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Who is Maiza?

We created this page to answer various questions and issues.

raised around the name of our Missionary and Evangelist Maiza
Ribeiro.

Maiza is an Evangelist of the Reaching Hearts Ministry Brazil for all

Portuguese-speaking countries. The headquarters of its Mother Ministry is in the USA,
directly linked to the Aleganny East Conference SDA, in Washington D.C.
USA, under the leadership of Pastor Mikael Oxentenko, Senior Pastor of the same.
Seventh-day Adventist Conference.

She is 45 years old and married to Missionary Leandro Ribeiro. They do not have
children of the couple, but they love the child that God gave them named Marcos Junior
who is also a missionary, currently living and serving God in
Bolivia.

I lived almost nine years in the USA as a Missionary and Bible Worker, from where
even today beautiful fruits for the kingdom of God are harvested as a result of your
work committed to the Work of Saving from Sin and leading to Christ
Jesus in the Heavenly Sanctuary.

She has been working as a Biblical Worker for almost her entire life, giving her
first Bible study at the age of thirteen, having paused his work
only in the years between 1985 and 1989, when he had to work for
to ditch the studies and the life I was leading.

Belongs to the Seventh-day Adventist Church for all the days lived
remain faithful to the principles that this faith received from Jesus Christ, which makes
issue of proclaiming.
Maiza is a Counselor and Psychologist, being able to assist and help her
brothers from all over the world who will get in touch with her.

It maintains a Ministry of preaching the three Angelic Messages around.

of the world and Brazil and a School of Prophets in Pernambuco, headquarters of
Ministry Reaching Hearts Brazil.

Where did you come from? Where were you born and who are your parents?

I was born in Bahia, in a small town on the banks of the São Francisco River called
Barra. I remember little about it, after all, I left there when I was just a few months old.
We returned a few times to see family. My maternal grandparents
I used to live there. I loved going to the place where I was born.

My grandmother, my mother's mother, was of Brazilian Indian descent and

Portuguese. She was a strong and dedicated woman. She had many children, 11, and
he created you with difficulty and honesty. He had always been a living example in
city where he lived. Even today, pronouncing his name is a reason for respect and
reverence in the city of Barra.

My paternal grandfather, Galdino Marques, was an African descended from Cape Verde.
Green and Angola. Lived little, died young, around 50 years old. Left
a legacy of respect, work, and honesty behind your name, a
example followed by the children raised by my grandmother.

Mom, Dona Odete Dias, is a woman of great authority and respect.

Strength and wisdom are behind your words. Hardworking and dedicated,
Prudent and determined, mom has been our strength and our earthly anchor.
in everything we undertake. We always turn to your advice
when something bothers us. She has taken us to the Celestial Sanctuary all
sometimes we need help. Adventist Christian throughout all the time that
I know her.
My father was a good man named José Mateus. Two Biblical names. He
he was a descendant of Dutch people. His father was Antonio Zingar N. Barreto. And
your mother was Matilde Barreto.

They had many children here in Brazil. It was curious how I met my
past history. Only after I turned 34 years old, in a conversation with
one of my paternal aunts, I was able to understand who my ancestors were
and the way they lived. There are always beautiful stories behind lives,
isn't it?

Simple people full of struggles... that's how I can describe my

ascendants.

I have three brothers. Murilo, the oldest.... Mulinaron who is older than
me, and Marcos, the youngest... I am the third daughter... and the only one in the house.... (laughs)

Murilo who is married to Samantha, my beautiful sister-in-law, whom

They are the parents of Frederico and Giovani, and also of the wonderful Carolina!
Mulinarom is the father of Jaqueline, Davi, and Murilinho, whom he had with Deise.
Marcos, who is married to Miriam and is the father of Maria Eduarda, Tainara,
Lucas Mateus, and Marcos.

These are my blood brothers whom I love with complete passion.

We were happy... we really feel the loss of dad... I could never come to terms with it.
death... I don't think we were made to die. ...life, that indeed gives me
drives...

