Paulo Silas Pereira: The Life and Faith of a FIFA World Cup Soccer Player and ESPN Broadcaster

June 01, 2026
00:00 23:56
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Today, I’m excited to welcome a very special guest to the podcast, Paulo Silas Pereira, known to soccer fans around the world simply as Silas.

Silas rose from very humble beginnings in Brazil, overcoming childhood sickness and poverty to eventually represent Brazil in two World Cups, in 1986 and 1990. Over the course of his remarkable career, he played professionally across four continents, became a respected coach, and now serves as an international broadcaster with ESPN.

But what makes his story especially compelling isn’t just the success he experienced on the field. It’s the deeper story behind it all, how his faith in God shaped his decisions, sustained him through challenges, and helped him understand that identity and purpose go far beyond athletic achievement.

His new book, Beyond Success: One Athlete’s Outstanding Pursuit of Goals, God, and Glory, was just released by Harvest House Publishers, and today we’re going to talk about his journey, his faith, the lessons he’s learned from a lifetime in professional soccer, and what true success really looks like.

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Meet Your Host
John Stange is the Lead Pastor of Core Creek Community Church in Langhorne, PA and has been serving in pastoral ministry for the past 25 years.

John hosts three faith-based podcasts: "The Chapter-A-Day Audio Bible," “Daily Devotions with Pastor John,” and "Dwell on These Things." At present, his shows have been downloaded over 10 million times by listeners throughout the world. Creating online content has become a major facet of his ministry.

John has also written over 30 books, most of which are focused on spiritual growth, leadership development, marriage enrichment and the practical aspects of following Jesus.

John married his wife Andrea four weeks before they started serving at their first church together. They have been married since 1998 and have four children.

To learn more about John or read his blog, please visit BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.
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