Archive for month: October, 2017

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Update on Nashville, TN

The past month of October has flown by for Soccer Chaplains United. An early October trip to Nashville, TN to scout out a team chaplain kicked off the start of Soccer Chaplains United’s work in further developing chaplaincy in soccer.

Nashville, TN

Nashville SC begins play in the United Soccer League (USL) in 2018. With Head Coach Gary Smith currently working to form the team that will begin play in the U.S. second division of soccer, the opportunity exists to help the club place a chaplain from the beginning. Nashville, a city rising in prominence, has also risen in the eyes of Major League Soccer (MLS) and may soon discover if its bid to join the top flight has been accepted.

I was fortunate to spend time with the head coach and to also conduct interviews with four different candidates. The typical process is to narrow down the candidate pool and then put top candidates in front of ownership and coaching staff to create buy-in. As an organization gets a sense of fit and culture, Soccer Chaplains United ensures that a candidate meets certain criteria or is in progress toward meeting those standards.

Nashville, as a city, has many similarities to Denver, CO — including rising rent rates and increased traffic congestion as part of the cities rising popularity and target for healthcare and music industries. For USL players on 8-month contracts ranging from $500-$4000/month, the development of chaplaincy and counseling support becomes key.

The candidate pool in Nashville will soon be narrowed. If you are interested in exploring serving as a chaplain, or if you have a candidate recommendation or for further information, please email info@soccerchaplainsunited.org.

From the Rev: Bless Everything, Let God Guard the Consequences

I recently returned from a trip to the U.K. and conference with chaplains with Sports Chaplaincy UK. SCUK (formerly known as SCORE) was founded by Rev John Boyers who continues to serve as chaplains for Manchester United Football Club. In the last 10+ years, I have had occasion to attend conference with the football (soccer) chaplains a number of times. They have been forging ahead in post-Christian UK context for years now and have established a foundation of trust and pastoral care and support for many sports in the UK including both ability and disability sports.

In my devotions for 10 October, my readings in Celtic Daily Prayer point to the life and work of St Ninian. Ninian, a British Christian, studied in Rome but heard of the work that St Martin and his disciples were accomplishing in Tours, France. He journeyed there to learn of what Martin was undertaking it and returned to his home country of Britain to put it into practice.

One of Ninian’s practices might be summed up in the phrase:

Bless everything, and let God guard the consequences.

In the years that I have practiced chaplaincy in and amongst the soccer community, this has become a learned pattern. From blessing elite athletes as they go out into competitive matches and endeavors, to praying for an injured player, to supporting a family devastated by news of a trade or a contract release, to attempting to bring reconciliation between a coach and an executive — as a chaplain we are often called into spaces where we must bless everything and let God guard the consequences.

But can we really bless everything?

I recall the charge leveled at me from Rev Brad Strait at my ordination. From the text of Hosea 14:4,

I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.

The words of the Lord toward the nation of Israel. The words of a Father toward his wayward children. The charge of one minister to another. Rev Strait put it straightforward,

Love them freely and heal their waywardness.

As a perfectionist and as one who grew up in a more legalistic religious tradition, grace and love have been an edge for me to learn. But with great compassion, as I live in and amongst the football community I am growing constantly in learning what it means to look for the healing and loving moments.

As a chaplain, we bless what we are able to. We bless all that we can — all that we can see, be it ever so small. Even within each athlete, coach, staff member, executive, owner, family member, or fan we can even simply see the imago dei within a person. We bless everything — the work, the spirit of the game or play, the sharpening edge of one person to another. God guards the outcomes of the games, of the presence of a chaplain, the words and direction of a counselor, all of it.

When we allow God to guard the consequences we submit to the sovereignty and design of God. In soccer, one of the phrases that coaches and commentators will use is don’t chase the game. It is a similar thought to a chaplain’s surrender of the outcomes — when we go chasing a result we grow weary and unable to clearly see our own role as a chaplain in ministry. Of course, there are outcomes that come from the presence and work of a chaplain, but when a chaplain forces or tries to direct the outcomes in a particular fashion is usually when things go awry and the chaplain loses their ability to be a safe, trustworthy presence.