Our home and origin have always been of great simplicity... but very full.
of incentives for the good... we understand since it values work and the
communion... we had Christian Adventist parents and that made a big difference.
Our house served the Lord of Hosts.
There were six of us... now there are five, but we respect the memory of our father.
we want to get it right, exactly as he would like us to get it right if
was alive.

Where did you study? What was your education?

I did my first years of study in various schools scattered around São

Paulo, the state where we lived and moved so many times.

We have always been poor and simple... my mother was a domestic worker.
my father was a sewing machine mechanic... we had little,
achieved with a lot of struggle and effort from my parents, and our school was
among those rural and suburban areas of the early 70s... century
past..hahahah (laughter)

It was only in high school that I was able to attend an Adventist school,
boarding school... I studied at the dear and beloved IACS, whose directors were
Professor Earle Linhares and his wife Dona Lourdes Linhares, to whom I owe
a lot of my education and preparation for life.... I miss them!!!!!

I completed the nursing technician course at IACS, also one year of ALAC =
Laboratory and Clinical Analyses. At that time I wanted to pursue a career
doctor, and I thought that this beginning would give me a solid foundation... and it did.
so... (sigh)

I married a man who later became a pastor, and because of his

work we were transferred many times from city... during the time in
When I was married, we moved 17 times, and my studies always got left behind.
driven to the next opportunity that arose in the new place of residence.

Later I studied a year of History and Geography, my passion! I loved history

and I wanted this to be my college of the heart... I loved it
knowledge and wisdom. I am self-taught in History.

I couldn't finish due to another transfer and the separation. He, the
pastor husband had fallen into the sin of adultery and that prevented again the
continuation of my studies. I had to move house once again...

When I separated, I went to study Physiotherapy at IAE, our college in São

Paulo. I spent two years waiting for a slot and acceptance for the
Theological, which was my main goal in life... I wanted to know and be more
prepared to educate people on the mission to save... and knew that in our
I could manage this through seminars, but the position depended on them leaving one.
a divorced woman studying there like any "normal" person... but this
It's another story... one day I'll tell you all. (sigh)

One day Jesus gave me the opportunity and I went to the other IAE Arthur Nogueira to study
Theology. Those were the most fantastic days I have ever spent in my life as
student, after the days I lived at IACS, of course!

That immense library, those cultured minds full of dedication,

those dedicated and accomplished students... everything there made me think of
breathing the atmosphere of the sky... It was a blessing in my life.

When I had been studying for a year, I was transferred to the USA.
As an evangelist. I stopped the course and went to serve the Ministry of Jesus overseas.

When I remarried in the USA, my current husband who is one of my

greatest encouragers, gave me the privilege of living a life of dedication
to the ministry and to knowledge. Bought all the books I wished to have...
gave me all the incentives that someone could need and gave me resources
so that I could study without worries... it was then that I graduated in
Christian Counseling, for everyone. Today I am a Christian Counselor,
here in Brazil I respond as a Christian Psychologist.
That's it.

Maiza, we are going to ask you for advice, okay? You talked about marriage. How
Was this previous marriage?

Yes, I had a first marriage. I met my ex-husband when

I was studying high school at IAE.

I was very reckless, at 18 years old and with an immense heartbreak.

As a teenager, I met my ex-husband there, and I did everything wrong.

From the choice to how it worked. We started off wrong and

we ended wrong.

He was an intelligent person, but difficult, with deep traumas from

childhood, with a very strong temperament, but if we had done from the
the correct way, perhaps the end would not have been so drastic.

Yes, I would have ended the marriage... but not in a way that we have so many
losses like the ones we have today.

We started dating in the wrong way. Neither of us had maturity.

I, at that time, did not want to listen to my parents and my friends from work,
(at that time I was already working at the Work, I was the director of colportage) and
There were so many who advised me that today when I see them I feel ashamed.

My parents never accepted that relationship. When I got married, with

a couple of witnesses and his family, who also were not in favor of
wedding, my parents did not attend... it was dramatic. No good remained.
memories. There was no dream fulfilled... there was no poetry....

