I
The Seed Planted
Lead by the Name was founded by Eduardo Mendes e Rodrigo Marin — two leaders united by the same conviction: that Christian leadership, when lived from the inside out, has the power to transform families, organizations, and entire communities.
It all began in São Paulo, Brazil, with Eduardo’s father, Pastor Antonio Mendes. In 1979, while still a theology student at Palavra da Vida, he received an invitation to pastor a small group in the city of Atibaia. The meetings took place in a modest 40-square-meter room.
That small group, walking in faith alongside American missionary Karl Lachler, flourished and officially became the First Baptist Church of Atibaia on November 8, 1980. Between Karl and Antonio, a mentoring relationship developed that would shape entire lives — their weekly walks, filled with deep reflection and Bible study, were more formative than any classroom.
This experience shaped Eduardo’s view of leadership from his earliest years. Rodrigo Marin, who would go on to become a co-founder of Lead by the Name, was indirectly impacted by that same seed: Pastor Antonio was his pastor for many years, and he absorbed the same values of servant leadership and practical faith.
1979 · Brazil — The Roots of the Legacy, friendship with purpose
II
The Legacy Continues
Before fully devoting himself to ministry, Eduardo built a strong professional career over more than a decade as a Project Manager and IT Transformation Consultant, leading global implementations for clients in the banking, insurance, and manufacturing sectors.
In 2010, carrying forward his father’s vision, Eduardo made the full transition into ministry. Under his leadership at Preach the Word, a nationwide program was launched that reached more than 1,700 leaders across 70 training hubs in Brazil.
As the vision of Lead by the Name matured, the Lord brought Eduardo together with two great friends: Rodrigo Marin and André Oliveira. Rodrigo contributed his strong financial expertise, while André brought extensive ministry experience. Together, the three co-founders blended mentoring, biblical leadership, and operational excellence — embodying a leadership rooted in Christ and in authentic community.
Lead by the Name was officially founded in November 2021, with the mission of developing Christ-centered leaders who transform their communities — one intentional relationship at a time.
2021 · Brazil — The Legacy continues, friendship with purpose