Juan Manuel breaks Mexico’s ‘Circle of Silence’ to share gospel through football

The noise from Mexico City over the weekend will be huge, as the country play England in the World Cup. But whilst people can make a noise about football, there are parts of Mexico where the same cannot be said for faith in Jesus – none more so that the ‘Circle of Silence’, a region where Juan Manuel’s football ministry drew hostility from criminal gangs.

Juan Manuel* was jogging one day when he was ambushed by a group of teenagers. As they chased him and threw stones at him, they threatened to kill him. “They were less than a metre away,” he recalls. “But it was as if someone pushed the stones aside.”

Instead of anger, something shifted in Juan Manuel’s heart. “God told me: ‘Just as you need Me, so do they,’” he says. From then, he saw beyond the violence to see how these young people, far from God, were shaped by broken environments and in desperate need of hope.

An opportunity soon emerged for him to share with them the hope of Jesus – and it started with his daughter Karla’s football team.

A coach who cares

As he watched Karla* play with others, he got a closer glimpse at the worlds these teenagers come from: broken families, poverty and a relentless pressure to join criminal groups. “All it takes is someone offering money,” explains Juan Manuel.

This is what it looks like to live in ‘Circle of Silence’, a region comprising eight states in central Mexico that form a circle, where the prevalence of criminal gangs is so strong it’s almost impossible to speak openly about Jesus. That’s because church activities are deemed a threat to their influence, such as working with young people to discourage them from criminality.

When the previous coach left the girls team, Juan Manuel was invited to take over. Recognising that they needed not only a coach but hope, he got the girls to separate into small prayer groups after training. He then began sharing short reflections from the Bible. 

Having come from a troubled background himself, including addiction, Juan Manuel knew how to connect with the girls to show them what they really needed. “These young people need real opportunities. They need a different way of life. I taught them how God sees them – how precious they are in His eyes,” he says

“With every training session, we became friends and opened our hearts,” says Karla, who was part of the team.

Gradually, the girls’ behaviour improved so much even their parents noticed. “The girls stopped using bad language and being aggressive,” says Karla. “When asked why, they said, ‘Because the coach told me I am God’s daughter, and I must act like one.’”

Police notice impact

After eight months, Juan Manuel expanded the work to boys and younger children. In one year, more than 120 young people heard the gospel through football. As word spread of its impact, more opportunities emerged in nearby communities.

He began leading training sessions across the region and teaching workshops in schools and clubs based on biblical principles. He also started a community kitchen for children from low-income families and began visiting rehabilitation centres, sharing the gospel.

The impact was extraordinary. According to a local police study, violence in local schools dropped sharply, as young people choose a different path, one filled with God’s love and purpose. “When the police asked the teens why, they said, ‘Well, Juan Manuel is teaching us that we can live differently,’” he shares.

Even two teenagers who once tried to kill him are now part of the community. “Now those boys are my friends,” says Juan Manuel. “They care about me and ask for advice. We realised that what we were doing through football was transforming the community far beyond what we expected. It was no longer just a team; it was a ministry for God’s glory.”

Death threats and fear

However, not everyone was pleased with the impact the ministry was having. As cartel members monitored what was going on, Juan Manuel was threatened and denied access to certain areas.

Community leaders also put obstacles in their way, scheduling mandatory meetings at the same time as football training. “Still, children would sneak away to attend,” says Juan Manuel.

The danger escalated earlier this year when, after a government operation against a cartel leader triggered violence, Juan Manuel received explicit death threats. He and his family had to take shelter elsewhere.

The scenes of those days are still vivid to Juan Manuel: motorcycles with armed men patrolling the neighbourhood, cars burning in the streets, and fear everywhere. “The news doesn’t show what’s really happening. This is daily life for us.”

Still, the family remain steadfast. “We have decided that sharing the Word is more important. Despite the risks, we trust God above our fears.”

Equipped and empowered

Three years ago, Open Doors connected with Juan Manuel and invited him to persecution survival training. “I realised we were living through persecution, and how important it is to be strengthened to face it well,” he says.

The training is having an impact on others, too, with some of the teenagers he’s mentoring now sharing the gospel with others. “They say, ‘Now that we are equipped, we want to support others going through similar situations.’”

Karla’s faith has also grown stronger. “God taught me about His perseverance,” she says. “His love is patient; it waits for us. That’s how He has been working in the hearts of these young people.”

World Cup brings excitement and opportunity

“When I stepped into this place for the first time, I felt the Lord speak to my heart: ‘Do you remember that wherever the sole of your footsteps, it will be for My glory? This is your time and your place,” Juan Manuel shares.

Today, whilst this particular football project has ended, the same call continues to compel Juan Manuel, even as dangers persist. “Not being silent in the ‘Circle of Silence’ is not hiding away,” he says.

He now pastors his church, which includes investing in the next generation, whilst he and his family still serve in schools and communities, sharing the gospel wherever doors open. Recently, he received a new opportunity to coach again in one of the local schools.

“It’s a blessing that God keeps us focused on His purpose,” he shares. “This is my calling until He calls me home. We share that God can change lives, that people no longer need drugs or anything else, only Him.”

There is heightened focus on Mexico currently, with the country co-hosting the World Cup. It’s an opportunity to share stories like Juan Manuel’s to highlight what’s happening off the football pitch, raising awareness and prayer.

“Difficult times are ahead. Let’s enjoy the moment, but also intercede for the church. We need people willing to say, ‘Here I am. Send me,’” he says.

Karla adds, “Now that the world is watching Mexico, we must strengthen our prayers: for families, missionaries and for those who don’t yet know Jesus, that God may awaken their hearts.”

*Names changed for security reasons