His family and mine never accepted me, and that made the relationship very difficult.
Our family (him and me) was dysfunctional in every way.
We had problems at multiple levels and were consumed by intolerance.
mutual, neglect and marital unpreparedness and, the main thing was that we got married without the
blessing of our parents and of our God. We married in the only way that does not
must marry. We gave ourselves in marriage, and this is the best way
close to failure.

It was years of disrespect and sadness.

Many things happened over the course of those years, but it is not for me to tell.
but not even to remember.

There are pains that should remain in the past and I believe that remembering them would be
a negative way of facing the future.

I want him to be happy and to be able to stay within the plans and desires.
of Jesus.

Today I know that we didn't even have love for each other.

And I understand that the enemy knows very well how to neutralize lives through
wrong relationships, and this is one of the most effective ways to
to achieve.

When we got married, we thought I would be pregnant... false rebuff...

tremendously shameful!

And that was what happened to me... Horrible experience...

(Maiza is visibly uncomfortable)

After some traumatic 'photographs', when we complete the

the first year of marriage, I got pregnant and we had a little boy who passed away. Today
he would be 24 years old if he were alive. It was on January 6, 1986, in
hospital for premature babies in Vila Nova Cachoeirinha in São Paulo. It was a day
terrible.

My mother and I were there alone in that hospital room where there was
a little empty crib swaying to the whims of the wind that came through the window... and in
my heart had a giant crater (distant look), and a feeling
immense from another failure.

We ask God to allow him to have a new chance to be.

pastor. God granted and we returned to the IAE. At that time I was working
so he could study. It was exhausting days selling molds of the
Exactly and running around the world in search of the necessary funds to pay
rent, college, life!

I firmly believed that we were getting it right... but it wasn't quite like that.

We had terrible temperaments and did not accept, in any way

none, the opinion that came from others to help, and this made it difficult
even more the possible solutions we could receive.

Some people ask me if the fact that I am a singer, who knows

have harmed my marriage and as a result this has happened
separation...

Pure nonsense... in a marriage, everyone makes mistakes and I made many, but
It hurts more to betray, and I have never betrayed. Betrayal is one of the greatest misfortunes.
what can be caused to the marriage, to oneself, and to the other.

We were at work but we were lacking the power of the Spirit of God. We were living
bad, we never had worship at any time in our lives, not even a worship service.
do-sol... and what if we could choose whether to go to church or not, I think not.
we would... objectionable movies, forbidden fun, and we lied horribly...
Our life was a complete lie. We lied and the other confirmed it.
a lie that was spoken. We were dishonest and anti-Christian.

It was in this "photograph" of life that his adultery happened.

I never want to go through this again... it was the most experience.

it's a disgrace that someone could experience. Traumatic at the deepest level...
they surpassed all levels of normal and absurd... it was disastrous
for the Work, for my family, for their lives and for my life.
Not a single person profited from that misery.

God miraculously helped me. I went to the IAE, studied as I have already told and
after that to the USA... where I continued working as a Biblical Worker and
Evangelist for 9 years.

That was it.

And your current marriage? Can you tell something about it?

Yes, with all pleasure (laughter and wide smiles).

Life has incredible rewards! God always surpasses Himself! When

we leave our lives in the hands of God, it becomes a paradise... (smiling)

My husband, Leandro, is a friend of God! He truly loves me...

truth!
Born into a simple but very Christian family, they are descendants of
Germans... Feldemann

My mother-in-law is highly regarded... a friend, beautiful, and elegant.

My father-in-law is a lovely person. I am very proud of them. They are our

strength and our anchors. They call me daughter... and they are always in
contact wanting us to stay close to enjoy our daily lives...
they think we are amazing and full of adventures... and indeed our life is
a beautiful adventure of Jesus.

My sisters-in-law are my sisters! Angélica is the protector of all of us.

Lives calling, adjusting family outings, taking care of the interests of
everyone. She is a charm

Adriana, the youngest, has the gift of being the family artist. She cooks like
nobody.

