everything—to dedicate himself completely to ministry.
And he never looked back.

A New Chapter: San Diego

Recently, Kleberson and his family applied for a visa to come to the United States. Against all odds, the visa was granted.
They arrived in San Diego to study English, stepping into a new and uncertain season of life.

San Diego also held family.
His uncle introduced him to Pastor Christian Castro, an experienced pastor at Rolando Church and a mission developer who has a heart for the city.

Pastor Christian has become a good friend of the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego and deeply believes in our mission to walk alongside leaders.
He could have suggested many different organizations and networks for Kleberson to connect with, but he chose to introduce him to us.
What an honor.

The connection was instant.

The Mission and the Need

When you sit across the table from Kleberson and ask him what God has placed on his heart, he doesn’t start with numbers or programs. He talks about houses.

He talks about the sound of a knock on the door, a Brazilian family opening it hesitantly, and a missionary entering with nothing but a Bible, a prayer, and a willingness to listen.

He knows what it means to feel far away—far from God, far from home.
That is why this ministry, born out of his own story, begins in living rooms before it ever moves into a sanctuary.

Kleberson has discovered that many Brazilians in San Diego are hesitant to come to a church building, but they are open to a visit, a blessing over their home, a conversation that ends with a simple prayer.
That moment—at a table, on a sofa, sometimes on the doorstep—is where trust begins, and the door to the Gospel opens.

Building a Nest

To make this vision a reality, the Mission Society of San Diego is helping him structure this ministry intentionally and connect with Concordia Lutheran Church in Chula Vista.
Concordia will become a sending church—a nest from which this new ministry can grow, and a home where these families can one day belong.

In the evenings, you can imagine him at a table with Diulien, planning visits, praying for the names of people they have just met.
She is not in the background; she is next to him, a partner in every step, sharing the same passion as if it were her own heartbeat.

A Pilgrim, Not a Tourist

If you ask him whether he misses home, he will be honest: he does.
He misses the familiar streets of Paulínia, the family meals, the sound of Portuguese everywhere.
He never came to America for an “American dream.”

Instead, he says, “If it is God’s will for us to stay, we will stay—not to build our own life, but to bring the life of Jesus to others.”

That’s why, in addition to serving, Kleberson dreams of studying theology formally, digging deep into God’s Word, and becoming a pastor. He wants to serve people not just as a visitor but as a shepherd.

From the  streets of Paulínia to the homes of Brazilians in San Diego, the story is still unfolding.
And if you listen closely, you can hear it in his voice:
“Lord, use us. Let us be your messengers. Let every knock on a door be a new beginning.”