Silas Lima Malafaia was born in 1958, in Rio de Janeiro. His father, Gilberto Malafaia, was a military of the Navy and pastor of the Assembly of God, and his mother, Albertina, was an educator and believer
In 1980, Silas married Elizete, which boosted his religious career. The marriage generated three children and five grandchildren. In the same year, he graduated in theology, something rare for pastors of the Assembly of God at the time
In 1982 he became a father, was ordained a pastor and debuted on TV with the program “Renascer” at the age of 23. He believed on television as a powerful communication instrument and was inspired by American televisionists like Jimmy Swaggart
To play the TV show, he founded the Vitória in Christ Association (Avec), with the aim of gathering donations and offers. Initially, it faced financial difficulties to keep the program in the air, even selling its car
Throughout the 1990s, Malafaia tried several businesses, such as a gospel advertising agency and a decoration store, and even a Christian guarana, but to no avail. He even admitted to “broken six times”
The turning point was in 1999, when he and Elizete founded the Central Gospel publisher and record label, which became a great success, reaching $ 12 million in 2005
From 2010, after becoming the owner of the Evangelical Church Assembly of God Victory in Christ, Malafaia began to adopt an image of millionaire, abandoning “mustache” and old clothes for expensive suits, Rolex watches and capillary implant
Political life
He began his political trajectory supporting Leonel Brizola in the 1989 presidential election. In the second round, he ended Lula’s candidacy, going against most evangelical pastors of the time
In 2002, he supported Anthony Garotinho in the first round of elections and Lula in the second round, appearing in his electoral propaganda. Malafaia claims to have brought about 2,000 pastors to the petista side
He broke with the PT before Lula’s second term ended, stating that he only supported Lula for believing that he would help the poor. He is said to have not heard his father, who warned him that they “do not detach themselves from their ideologies”
Conservative Malafaia nods have intensified over the years, with outdoors in 2010 in favor of the family and the preservation of the human species. At the same time, he began to approach Jair Bolsonaro
In 2016, Malafaia was the target of Operation Timothy of the Federal Police and indicted for receiving a check of $ 100,000 linked to a mining royalties deviation scheme. He denies any involvement and claims political persecution
In 2018, he was one of the first national projection shepherds to support Bolsonaro’s candidacy. He became one of the politician’s main counselors, with free access to the Planalto Palace
Malafaia played electric trios for Bolsonaro at events such as September 7 and recorded videos attacking STF Minister Alexandre de Moraes, whom he refers to “dictator of Toga”. He says he does not fear being arrested
In August 2025, it was included in the Supreme Court inquiry, which investigates former President Bolsonaro (PL) and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), federal deputy
On August 20 of the same year, Malafaia had her cell phone seized at Galeão airport and received orders not to leave the country or keep in touch with other investigated
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