Manuel was Born in Guatemala City, Guatemala and came to the Michigan in 1966 as an exchange student and liked it so much he stayed. He received Jesus as his Lord and Savior in 1979. He has a wonderful wife, Judy (Cooper) from Escanaba, MI. Together they have seven children (4 boys and three girls), two of which live in Colorado, the rest are still in Michigan.

Manuel began attending Agape' in 1980, served in Guatemala as missionary and pastor from 1992-1994 where he planted a church in Guatemala City named Iglesia Cristiana Schma. Manuel became a Youth Pastor at Agape in 2000, was ordained in 2003 and is presently serving as Family Care Pastor.