Edir Macedo (born February 18, 1945) is a Brazilian evangelical bishop, writer, billionaire businessman,[2][3] and the founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG).

The FEREDE in 2021 refused membership to the Comunidad Cristiana del Espíritu Santo, also known as Familia Unida or "Christian Help Centre", associated with the UCKG.

[8] In 1963 he began a career as a civil servant, initially working with the state-run lottery of Rio de Janeiro, Loterj, and also at the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, IBGE, as a researcher in the economic census of 1970.

[citation needed] Macedo was raised Catholic, but by 1965 converted to Pentecostalism, after an invitation from his sister to Igreja Cristã de Nova Vida.

[citation needed] In 1977, Macedo founded with others the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

His sermons partly focus on freeing his followers from unclean spirits that oppress them, which manifest in them, and are cast out in the name of Jesus, for them to overcome their problems.

[21] Macedo has been criticised, especially after the 'kicking of the saint' incident in which UCKG bishop Sérgio Von Helder, who later left the Church, kicked a Catholic icon in a TV program, for which he was later imprisoned for two years.

[22][23] He also authored a book called Orixás, Caboclos and Guias in which he attacks Afro-Brazilian religion, accusing it of Satanism and "the root of all of Brazil's troubles".

"[25] Edir Macedo was indicted by the Federal Justice for import of equipment and use of public documents and legal proceedings, but not convicted.

He has written several religious books including the polemical best-seller Orixás, Caboclos e Guias, Deuses ou Demônios.

His broadcasting company Record financed the 2018 movie Nada a perder (Nothing to Lose) about Macedo's life, which is based on his autobiography.