Soccer Chaplains United

UNITED BY A COMMON CODE AND A SHARED VISION TO PROVIDE SPIRITUAL CARE, WISE COUNSEL, AND MEANINGFUL SERVICE FOR SOCCER

ABOUT US

Soccer Chaplains United is a Christian organization dedicated to providing spiritual care, wise counsel, and meaningful service to those in the world of soccer.

Our primary emphasis is on chaplaincy development that considers and cares for the whole person — whether an athlete, coach, staff member, official, alumni, fan, or family member. We train our chaplains to pastorally and spiritually care for the greater soccer community.

Soccer Chaplains United also facilitates meaningful service opportunities between the faith and soccer community. Through our Community Project initiatives we resource different groups with new and used soccer gear to affect change locally and globally.

Soccer Chaplains United is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization.

CHAPLAINS

BRAD KENNEY

COLORADO RAPIDS

GREG JOINER

NASHVILLE SC

TROY READY

PORTLAND TIMBERS

CARLOS "CALI" ALEJANDRO

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

JASON ROLLINS

COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC

MIKE RICHARDS

EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC

JUSTIN NOSEWORTHY

MONTEREY BAY FC

ROBERT BRIGGS

SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC

BILLY CERVENY

SPORTING JAX

AMY MILLER

SPOKANE ZEPHYR FC

RUSSELL BRANHAM

SPOKANE VELOCITY

GAVIN BRAND

BALLARD FC

JONATHAN HYDE

CHATTANOOGA FC

KEVIN HASENACK

COLORADO RAPIDS 2

LEWIS MARTIN

HUNTSVILLE CITY FC

JUBAL MCDANIEL

TACOMA DEFIANCE

College and High School

LUCA SEAZZU

CALVIN UNIVERSITY

KIMBERLY BEACH

VICTORY CHRISTIAN (IN)

BEN PFLEDERER

COLORADO RAPIDS ACADEMY

MALCOM BROWN

NASHVILLE SC ACADEMY

Other Chaplains/Support Team

GREGORY AYDT

MEMPHIS

GERAUD BRUMFIELD

FRESNO

CESAR DURAN

SPANISH TRANSLATION

MICHAEL KELL

SO CAL REGION

PATRICK KING

SAN DIEGO

JORDAN MEDAS

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

RICARDO ORELLANA

SPANISH TRANSLATION

ISIDRO PIÑA

SAN ANTONIO

JORDAN RIVERA

MONTERREY, MX

NEWS

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Hope Going to Gitombo: Kenyan Village and School Needing Gear

June 19, 2025

Wanjiru Mukunga and I went to Denver Seminary together many, many years ago. Formerly a chaplain with Christian Living Communities, we shared some professional development moments and colleagues throughout the years. In 2017, Wanji (known as Mary to many of her American friends) left the comforts of the US and her job here to return […]

Subbing Out: Bailey Concludes West Virginia Chaplaincy Effort

June 17, 2025

In late 2022, Josh Bailey reached out to Soccer Chaplains United about what chaplaincy might look like in Charleston, West Virginia. While there was nothing concrete at the time, Josh had noticed the influence of soccer and the number of people that were on the sidelines any given weekend. As a local church pastor, Josh […]

Packing for Peru: Pluses and Minuses

June 12, 2025

For the recent Community Project Request from Saint Patrick’s as they prepare to head to Peru, we initiated a new process — an online, pictorial catalogue that allows teams to “shop” and “select” gear. And, with all new kinds of processes, there were a few setbacks but this week, I was able to pack out […]

United See Three Graduate Seminary This Spring

June 2, 2025

I can’t recall a time in our history when we had so many of our chaplains finishing up a seminary degree. The past few weeks have seen three Soccer Chaplains United chaplains competing their course work and graduating from their respective institutions. Ben Pflederer (Denver Seminary — MDiv), Malcom Brown (Vanderbilt Divinity— MDiv Chaplaincy), and […]

Game Plans and Gospel: Talking Translation in Texas

April 21, 2025

I am really pleased to share that a proposed talk has been initially accepted for the 4th Global Congress on Sport and Christianity (GCSC). The congress, happening this summer in Waco, Texas, has been something that I have prioritized now for a number of years dating back to the first congress in 2016 in York, […]

PODCASTS

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The Banner of God: Reflections on Exodus 17

June 18, 2025

Israel’s first military test and battle coming on the heels of their escape from Egypt could have been disastrous, but God intervened. Exodus 17 records their first military test after a bit of a struggle for water in the desert. They won through the presence and power of God and the obedience of Moses in […]

Prayers Before Surgery: Reflections from the Rev

June 11, 2025

Injuries are common place in sports, especially in professional soccer. I recently sat with an athlete before surgery and it got me thinking back to the various surgery centers, hospitals, and other clinics where I have been present with people before this often difficult moment in one’s career. Whether it’s the waiting room of a […]

The Suitcase Life: How Well Do We Travel?

June 4, 2025

Well, I recently moved office. It didn’t take long—two-three trips to move a couple miles away— but I was certainly in a funk. I don’t like change. Moving is hard (for me), even if it’s just a short ways away. It’s likely more to do with change or dealing with the unexpected. It begs the […]

Emmaus: Making Faith Sense of Mental Health, Part Four

May 28, 2025

This is the last in our series on mental health that we’ve been talking about through the month of May. How can one’s faith inform and help heal and sustain our mental health challenges and struggles? The story of Jesus encountering two disciples on the road to Emmaus, found in Luke 24:13-36, is a story […]

Emmaus: Making Faith Sense of Mental Health, Part Three

May 21, 2025

May is mental health awareness month. Mental health is an important issue in sports and especially elite level soccer. As a chaplain, I believe that Christian faith can help with mental health challenges and struggles, but I think sometimes we don’t understand or see the different stories and tools and resources that are needed or […]