We have beautiful nephews: Mateus, Ingrid, and Sara.

This is one of the treasures my husband brought with him.

They are those people I always asked God to be part of

of my story. We love each other. We are about to complete 7 years of
married and we never had any argument or
misunderstanding within the family. Everyone accepts me and they accept us...
they participate in all our dreams and achievements... they participate in all
our victories and are determined to go with us to heaven... we ourselves
we love.

It has been in an environment like this that my love with my husband has
grown.
I met him when I went to preach in Fort Lauderdale, USA, on a day of
week... Wednesday of prayer (smiling).

He was there listening and I didn't realize... he spent months surrounding me and
analyzing the 'prey' .....(laughs...lots of laughs)...when I was launching
my third CD, together with the Brazilian Consulate in Miami, he
I was in the audience watching, when the Spirit of God spoke clearly to
he wanted me to be the wife he was asking for... at the end of that day I
I met him... he had been analyzing me for months and I only saw him that day.
December... it was very good...

I took about three months to accept that he was courting me... it was a
time for many decisions, and I was still not accustomed to the idea of
to date, to marry again... I still had a fantasized feeling that
I would be betraying my ideal of being the wife of just one man... but thanks to
God guided Leandro by the Spirit of God... and he managed to overcome the
barrier that was in me arising from all the suffering and pains endured by the
previous marriage.

But our God led everything in a surprising way... even the words
what I asked God to be said he spoke... It was a dream of love... the
fulfillment of all my deepest longings as a woman and as
girl... I felt everything that someone guided by true love is capable of
feel...

Love when guided by God does not cause shame in anyone... it causes
joy and everyone considers... everyone approves... everyone feels part of this
incredible magic surrounding the couple that got it right...

We got engaged three months after we started dating... my husband

considered that he was my platonic boyfriend for months...(hahahahha)
laughs...many)...and I feel that I have always been committed to a love
so... mature, sincere and true. I loved my husband before I met -
I will always want to be loved the way he loves me.
We did everything the right way, obeying and respecting all the steps and
God's laws, with a wedding full of beautiful witnesses, having all
our family present and united, participating in every detail... We got married on
Adventist Church of Plantation, Pr. Daniel Silva (beloved pastor) was the
officiant together with the speaker of families from the Paulista Association
José Airton Menezes, who flew to the USA just to participate in
our marriage, and according to the laws that govern our World Church and the
State of Florida... it was a memorable day... I could not forget it
never... all my dreams were realized in that marriage so
beautiful!

My husband is my protector... he helps me with everything... he always wants to have the

certainty that I am well and supported... he is a gentleman... he respects me
very much, he is my unconditional fan... and is always willing to pamper me in
everything... was very well educated and did not have significant traumas in childhood...
and this gives me a huge advantage over my own
mazelas....

I feel that my husband is my shepherd.

Worker, honest, loving, and very affectionate always... speaks words of

incentive every day and makes me feel what it insists on reminding me
every day: that I am your Queen!

Leandro is a friend of God... since our early days of marriage.

we have always had worship together. He has always led the worship services and is a regular at church and

in the tasks related to the Christian faith. Even when he is alone, he has for
practice meditation and the reading of the Word of God... and obey what you read.

Maximally demanding, always wants to see everything organized, in response to his/her

organized and honest temperament, abominates lies and neglect... suffers
when he sins... and he is a sincere and true man.

And you know what? My life is busier now than at any time
time... But the big difference is that there is no competition between us and
we do everything together.
We both work for each other's well-being and feel the
responsibility and love for the cause of the Lord.

We are going to have a little boy this year. He asked God for this for our 7th year of ...
married. And I know that I will be a mom once again. Blessed be the name of God.
for the husband who gave me.

Wow! What a beautiful story! So you believe that God has you
did it compensate?

Oh! Beautiful indeed... too much... but sorry, I don't consider myself
rewarded... I do not deserve rewards! Only a figure of speech!

