Archive for month: May, 2019

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Lewan Foundation Gives Fourth and Final Grant

The Lewan Family Foundation has, once again, provided a grant to help support the work of Soccer Chaplains United.  The foundation has partnered now, for the last four years, with our ministry. Their partnership has helped sustain Soccer Chaplains United through some key organizational moments, including the rebranding of the ministry which happened a couple of years ago.

The Lewan family has been a notable name in Denver for many years through their company, Lewan Technology. The Lewan Family Foundation has had a long legacy of service and support of many local Denver and Colorado organizations including Denver Seminary, where many of our chaplains and counselors have received training.

Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and we are dependent upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy, counseling, and community service across all levels of soccer. If your church, business, or foundation would like to support our work please consider making a contribution today or reaching out to us at info@soccerchaplainsunited.org.

Click the PushPay logo below or text soccerchaplains to 77977 to make a secure electronic donation. You can also mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081 Denver, CO 80250.

Hearts for Haiti

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Six friends are heading out on a journey to be part of what God is doing in northern Haiti. Matthew Hulst, an urban missionary with Urban Skye and leader with Coram Deo — Lafayette will be part of a group that will head to Haiti between June 13-23. The team will be helping launch a long term soccer ministry in Cap-Haïtien. The project will be lead by local Haitian leaders who have a heart to disciple and mentor youth and the team orienting from Colorado will come alongside to aid and support the launch. Hurst shared with me,

Their vision is to use soccer to plant seeds of hope and empower the youth to future embrace their role as future influencers in Haiti.

Matthew Hulst, Trip Leader

The team will be partnering with a couple local non-profit organizations including the local expression of YWAM and a ministry called Street Hearts Haiti. YWAM will help facilitate the soccer ministries and is led by local Haitians. Street Hearts Haiti is a street kids home that the team will focus on with hope to organize a soccer team from these group of orphans for a local tournament.

Currently, Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and there is a lot of political, societal, and spiritual brokenness. The youth the team is going to invest in are among the poorest in the nation, it is estimated that in this region a family of six will gross under $800 per year. A number hard to imagine that is even possible. The team is expecting the local tournament that they will help to setup will, itself, involve 100-150 young men and many younger kids for soccer camps during the day.

In addition to playing soccer and providing meals for attendees, the team will be looking to share the Gospel in various ways each day. Further, by working with these local organizations the team is hopeful to develop long-term relationships and be able to provide discipleship. Hulst further shared,

Our desire and prayer for this time is to invest hope, identity, and love into the youth who will be involved in these soccer programs.

Matthew Hulst, Team Leader

To make all this happen the team is in need of financial support. The teams looking to raise funds for the clinics and tournament. In addition to financial donations, the team is collecting old uniforms and other soccer equipment to bring to Cap-Haïtien.

Specific to the request from Soccer Chaplains United, the team is looking for the following donations: 15 soccer balls, 4 sets of jerseys (adult sizes), shin guards / socks (as many as possible), 4 pairs of goalie gloves, 4 goal keeper uniforms, stop watches, corner flags, 4 sets of pennies, cones.

When you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

Alvarez To Move On

Colorado Rapids Assistant Chaplain, Gerardo Alvarez, has felt that it is time to move on from Soccer Chaplains United. He has had a more specific call to put more attention to his family during this season of life and so, he will be stepping down at the end of May. Gerardo has served well as the assistant bilingual chaplain since 2018. He shared with me,

One of the thing I enjoyed seeing the most in working with the Rapids, was to see how the professional soccer players looked forward to go into the field to display their passion and capability; serving their families was a pleasant experience.

Gerardo Alvarez, Colorado Rapids Assistant Chaplain, 2018-2019

Key to Gerardo’s time in ministry was the service to several bilingual families and players. As often, families from other countries and cultures can feel lonely and isolated as they are far from familiar settings and family. The professional soccer environment was new for Gerardo, but one that he learned to work within well.

Working for SCU was a great learning adventure that I was excited to take on; Brad was patient and a great mentor, for me. It was a delight also to work with the other Soccer Chaplains United staff who are excellent professionals and preeminent people to work with. Thank you for the opportunity, may God continue to use you and bless you!

Gerardo Alvarez, Colorado Rapids Assistant Chaplain, 2018-2019

One of the things I appreciate most about Gerardo has been his heart for his family and for prayer. He keeps things in the right priority. Our relationship with God and our ministry to our family always should come first. And, while it is difficult to say goodbye, there is a great appreciation for all that Gerardo has done to serve along with me, the Colorado Rapids, and Soccer Chaplains United.

