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I just returned from a 10-day business trip. Chicago was the first stop on the tour. It was great to visit with our chaplain Pete Distler who serves the Moody Bible Institute Men’s Soccer Team. Moody, in recent days, has undergone a number of changes, one of which is the appointment of a new head coach for the soccer team. We had a chance to spend time with the new head coach and assistant to better understand how Pete, as chaplain, can help serve the team.

Among some of the opportunities that exist, the chaplain will be able to help the coaching staff better develop a spiritual plan for the team and offer a continued stable presence for the young players who often find themselves in the difficult space of balancing school and home life.

I had a really great time sharing, over a Chicago-style pizza with these men, about how the chaplaincy to the team can really be a service for the year. I am excited to see Pete continue in his role and offer a sense of continuity and place where players and coaches alike can come and confide in him.

In addition to meeting with Moody, Pete and I met with the Executive Director for the U.S. Adult Soccer Association, Duncan Riddle. A key moment in our conversation came as I asked, “How can Soccer Chaplains United support you and the teams that you oversee?” The USASA essentially oversees and sanctions soccer at the adult level. The teams served are too many to count; however, the vision to see a chaplain available to serve is a worthy task to undertake. While not an official meeting in any sense, I felt that some “idea” seeds have been sown. Please pray that something takes root, if it’s part of God’s plan.