Texas Conference President Elton DeMoraes, D.Min., joined the Texas Conference family in 1998. He served at the Houston Central Spanish and then Houston Central English Seventh-day Adventist Churches before heading to the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, to complete his Master of Divinity. Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, DeMoraes completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology at Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo (also known as UNASP SP). He is fluent in Portuguese, English and Spanish.

Returning to Texas, DeMoraes served at the Tyler English Seventh-day Adventist Church and then Houston Northwest Seventh-day Adventist Church before being called to work at the Texas Conference headquarters in Alvarado, Texas.

During his eight years at the Texas Conference office, he directed Stewardship and Church Planting, Ministerial, Church Planting and English Evangelism and then Ministerial before being elected as Executive Secretary. During this time, he finished his Doctor of Ministry from Andrews University.

In 2018, he was elected as vice president for Church Ministries, Ministerial, Men’s Ministries and Stewardship for the Southwestern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Burleson, Texas.

Three years later, Texas Conference Executive Committee elected him as Texas Conference president. “We are happy to have Elder DeMoraes back in Texas territory,” David Montoya, Texas Conference executive secretary, shared. “His passionate desire to proclaim the gospel wherever he goes will only enhance the work here in the Texas Conference.”

DeMoraes and his wife, Alessandra, a nurse, have one daughter, Isabella. When he has time, DeMoraes enjoys attending NASCAR races.