The Story of Lead by the Name
Lead by the Name: A Legacy of Mentoring, Leadership, and Kingdom Impact
Lead by the Name was founded in November 2021 by Eduardo Mendes, but its roots go back much further. To fully understand why Lead by the Name exists, we need to look to the previous generation.
Eduardo’s father, Antonio Mendes, grew up in São Paulo, Brazil, and worked for 20 years at Ford Motors before transitioning into full-time ministry. In 1979, while still a theology student at Palavra da Vida in São Paulo, Antonio became involved with a small group of believers meeting in a modest 40m² space in Atibaia. He was invited to help lead this group alongside an American missionary, Karl Lachler, from Converge in Brazil (Baptist General Conference). Their partnership led to the official founding of First Baptist Church of Atibaia on November 8, 1980.
The relationship between Karl and Antonio grew organically over the years, reflecting the biblical mentoring relationship between Paul and Timothy. Every Monday morning, they would walk together, reflecting on the previous day’s worship service, discussing lessons learned, and sharing insights on biblical exposition. Karl’s passion for biblical preaching deeply influenced Antonio’s ministry and leadership style. Even after Karl retired in Michigan, their bond remained strong, with Antonio staying in frequent contact with his mentor.
This mentoring shaped Antonio’s approach to leadership — one defined by relationship rather than authority; by humility rather than power. He became an example to his son Eduardo of what it means to be a relational, flexible, and humble leader.
A Legacy That Continues
Eduardo followed in his father’s footsteps, gaining experience in nonprofit organizations, businesses, and ministries over 29 years. In 2010, his church invited him to launch two ministries: one to support pastors in their preaching and another to establish a church-based seminary. After five years of leadership, he handed those ministries over to new leaders, realizing that his passion was in serving and equipping others rather than returning to the corporate world. Encouraged by his church, he moved to the United States in 2016 to serve with a Christian organization, expanding his cross-cultural leadership experience over the years.
Through his work with various organizations, Eduardo observed the impact of different leadership styles — both positive and negative. He saw what built up organizations and empowered their people, as well as what led to dysfunction and decline. These insights became the foundation of Lead by the Name. Eduardo envisioned a leadership model that prioritized relationships over processes, one that was collaborative, communal, and empowering.