As chaplains, we need to let go of desired outcomes. In the course of our service, we should continue to apply ourselves to the work at hand. The outcomes, guarded and guided by God, will come.

Blessings.

— Rev Brad Kenney

Timothy Project – Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church Juarez 2017

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Soccer Chaplains United’s Timothy Project is pleased to once again supply Colorado Rapids soccer donations to ministry partner, Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church as a team of 30 plans to cross the US/Mexico border into Juarez.  Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church has been working closely with the community in Juarez for several years and it is always a joy to partner with them when a team goes down each year.

As the years pass and teams continue to go travel to Juarez, relationships with the local residents continue to grow, continue to deepen.  Soccer is an integral reason for this.  Pick up soccer games are common morning, noon and evening and all are welcome to play, regardless ability and skill.  The Timothy Project has helped to build the bridge between Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church members and the people of Juarez.  Timothy Project gear opens the door for soccer to be played.

This year the team will consist of several families, many of whom have young children.  Most of these children have not experienced a cross-cultural opportunity that this trip will afford.  One young participant, Jacob Smith, shares his excitement as the travel date nears.

“My name is Jacob Smith. I am 11 years old and am headed to Juarez, Mexico with 30 other people from my church. This is my first mission trip. We are going to a small church to help them run a VBS program for their community and help with work projects such as building houses. I love soccer and have been playing since I was three years old. I am looking forward to reaching kids in Mexico by playing soccer with them. I can’t wait to make new friends and share soccer gifts from the Timothy Project with them. Thank you so much for supporting our trip and sharing with the kids in Juarez.”

Though the team asked for minimal donations, due to the extreme generosity of the Colorado Rapids supplying Soccer Chaplains United, through the Timothy Project, is able to send far more than they requested.  These pictures show the gathering of the gear that will travel with the team into Juarez.

To support future Timothy Project ventures such as this one to Juarez, Mexico please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to. Your financial gift helps us purchase new equipment, sponsor a missionary or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

#TPT

Timothy Project – Liberia 2017 Final Update

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Timothy Project Liberia 2017 Update — Over 75 pairs of soccer cleats were gathered and sent with Thomas Fahn and his organization, Liberian Institute for Empowerment (L.I.F.E) in early summer of this year.  The cleats were gifted to Soccer Chaplains United, many from team donations but some from individual players.  They were an array of colors and sizes.  When all laid out on the field for the players to choose, it looked like a rainbow of colors, a rainbow of blessings.

When Fahn reached out to Soccer Chaplains United with a request for equipment, he shared the reality of the status of his soccer organization.

Right now, we are in desperate need of the following items in order to keep our soccer program going and to ensure its future success: * Uniforms – (youth sizes) 10 sets of jerseys minimum * Young adult soccer cleats (sizes 7-12) – 50 pairs minimum * Youth soccer cleats (sizes 4-7)– 40 pairs minimum * Training cones – 100 minimum * Youth training vests – 22 pieces minimum * Young adult training vests – 22 pieces minimum * Size 5 soccer balls – 30 minimum * Size 4 soccer balls – 20 minimum.

While Soccer Chaplains United was not able to fill his entire request, we were able to fulfill nearly all the soccer cleats, the jerseys and many of the soccer balls, among other items.  It has brought great joy and satisfaction to us at Soccer Chaplains United to see the cleats laid out on the field for players to choose.  Hopefully the same feelings of satisfaction will be felt by our supporters and those involved with Soccer Chaplains United.

Fahn has recently returned from Liberia and wrote to Soccer Chaplains United with these words, “Thanks a lot for standing along with us in providing our youth with hope through our soccer program. More than two hundred players benefited from the sporting equipment and they are very grateful for the kind gesture.”

To support future Timothy Project ventures, please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to. Your financial gift helps up purchase new equipment, sponsor a missionary or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

#TPT

From the Rev: Reflections from Across the Pond

This past week, I’ve spent time with fellow chaplains in sport at the Sports Chaplaincy UK (SCUK) conference and 25-year anniversary celebration. Post-conference, a trip up to Glasgow, Scotland to stay with my best friend from seminary days and do some decompression. And while in Glasgow, also was able to meet up with a player who was a trialist with the Colorado Rapids last year, and recently signed with a Scottish Premier League team. As I reflect back on this past week, I’d like to share some of the highlights.

