Waldemar "Walde" Serrano was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and graduated from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico in 1972 with a degree in Business Administration. In 1986, he was ordained as a non-denominational minister—a calling that has shaped both his professional career and personal ministry.

That same year, Walde and his wife Madeleine founded Bethany World Ministries. Together they have helped establish thirteen churches and provided guidance to many others during times of transition. Their ministry has also ordained more than twenty leaders who now serve both in the United States and internationally.

In addition to his pastoral work, Walde has dedicated nearly three decades to serving as a volunteer chaplain with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Since 1994, he has contributed more than 11,000 volunteer hours, was promoted to Administrative Chaplain Lead in 2008, and was honored as Chaplain of the Year in 2015. His service has been recognized nationally with the President's Volunteer Service Award and the National Sheriffs' Association Chaplain of the Year Gold Certificate Award.

Walde's leadership extends beyond ministry and chaplaincy. He has held numerous government and executive roles, blending his business background with a heart for public service. He served at the Executive Office of the Governor of Florida for seven years in various appointments, including Coordinator for Faith-Based and Family Initiatives. In this role, he developed new plans for increased involvement of faith-based organizations in protecting the family. From 2001–2003, he served as Special Assistant to the Governor and Director of the Governor's Central Florida Regional Office. He later became the Statewide Coordinator for Family Initiatives and Hispanic Outreach, as well as the State Disaster Coordinator for long-term recovery efforts. In 2007, he was appointed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, where he served as Community Action Officer and later as External Affairs Officer until his retirement in 2016. In these roles, Walde worked extensively with federal, state, and local governments, as well as more than 200 voluntary and faith-based organizations, to strengthen disaster preparedness and recovery.

His career has also included extensive international work, including executive training on governmental policies in Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Caribbean. He has acted as a spokesperson for Hispanic media, served as a consultant for Hispanic market outreach in the U.S. and abroad, and held senior roles in corporate operations and international business.

Throughout his life, Walde has received numerous awards and appointments recognizing his leadership and service. He was the recipient of the 2003 Latino Leadership Award, presented by the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders. He was one of only five individuals in the nation to receive this prestigious honor, which was awarded at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in recognition of his endurance, commitment to leadership, and presence as a beacon of social and civil justice for the Church and Latino community. In addition, Walde was awarded the Distinguished Service Award, the highest civilian award of its kind, which is rarely granted and only awarded once every decade—making this honor especially significant. He has also been entrusted with special envoy responsibilities, such as representing the White House in Nicaragua to help strengthen electoral transparency in 2006.

Above all, Walde is a husband, father, and grandfather who treasures his family. He and Madeleine have two married daughters, Sandra and Rebecca; two sons, Waldemar and Pedro Julio; and three grandchildren—John Tyler, Mikah, and Nicolas.