Leandro de Souza, once known as the “most tattooed man in Brazil,” is preparing to begin theological studies after receiving a scholarship for ministry and missionary work. His story, reported by Diario Cristiano, reflects a journey of religious conversion and life transformation.
According to a post on his Instagram account, the scholarship will allow him to relocate from Bagé, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, to Pernambuco to study at an evangelical seminary, leaving his job behind to focus fully on his spiritual and ministerial training.
“I’m super motivated and happy. Four years have passed, and the future belongs to God. Wherever He leads me, I want to go—whether in Brazil, in Africa, or in more remote regions. I’m ready to help others,” he said.
He also asked for prayers for this new chapter in his life. “One day I was rescued from the streets, from addiction, from prison, and from many other places that do not belong to God. Once again, I chose to renounce my own will, the will of the flesh, to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” de Souza said.
“It is time to be a servant, to empty oneself, and to learn from the One who is meek and humble,” he emphasized.
Souza first gained attention for his appearance, with over 95 percent of his body covered by more than 170 tattoos. After converting to Christianity, he began gradually removing them—including tattoos on his face and other visible areas—with free support from a specialized studio, as a symbol of leaving his past behind and beginning a new chapter in life.
Diario Cristiano reports that Souza describes this period as one of personal and spiritual restoration. “My dignity was restored. It’s not about me—it’s about Jesus,” he said, referring to his transformation after leaving addiction and homelessness. The report also notes that his early life was marked by vulnerability, abuse, and later involvement with drugs and criminal activity, which ultimately led to his arrest.
His transformation began at a municipal shelter in Bagé, where an evangelism group invited him to attend church. Fifteen days later, he was baptized. Since then, he says he has left addiction behind and committed his life to faith.
In interviews, Souza has said that his priority is no longer the image he once projected through his tattoos, but rather God’s calling on his life. He noted that his theological studies will be essential to his preparation and that he hopes to participate in missionary work and social outreach.
He currently attends the Assembleia de Deus church in Bagé, a prominent evangelical denomination in Brazil, where he is actively involved in evangelism and social outreach as he prepares for theological training and future missionary work. His story has been shared in Christian media as a testimony of conversion and social reintegration.
Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