We’ve Got to Get Ready

A recent story in the Guardian on the state of English football (soccer) academies is disturbing as they track probable cause for a 16-year old boy who committed suicide after being released from an academy. With the Major League Soccer academies now reaching double-digit years, chaplains and counselors and their potential role with MLS academy players will be pivotal. The challenge will be for chaplains and counselors that have been in mainly voluntary capacities, to be utilized better to assist players and families in coping with the stresses and demands that accompany this development of soccer.

We’ve Got to Speak Up

In recent days, too, with Kevin Doyle’s retirement from soccer due to concussion symptoms and some of the dismissive remarks made around the announcement speak to a need for educating, advocating, and perhaps even prophetically speaking out against this issue. CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) has been largely covered up and ignored by the National Football League (USA). While soccer in the U.S. has been at the recent forefront of developing strict concussion protocols, there needs to be increased research and a readiness to make significant changes in the game if similar evidences are found in soccer. Chaplains, in our pastoral duties toward people over and above the game, must work to bring a prophetic voice to this area of sport.

We Need Better Training

Britain’s safeguarding (child protection) laws have led to our counterparts with SCUK becoming trained and versed in safeguarding. This is an important area of development for sports chaplaincy. While it is hit or miss as to whether some sports ministry people could be deemed “clergy,” there is a potential gap and liability if proper training and vetting isn’t done. The age of athletes in the locker room, especially n soccer, has the potential to get younger and younger.

Another area of potential training and insight is in prevention. In the aftermath of last week’s shooting in Las Vegas, it behooves sports chaplains to have insight into large-scale response protocols for the stadiums and venues where we are serving. Training in the area of awareness, detection, and prevention is going to become more critical in our day and age.

A Final Thought

An old Japanese proverb says,

A fish in water doesn’t know it is wet.

By simply spending a few days here in the U.K. and seeing the issues that are emerging here from this side of the pond in sport, and in soccer specifically, we must raise the standard. It is time for those of us in chaplaincy to begin to seriously endeavor to impact the game(s) in the ways that we should. It means risk — there are many who would rather fly below the radar on particular issues, but we must prepare ourselves as the world and the game faces changes.

— Rev Brad Kenney

 

Sports Chaplaincy UK 25th Anniversary

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Sports Chaplaincy UK 2017

This past week I had the privilege of traveling to Manchester, England to represent Soccer Chaplains United during the 25th anniversary of Sports Chaplaincy UK. The week included observing SCUK’s “induction day” training program as well as participating in the two-day conference. This year’s conference coincided with the 25-year anniversary of the charity which originally was formed as SCORE by Rev John Boyers, the chaplain of Manchester United Football Club.

SCORE, began in 1991, and began to spread into other sport in and throughout the United Kingdom. The charity rebranded in 2011 to reflect a clearer sense of chaplaincy in and to sport. As part of the continuing education, training and fellowship — SCORE/SCUK has typically hosted a conference in the first week or two of October during the FIFA international window.

I first attended a conference  in 2008, coming away with a greater sense of continuing education needs for chaplains in sport, especially in soccer. I have continued to attend every few years as part of my own education and development and to glean more ideas for how Soccer Chaplains United might one day host its own conference with a similar view toward training and development of chaplains.

Posing with Prof John Swinton of Aberdeen Univ after a powerful session on the chaplain’s role as pastor or prophet.

The conference finished with a reception in the National Football Hall of Fame in Manchester. There are many exciting opportunities, not only for training and development, but also relationally. I had the opportunity to meet with chaplains in all different levels of English football (soccer) which may prove to be beneficial to Soccer Chaplains United in the future. For example, during one breakout session, I had the chance to learn from several chaplains that are tasked with developing chaplaincy within the football academy teams. Out of our time together, there were several ideas shared on how to care well for the young players that often enter into the sport with promise, but so few actually make it into the professional ranks.

It was a trip well worth the time and investment to learn more from the chaplains across the pond that have been working for some time in a post-Christian context. I look forward to learning more and seeing how Soccer Chaplains United will be able to brace for the cultural shift that is already happening within soccer in America.

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