The truth is that God had mercy on me... and that is the specialty.
It's not from God, is it? He knows how to fix lives... and He fixed the
mine. Hallelujah!

But you have a son, right? Have you heard that you have a dark-skinned son?
with green eyes! Are you single? (laughs)

Yes, it's true. Junior wasn't born from my womb but he is my blood.
is the son of my younger brother. He is a beautiful balm that God gave to
our family. I am your heart mother. When he was small and me
I would ask how he was born, and I always replied that he was from my
heart... and this is one of the purest truths I have ever felt... it belongs to my
heart... (sighs)
Junior is 17 years old now... and he is a missionary in Bolivia. He is studying.
to be a Missionary pilot for Jesus Christ. We have been praying for the girl with
Junior is getting married... we want him to be faithful.

He has a very sad story because he faced all the sadness of my

first wedding... lived with us at that time... was a witness
eye of all the anguish suffered at that moment... and says to remember each
detail... I have been asking God to reward his life for this... and
Our God is always faithful... I trust my little boy Junior into God's hands.

You know, God gives us the best, He always gifts us with the best that
He can give. He gives us people. And we receive from Him the best gift: Junior.

That's it.

A rumor is going around that you never had a legitimate child. What can we do?
say about that?

I've heard that too. I know that these people are at serious risk of
to lose their salvation over an insinuation of that caliber. God have
mercy on them... I always pray for these people...

On this site, the death certificate of my little baby is available... I placed

to give these people the opportunity to set their lives right with
God... after all, God said that he will not take to heaven anyone who bears false witness.
testimony against someone.

Please read Psalm 15 and see there described who will dwell on the Holy Mountain of God.
God!!!! God abominates gossip and perjury... slander is one of the greatest evils
biblically condemned and is behind all the intrigue between people... and
even among brothers...

These days the Lord God impressed me to seek a certain pastor

renowned for helping you out of this misery and satanic trap of gossip...
he had told another pastor, who told someone else, and that someone
he also told me that I had never had a child and that he knew it.
therefore I could believe that I had invented this story...

After asking for a lot of guidance from God, I felt very sorry for him and
shame to see that a minister of God made such a mistake
I provided the death certificate of my little boy to him so that
he could regret it and not say anything else he is not sure about.

But dear ones, speaking about others even if it is true is a sin... God does not
gave us this task.

This only harms the work of God on earth... speaking ill of someone never
helped nothing and no one.

Maiza, what advice would you leave for the young people who are thinking about becoming
to marry?

Many times in life I have had the desire to live again. There have been so many
errors that seemed to me there was no way out for all the memories and
sad consequences that my choices had brought to myself and
to my dear ones...

But thank God there are good examples of life and testimony.
We can reflect on the lives that triumphed and make better decisions
correct.
There is no way to win without a true commitment to control and with the
experience of the elders.

The truth and reality remain intact. They alone can

to prove that the right one is the shortest path to achievement and the
happiness...

Dear ones, sex before marriage creates a harmful bond of guilt.

the couple becomes an accomplice of sin and, if there was love, it ends up slipping away
for the disrespect and disregard. There is no way to realize oneself
completely with a relationship full of guilt.

The dating period should be beautiful and full of lovely memories. It is the phase of
a more delicate preparation that a couple can go through. Overcoming barriers is
a very deep well. I know what I'm talking about... I've lived both.
situations and I can distinguish the significant difference between the two. To marry
with blessing is the best way. Don't risk your life choice...
sanctify your lives. It is worth being faithful... we have all been called
to be faithful. We have a huge responsibility with the life that God
He entrusted us... we are in this world as witnesses of our God and
as samples of who our Heavenly Father is... He, and only He, must
regulate our history.

I lived both ways of life... the good and the bad... and I know what should not be done.
to do... and I also know where and how to find happiness... there is no way
be happy and successful while we do not live the true life of
Authentic Christians.

Seek the opinion of those who love you. Your parents.

A committed pastor is also capable of guiding towards

the path that God approves.
Pray a lot and decide to do what is right. God rewards faithfulness.

Stay in the peace of God.