Anderson Couto, FCA’s International Leader in Brazil, has lived a story marked by abandonment, addiction and loneliness. His story also points to God’s power to redeem pain for a purpose.
Couto faced unimaginable trials, including being abandoned by his father when he was only 9 years old. This eventually led to a personal downward spiral.
At age 12, Couto began pursuing his dream to become a professional soccer player and moved by himself to a new state within Brazil. This led to difficult and abusive experiences with coaches, which caused him to turn to alcohol and drugs for several years.
Couto was introduced to a sports ministry for the first time at age 19 when he participated in a surf tournament with Christian Surfers. As part of the tournament, all participants were invited to church. Couto says this was his first Christian church experience.
Following the tournament, Couto faced a gut-wrenching tragedy. He was invited to a party with friends but decided not to go. That night, his friends were in a car accident and died.
There was no question in his mind that could have been him.
But God had another plan.
“At the funeral, I was looking at my friend, and God put my face in his face, and I started crying,” Couto said. “And God just spoke in my ear, ‘That's supposed to be you; now change and live for me.’”
The next weekend he went back to the same church he attended for the surf tournament and made the decision to accept Christ as his Savior.
That day everything changed for Couto. Not only did he put his faith in Jesus, but he gained a family - something he never fully experienced before.
“When the pastor said God had a new family for me, I thought, Wow, that's everything I need,” Couto said.
That pastor began to mentor Couto. They lived life together, and Couto learned more about the Bible and how to relate it to his life. Eventually Couto decided to attend Bible college.
“I became a pastor, and when I was on my first missionary trip in Chile, I went with my surfboard and soccer ball,” Couto said.
One of the missionaries in Chile encouraged Couto that he could make more of an impact as a missionary if he became a professional coach, not just a pastor.
God spoke into Couto’s heart, compelling him to go back to college. So he did, and prayed for a way to make that impact for Jesus in the sports world.
Couto’s first introduction to the ministry of FCA dates back to 2010 where he was given an FCA Bible and felt in his heart that one day he would be with FCA
In 2017, Couto met former International Divisional of Operations Silas Mullis in Rio De Janeiro to learn more about FCA.
He became a volunteer and visited Kansas City the following year at the FCA Support Center to meet with Mullis and get a closer look at what ministry looks like in the U.S. After his visit, Couto returned home to listen and pray for how God might want to start FCA in Brazil.
Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and plans came to a sudden standstill. Two weeks later, Couto and his wife got the news they were expecting their child, Matheus. They faced more uncertainty about what their future would hold.
During 2020 and 2021, Anderson worked online, teaching fitness classes and doing other work to support his family. Attempts to renew their U.S. visas were rejected twice.
After four years of waiting, Anderson was able to visit the U.S., spending 15 days in Georgia to meet with FCA directors and understand more about future plans with FCA. What he had hoped to do in 2020 was finally coming to fruition in 2024.
“If I look back 20 years on all my sports experiences, I’m 100% sure that I’m doing what God prepared me to do,” Anderson said.
Today, Brazil leaders have more than 500 coaches going through 12 weeks of coaching discipleship program. From these training sessions, Couto received feedback from attendees in Portuguese that led him to the conviction of FCA needing to expand in Portuguese-speaking communities.
Not too long after, he received an email from a coach in Angola, South Africa, a Portuguese-speaking country, asking for his help with this coaching program translation.
“I want to serve the Portuguese countries all over the world,” Couto said. “I have a passion for the world. I feel like my purpose, my mission, is bigger than my country.”
One common thread that holds true throughout Couto’s story is his ability to endure, persevere and lean on Christ. Because of God’s faithfulness, and Couto’s faithful response to various trials and setbacks, Kingdom impact is being felt throughout Brazil and beyond.
Today, Couto is focused on growing FCA in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while expanding his reach throughout other regions with a heart to equip, train and teach coaches. His life reflects God’s faithfulness, turning what was meant for evil into good (Genesis 50:20).
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Please pray for Anderson Couto and his family, and for wisdom to lead in Brazil. You can learn more about ministry happening in East Brazil, and support ministry in Rio de Janeiro.
-FCA-
Photos courtesy of Anderson Couto