Ecuador on the Horizon

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Two years ago, a group of students, parents, and sponsors from Colorado Springs Christian Schools (CSCS) headed to Quito, Ecuador. Their mission trip team partnered with Inca Link Ecuador and their soccer ministry, Cumbre Alta.   Inca Link has a massive vision — they desire to reach the 300+ million youth in Latin America with Christ’s irresistible love. The national Inca Link organizations do this through evangelism and discipleship, training leaders, connecting people, and compassion ministries. They are devoted to helping the least of these in Latin America.

This year, a group of students who attend CSCS will again be looking to come alongside and serve the needs Inca Link has in their ministries, specifically in Ecuador. Jason Rollins, CSCS Athletic Director and coach of both the girls and boys soccer teams will again lead the team in Ecuador.

Part of the trip will include the CSCS students working with Casa Deportiva Cumbre Alta.  CDCA is dedicated to reaching the highest level of Ecuadorian sports as the teams look to share Christ with those in their sphere of influence. They look to grow their soccer academies to be attractive to others in Ecuador and share about Jesus. Much of this is done through the success of the CDCA First Team. In their debut season last year, the First Team finished third, one spot away from being promoted to the next tier of Ecuadorian soccer. This year they hope to push into the top two and win promotion to the fourth tier. 

Our First Team is our best team, regardless of age, which will be trying to reach the highest levels of Ecuadorian soccer. The more athletic success our First Team has, the more the public will recognize Cumbre Alta and want to send their children to play in our Academy and club teams. As we reach the highest levels of Ecuadorian soccer, our goal is to help our players, and those who are in the clubs sphere of influence, take their next step with God, whatever that might be. We do this through team devotions and prayer, and through one-on-one time with our players.

When you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

A CSCS student from 2017 talks with several Ecuadorian boys.

Chatting in Chattanooga

Recently, we have been searching for chaplain candidates in the Chattanooga area. It’s a search that began last year as news of a USL — League One team would begin play in 2019. Also, there is another team that plays in the NPSL (National Premier Soccer League) in Chattanooga — an amateur league, but part of the pathway to professional soccer. Both the NPSL and USL — League One (third division of professional soccer) are smaller leagues with lower franchising fees and requirements (stadium size, etc.). Often these teams function on much smaller budgets and may rely heavily on a volunteer base for support. Smaller budgets mean smaller wages (for staff and athletes). But these clubs can also draw some of the most passionate fan bases and create stunning soccer experience environments.

As the soccer continues to grow in the United States there are more opportunities and challenges that spring up with having multiple teams in or around a particular city or region. U.S. Soccer has certain rules and regulations about the types of teams and geographical distances and population density, but the rapid expansion of soccer can make it difficult to supply teams with chaplains.

While serving in soccer for nearly 20 years can help open conversations with new teams about the place and impact of chaplaincy in soccer it is not an easy task. There are many needs on both sides of the equation. For example, educating clubs on what chaplaincy is and is not and educating candidates for the chaplaincy on certain cultural nuances in soccer. There is often a dual process that happens when working to establish a chaplain at a club or with an organization.

It is sometimes a quicker process to help place a chaplain if the people in leadership have had good experience with soccer chaplains in the past. It can be a longer and more arduous process if they have not. And each club and team has different challenges.

So please pray for our conversations in Chattanooga (and elsewhere). That Soccer Chaplains United would be faithful and patient to the process. That clubs and teams would be open and receptive to understanding what a chaplain is and how they can serve and help care for the people within their community.

To support the Soccer Chaplains United’s chaplaincy work and development in Chattanooga and other parts of Tennessee, select the Chaplaincy fund from PushPay. Your donations help to offset the coaching and development work for chaplains across the various levels of soccer.

Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and we depend upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy, counseling, and community service across all levels of soccer. Your support allows us to offer to serve without reservation. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work. Click the PushPay logo below or text soccerchaplains to 77977 to make a secure electronic donation. You can also mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081 Denver, CO 80250.

Love God. Love the brothers. Love the game.

It is the season theme for Christ Presbyterian Academy’s Boys Soccer Program. It’s a theme that tells of where our priorities as a Christian lie and, according to CPA Chaplain Ryan Doyle, it’s part of what Head Coach Tom Gerlach and the rest of the CPA staff are constantly working to instill in the hearts and lives of the young men of CPA; a solid foundation of faith for the rest of their lives.

