Soccer Ministry in Colombia Reaches Youth in Cartel-Controlled Neighborhoods
A Christian soccer ministry in Colombia is working in communities where cartel violence has long driven out other outreach efforts. The program uses the sport to build relationships with young people and share the gospel in areas where traditional church access is limited.
A soccer ministry in Colombia is reaching young people in neighborhoods where cartel violence has made traditional outreach nearly impossible.
Alex Saldarriaga, who grew up in one of those communities, now leads the program. His father worked for an armed group connected to Pablo Escobar. Saldarriaga says he never heard the words "I love you" growing up, and that the church''s message of grace was the first time anyone told him he had value.
He started the soccer ministry after seeing how the sport could open doors that nothing else could. In areas where armed groups control the streets, a pickup game draws kids who would never walk into a church building.
The ministry operates in several Colombian cities, running weekly practices and tournaments. Coaches build relationships with players over months before introducing faith conversations. The approach is deliberate, Saldarriaga says, because trust takes time in communities where outsiders are viewed with suspicion.
Christianity Today featured the ministry this week as part of its ongoing coverage of faith-based work in conflict zones. The report noted that the program has seen hundreds of young people make decisions to follow Christ over the past several years.
The ministry also works with families, offering counseling and practical support to parents navigating life in high-crime areas. Several former players have gone on to become coaches themselves, extending the reach of the program into new neighborhoods.
Saldarriaga says the goal is not just to share the gospel but to demonstrate it, showing young people through consistent presence and care that they are worth fighting for.
