Pastor Diogo Fernandes was born into a loving family as the youngest of three children and the only son. Before his birth, his parents faced immense pressure from relatives to have a boy. They earnestly prayed to God, believing that He would answer their prayers. Little did they know that the son God blessed them with carried a divine calling upon his life.As a child, Pastor Diogo was known for being mischievous and rebellious. Reports from neighbours and others were rarely encouraging, and many believed he would never amount to much. As he grew older, he fell into the wrong company and made choices that led him further away from God's purpose. His life became filled with struggles, disappointments, and confusion.During those years, he worked alongside his father in the family's bar and restaurant business. Outwardly, life appeared normal, but inwardly he knew something was missing. God, however, had not forgotten him. Even while he was living far from Him, the Lord was preparing his heart for a life-changing encounter that would transform his future forever.
In 2004, Pastor Diogo life took a drastic turn. He fell in such a mess that no one could save Him from it. He used to pray for the nights to be long and days to be short. On 4th October 2024, while alone in his house he just knelt on his knees and cried out to the Lord and surrendered his life to the Lord and decided to turn away from the world. This marked the day of His salvation.God began to reveal Himself in a remarkable way. One day while changing television channels, he came across a healing and miracle crusade led by Pastor Benny Hinn on Miracle Net. For the first time, he witnessed the power of God displayed through healing, deliverance, and the moving of the Holy Spirit. Seeing lives transformed through the name of Jesus stirred something deep within him. He realised that Jesus Christ was alive, powerful, and still working miracles today.Soon afterward, on 10th December 2004, he attended a midnight prayer service. During the meeting, the minister gave a word of knowledge and called him by name. Though shy and hesitant, he stepped forward in obedience. As hands were laid upon him, he experienced the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit. He was overcome by God's love and power, falling under the anointing and weeping before the Lord for nearly thirty minutes, not fully understanding what was happening, but knowing his life would never be the same again. He received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, marking another significant milestone in his walk with Christ. From that day, an insatiable hunger for God filled his heart. He longed to know Jesus more deeply through prayer, worship, and the study of God's Word. The Holy Spirit began leading him daily, speaking to his heart and drawing him into a deeper relationship with God.His passion for the Lord grew so intensely that he would often spend entire days in prayer and the Word of God. At times, he would separate himself for seven days solely to seek God's presence. There were seasons when he spent up to twelve hours a day in prayer and communion with the Lord. His life was no longer centred on worldly pursuits but on knowing Christ and serving Him wholeheartedly.His transformation was so profound that he surrendered every area of his life to Jesus. He made the difficult decision to close the family's bar business, retaining only the restaurant, choosing to honour God above everything else.As Scripture declares:"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." — 2 Corinthians 5:17
As Pastor Diogo faithfully served in the church, God continued preparing him for ministry. One day, while ministering in a small chapel, the Lord spoke to him powerfully through Jeremiah 1:4–10. In that moment, he received a deep confirmation that God had called him to preach the Gospel and shepherd His people.Although the call was clear, the journey was not easy. His family desired that he pursue a different career and establish himself professionally. Wanting to fulfil those expectations, he explored many opportunities. He attempted to go abroad, ventured into farming, training to be a life insurance agent, and pursued other occupations. Yet, every door closed.Though Pastor Diogo had enrolled in a life insurance training program under the guidance and expectations of his parents, God had a different plan for his life. On the very day he was attending the training, his church team was preparing to leave for an outreach mission. He had informed his pastor that he would not be able to join because of the class.Arriving late to the training meant following the class tradition of treating everyone to samosas. As the session continued, Pastor Diogo suddenly heard the unmistakable voice of the Holy Spirit speak to his heart: "Are you going to sell insurance, or are you going to preach the Gospel?" The question grew louder and more compelling with every passing moment until he could no longer ignore it.During the break, he stepped out, bought the samosas, handed them to a classmate to distribute, and walked away from the training. Without hesitation, he joined the outreach team, choosing complete obedience to God's call over worldly security. That decisive moment marked a turning point in his life as he surrendered his future entirely into the hands of the Lord, embracing the ministry to which God had called him.He began to preach in the early days of 2006. Looking back, Pastor Diogo recognises that God was lovingly directing his steps. While every worldly opportunity failed, one door remained open—the call to serve the Lord in full-time ministry. Through those experiences, God confirmed that His plans are always greater than our own."Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." — Jeremiah 1:5
Pastor Diogo Fernandes is joyfully married to Sister Natasha Fernandes, and together they are blessed with three children—Jeshalom, Shekinah, and Elijah. Their greatest desire is to build a Christ-centred family that serves the Lord wholeheartedly. Pastor Diogo often shares that his prayer is for his children not only to walk with God but to surpass him in serving God’s Kingdom. Their family is also a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness. After the birth of their first son, Jeshalom, they longed for another child. For ten years, however, they were unable to conceive. Medical specialists gave them little hope due to complications with Sister Natasha’s ovaries. Yet, even while Pastor Diogo was ministering and witnessing God bless countless couples with the gift of children, he and his wife remained steadfast, trusting that God would fulfil His promise in their own lives. On their tenth wedding anniversary, Sister Natasha was finally able to accompany Pastor Diogo on a pilgrimage to Israel. As they prayed at the Wedding Church in Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle, God renewed their hope. Within months of returning, the Lord blessed them with their daughter, Shekinah, whose name was prophetically revealed before her birth. In time, God fulfilled yet another prophetic promise with the birth of their son, Elijah. Today, their family stands as a living testimony that God’s promises never fail and that those who patiently trust in Him will never be put to shame.
