Known today for being the brief leader of a coup d’état in his native Guatemala, Jorge Serrano Elias played a prominent role in modern politics in his homeland. Born in a patrician family to a father who had bravely stood up to a dictatorial leader, Serrano enjoyed a childhood of privilege and luxury. After completing his early education, heemigrated to the United States to complete his higher education. While in America, he underwent a profound religious transformation. After toiling to help rebuild his country following a devastating earthquake, Serrano had to flee his homeland when he received death threats after accurately reporting on the miserable and inhumane conditions of the indigenous people living in Guatemala. When a fellow evangelist became president of Guatemala, Serrano was able to return to his homeland. Involving himself in domestic politics, Serrano unsuccessfully ran for the presidency once, before winning a subsequent election. Although he managed to implement many welcome reforms during his brief tenure in office, Serrano then led a "self-coup" and dissolved the country's democratic institutions. Less than two weeks later, Serrano was forced to flee his homeland. In the past two decades, Serrano has used his wealth and powerful connections to enjoy a comfortable and profitable lifestyle while in exile from his homeland