[4][5] On 21 February 2018, Javier Bertucci, an evangelical pastor who founded the Christian organization El Evangelio Cambia,[6] announced his candidacy in the 2018 Venezuelan presidential election.

[7][8] Bertucci renounced his pastorship in compliance with Venezuelan electoral regulations, which state that presidential candidates must not be affiliated with any religious organizations.

[9][10] Early support for his campaign came from people who had previously known him due to his pastorship and establishment of the "Maranatha Venezuela" church.

[12] To gain further support among the poor, Hope for Change held soup kitchens, claiming that people wouldn't listen to speeches if they were starving.

[17][18] At a press conference in Caracas on 22 November, Bertucci announced that Hope for Change was running 4,430 candidates in the municipal elections.