The Board of General Superintendents has elected Brazil native Alessandro Polonio to the position of South America regional director, effective 21 October 2023.

The Church of the Nazarene's General Board ratified the election with an email vote coordinated by General Secretary Gary Hartke. Jurisdictional General Superintendent for South America T. Scott Daniels and Global Missions Director Verne Ward prayerfully led the nomination and election process.

Polonio succeeds Christian Sarmiento, who was elected the 45th General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene at the General Assembly and Conventions on 15 June 2023.

“Alessandro Polonio has served the church in South America well as both a missionary and as a field strategy coordinator,” Daniels said. “In the places Polonio has served, the church has grown and thrived. He and Cristiane are an amazing ministry team, and it became clear in the search process that God has been preparing them for this season of leadership on this important region.”

God has led Polonio in several ministry roles on the region. Most recently, he has served as the field strategy coordinator for the Cono-Sur Field since 2019.

Polonio pastored Igreja do Nazareno de Sousas from 2000-2012 and served as a missionary beginning in 2013 in Chile and Argentina. His roles included church development coordinator for Chile, regional NMI coordinator, and Chile Los Lagos district superintendent before serving as field strategy coordinator for the Cono-Sur Field. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Brazil, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, a Master of Arts in Ministry and Pastoral Leadership from the Nazarene Theological Seminary in the South Cone, and a Specialization in Leadership from Instituto Haggai do Brasil. Polonio was ordained in 2009 in Campinas, Brazil.

Polonio gave his life to Christ at the age of 19 at Campinas Central Church, where he was also called to ministry. He met Cristiane at the Campinas church, and they were married and had their daughters, Raquel and Sarah while attending there. 

“I always felt a calling for missionary work, and as local pastors, we supported missionaries and organized a few short-term missionary trips,” Polonio said. “In 2013, God used Dr. Sarmiento to invite us to serve as missionaries in Chile. After 1 month of intense prayer, God confirmed this calling in my heart and in my wife’s heart as well. We remain willing to serve God and his church wherever he sends us and in whatever position is necessary.”

"We are thankful for the Lord’s leading in the election of Rev. Polonio to this leadership role in the mission of the church,” said Global Missions Director Verne Ward. “Rev. Polonio is a dedicated servant of the Lord, with gifts and experience that will contribute beautifully to missions in South America and around the world. He and Cristiane will serve with a passionate heart for the church and those that do not yet know Jesus as Savior and Lord.”

--Board of General Superintendents