It echoes out from our team chant, and it rings in our hearts every minute of every game and every practice. It is what we are about at CPA Men’s Soccer.

Ryan Doyle, CPA Chaplain

CPA, this year, expanded the effort and reach of doing ministry through soccer by adding an official chaplaincy program in partnership with Soccer Chaplains United. Ryan Doyle, announced back in January, has been serving CPA for a number of years on the coaching staff and this year has begun the work of serving more intentionally as chaplain to the program.

Chaplain Ryan Doyle stands with the family of a CPA alum who has gone to be with the Lord.

Some of the extensions of what Ryan has led or supported have included pregame player-led devotions to developing game day prayer partners, from listening to worship music during practice to publicly honoring the courage and Christian character of our opponents. For a team that is finishing the regular season at 16-1 there has been plenty of jubilant celebration in victory but also there has been moments of work and prayer to provide encouragement in the midst of season-threatening injuries and other trials and travails that accompany the sport of soccer. Ryan shared with me,

The Lord has been present and moving in our midst this year, and his gracious favor has been evident.

Ryan Doyle, CPA Chaplain
Head Coach Tom Gerlach (back middle, with hat) looks on as Chaplain Ryan Doyle (back right) shares words of remembrance with CPA players and alumni.

Sometimes in sports we think that it’s mainly about winning and losing, but from the chaplains perspective we often see the difficult details of life that are in the in-between and day-to-day spaces. Even at 16-1 and heading begin district champions has come at a cost.

We have lost loved ones and grieved together as brothers, and we have celebrated the individual accolades of teammates as if they were our own.

Ryan Doyle, CPA Chaplain

CPA boys soccer is a highly decorated program and the vision of Head Coach Tom Gerlach and the school has always been about ministry through soccer, and this year there was an intentional step to orchestrate and integrate a chaplaincy program that could stand in the gap during the high and low moments of the year. For Ryan and the program, the chaplaincy has been a great blessing, and is the beginning of a ministry that will continue to grow. CPA begins post-season play in a regional quarter-final on Tuesday.

Walkin’ in Memphis

This week, I’ve had the special privilege of spending time with Greg Aydt, serving as chaplain with Memphis 901FC, an expansion team with USL-Championship, the second division of professional soccer in the US. Greg has been serving the club since the beginning of the year. It’s not just a new team to Memphis, but a new opportunity for Greg who serves as a pastor at Advent Presbyterian and today passed his examination for ordination in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Greg and I pose outside Autozone Park, home stadium of Memphis 901 FC.

Memphis 901 FC has captured the hearts of many in the city of Memphis. As a professional soccer team, coming to this city has meant a lot, especially for one of the owners, Tim Howard, for whom Memphis is home. And as soccer continues to grow in the United States and as Memphis begins to grow there is a lot of promise for those involved.

Starting in sports chaplaincy is never an easy task. Many times it can come with a bit of struggle as some have likened it to being “like a ‘stray dog — they either kick you out or start to feed you.'” Chaplains must earn the trust and be winsome in many ways. Often, chaplains must serve and work to demonstrate the value that they bring to a club or organization.

Greg stands ready at a training session — whether to retrieve an errant ball or strike up a conversation with someone injured or struggling.

Chaplains bring an incarnation presence to the teams and organizations that they serve. They are often an extension of love and grace and constancy in a world filled with transition, hurriedness, and challenges for one’s faith and family life. Many, by virtue of their profession, live a nomadic lifestyle — moving from team to team, city to city to ply their trade for as many days as their bodies will allow.

Greg, being prayed over after successfully passing his oral ordination examination.
2019 Presbytery of the West at Advent Presbyterian Church, Cordova, TN

Part of my time and purpose for going to Memphis was to spend time with Greg. To give coaching and insight and to see the specific environment that he is faced with — with all of its challenges and with the different blessings. It is also to learn from Greg — what does he need more of, what does he need less of? And, as the season, and years to come progress, myself and the rest of Soccer Chaplains United will be able to better support Greg and his work with the people that make up Memphis 901 FC.

Pray for Greg. Pray for Memphis. Defend Memphis

Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and we depend upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy in cities like Memphis with teams like 901 FC. Your support allows us to provide coaching and help further develop chaplaincy. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work. Click the PushPay logo below or text soccerchaplains to 77977 to make a secure electronic donation. You can also mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081 Denver, CO 80250.

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