Peterson Feital (29th June 1975) is a Brazillan evangelist and curate at St James Muswell Hill Church in Muswell Hill [1] [2], London. He is also one of the founders of Volte Ministry [http:www.volte-tbf.com], a social network for Christians in the creative, arts and media industry. [edit]Early years Peterson was born in Nova Iguaçu 3, a city in the Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil. One of two boys (his mother later fostered six other children) his father worked in the oil industry and his mother was a head mistress, biologist and later a social worker. He had a difficult childhood, with both parents worshiping black magic and his father was an alcoholic. He felt and looked different to his family and friends, which left him feeling an outsider, although this would help him in later life, when he would often feel at odds with the church establishment. He ran away from home at the age of five and went to the Narazene Church, Nova Iguaçu [4] [5]. "I heard the vicar talking about God. It was my first encounter of the love of God and I became a Christian there and then." He gave his first sermon at the age of six. At the age of eight he was prayed for and told he would move to the United Kingdom to serve as an evangelist evangelism 6. At 18, he switched from studying medicine to study mission and theology at Youth With a Mission International (YWAM) in Curitiba [7], Brazil, as well as a number of bible colleges. This was a successful and innovative ministry and saw him awarded the Mission Apologetic Award, by the Baptist Association, the youngest ever person to win the award. He worked at Peniel Baptist Church, Fortaleza, Ce., [8] 9, and was also a conference speaker, attracting large audiences and working with renowned evangelists and church leaders, including Adhemar de Campos, Fernandinho and Pr Russel Shed [10]. At 21 he was ordained for the first time, and rather than lead a parish, he devoted himself to mission. He was involved in Fortaleza's largest ever evangelism event, which at the time was the least evangelised area of Brazil. The project, 'Operacao Janela Fortaleza (Windows 2000)', celebrated evangelism through the arts. He assisted Pastor Tony Lima, YWAM director for Fortaleza, who was a major influence on Peterson's life [11], [12], [13]. With Tony's death in 2006, Peterson took a break from conference speaking. [edit]United Kingdom In 2002 he moved to the United Kingdom, to help establish missionary churches, believing that churches needed to think outside the box and go out and meet people, rather than focusing on getting people into church. He studied BA Hons in Biblical Evangelistic Studies at Cliff College, Sheffield and also completed an MA from the University of Manchester in Emerging Churches - The Role of Church in Mission in the 21st Century. He was awarded the John Wesley Evangelist prize, which recognises innovative and pioneering evangelism. During this time he met his wife Helen. They married in 2005 and moved to Nottingham, where Peterson worked as an evangelist and pioneer at St Giles Parish Church in West Bridgford [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]. His love of arts, media, theatre, music and fashion came to the fore and along with a group of friends, set up Volte Ministry (previously Leap of Faith) [19] [20], a social network for Christian artists to meet and share ideas and resources. It brings together and supports Christians who have a " passion for developing imaginative ways of expressing faith, ‘doing church’, encouraging the creativity in ministry, and promoting the Gospel." The lure of further study saw him, Helen, daughter Beatriz and 'adopted' daughter Sitenda Kysache move to Cambridge in 2009, where he trained to be an Anglican minister and pioneering ministry [21]. During this time he was involved in the setting up of the Centre for Pioneer Learning, the first Anglican centre of its type, led by Rev. Dave Male,[22]. Its purpose is to "to serve all pioneers who are establishing new forms of church and taking the church to new places throughout the UK and the world." The centre has produced the book Pioneers 4 Life - Explorations in theology and wisdom for pioneering leaders [23] [24]. Peterson was one of the contributing editors, with an article the 'Duckling Syndrome - the problem of individualism in Christian Communities'. He is involved in Pioneering Ministry and was ordained a Pioneer Minister on June 17th 2012 at St James' Muswell Hill, which was attended by many artists and actors [25]. [edit]The Arts As a curate at St James' he brought together a team that is working with the film, theatre and music industry to take the church to people and uses his life story to tell people about Christ and the Gospel. He is involved with a number of projects in the creative industry, including Spotlight, which brought together Christians from the film, fashion and music industries to celebrate the creative industry, how they can use their skills to support churches and Christians in their industry. It was attended by over 500 people and involved celebrity photographer Dave Hogan [26], music video director Trudy Bellinger, 27, documentary maker Janice Sutherland, [28], Dreamworks animation director Paul Chung the animator director [29] and up-and-comning solo singer Therese Laverton (formerly of the Lorelles band) [30] [31] [32] He is currently working with Shaka Bunsie, associate manager at the Old Vic Theatre; theatre director Oliver Rose and screenwriter Clare Foster on an adaption and production of Pilgrim's Progess for Easter 2013, which will bring the tale to a new audience, as well as the potential of a record company for emerging Chirstian musicians.