October 15, 2025 | Soccer Chaplains United

King’s Table, Part 4

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (15.6MB)

Mephibosheth’s life is about to change — he’s leaving the old behind for something new. He’ll have to say goodbye, but he will be welcomed in, adopted, made as a son into a new family. Have you ever had this happen to you? Football, in many ways, feels like family. The world of football is a small, tight-knit community (even with it being a global game). Some of the best stories in football, are the stories of restoration and renewal — whether a footballer, a manager, or at some other place in the beautiful game. Walk along with Mephibosheth one last time and consider the parallels in his life with yours.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad’s best mate from seminary, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) returns to lend his voice and creative talents for a final time while Rev Brad finishes a month long sabbatical. The Kings Table: A Biblical Monologue featuring Mephibosheth, Son of Jonathan, Who Went From Ruin to Royal Court, is narrated by Fraser. At the end of the episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection.

For more on Mephibosheth, you can read his story in the Bible. He appears in II Samuel 4:4, 9, and 21:7.

To see or read more from Fraser — he has a few published books and audiobooks available on AmazonSmile. You can visit his author page here. Remember that when you purchase through AmazonSmile and designate Soccer Chaplains United as your charity of choice, .5% of your purchase price is gifted to us!

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.

January 29, 2020

Special Shoes

Community

Late last year, Soccer Chaplains United received a “random” email:

Hi !! I would like to have a address where I can donate my new cleats. I want them to go to someone who love soccer but special love Jesus like I do. Please send me the address where I can mail Them.

I say “random” because although we have invited donations of soccer equipment from individuals, 99.9% comes through bigger organizations like soccer teams and clubs. It is the rare occasion that we receive a donation like this.

Probing further for a story or for information on this act of generosity, we received the next message,

I’m 16 years old and I play soccer I’m from USA but God open a door for me to play in Barcelona. I’m here in Florida for the holiday but in January I will be back to Barcelona to continue my dream to become a professional soccer player (keep me in your prayers) I have this cleats for 2 months but I will get new ones and I want this cleats to go to special boy who has a dream just like me.

Justan Dunstan, donor of the special shoes. Follow him here.

Fast forward a couple of weeks, after receiving the cleats, I was having a coffee conversation with Valor Christian and John Brown alum, Conor Georgopulous. Conor works with Missionary Athletes International in Chicago and is getting ready to lead a team on an international trip. The more we talked, the more it seemed that maybe the “special” person that these special shoes may be part of Conor’s team.

Stay tuned to this story throughout 2020 as we discover where and for whom God intends this special pair of shoes.

When you financially 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 projects and organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

January 23, 2020

King’s Table, Part 3

From The Touchline

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (13.9MB)

Have you ever been about to walk into a meeting that might be your last? Maybe it was a review as an employee, an end-of-season meeting as an athlete, or the chairman’s office — what went through your mind as you were about to walk through the doors? Did the hammer fall? Or, was it something different? Did it happen or turn out the way you thought it would?

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad’s best mate from seminary, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) returns to lend his voice and creative talents in a third installment of a biblical monologue narrative while Rev Brad takes a month long sabbatical. The Kings Table: A Biblical Monologue featuring Mephibosheth, Son of Jonathan, Who Went From Ruin to Royal Court, is narrated by Fraser. At the end of the episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection.

For more on Mephibosheth, you can read his story in the Bible. He appears in II Samuel 4:4, 9, and 21:7.

To see or read more from Fraser — he has a few published books and audiobooks available on AmazonSmile. You can visit his author page here. Remember that when you purchase through AmazonSmile and designate Soccer Chaplains United as your charity of choice, .5% of your purchase price is gifted to us!

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.

January 22, 2020

King’s Table, Part 2

From The Touchline

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (14.1MB)

It can be difficult to watch others go on to glory while we wait in the wings, injured or out of the starting lineup. When last we saw our friend Mephibosheth, he was reflecting on the successes of King David — and his own family and life was in shambles. When we see and experience these things in life, it can leave us feeling forgotten, irrelevant — relegated to a life we never would have dreamed or wished.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad’s best mate from seminary, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) returns to lend his voice and creative talents in a second episode of a biblical monologue narrative while Rev Brad takes a month long sabbatical. The Kings Table: A Biblical Monologue featuring Mephibosheth, Son of Jonathan, Who Went From Ruin to Royal Court, is narrated by Fraser. At the end of the episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection.

For more on Mephibosheth, you can read his story in the Bible. He appears in II Samuel 4:4, 9, and 21:7.

To see or read more from Fraser — he has a few published books and audiobooks available on AmazonSmile. You can visit his author page here. Remember that when you purchase through AmazonSmile and designate Soccer Chaplains United as your charity of choice, .5% of your purchase price is gifted to us!

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.

January 15, 2020

No Chaplain, No Contract

Chaplaincy

Well, it didn’t exactly get said that way, but recently, a Soccer Chaplains United chaplain shared with me this encouraging story.

His particular team had gone out recruiting some high-level talent for the upcoming season. Ongoing negotiations were going well, but the player made a potion of asking for one particular item in the recruitment process. Does your club have a chaplain? He wanted to make sure that the club had a chaplain that was servicing and available to players and the organization. It had become part of his criteria, essential component to vetting which club to play for.

It’s a great filter — does a club or organization value its people enough to enlist the support and care of a chaplain? Does an organization realize a holistic nature for its people — athletes and staff — and utilize a spiritual and pastoral care provider?

The basis for this particular player asking that very question came from him receiving a well-rounded sense of support from another Soccer Chaplains United chaplain in the city and team where he had most recently had a contract and played for a number of years. Because of the excellent care and support he received from that chaplain, he has started to ask the question, have you got a chaplain?

I guess it would be any founder of a chaplaincy organization’s dream for the constituency that we aim to serve to demand that there be chaplaincy with their next team or next club. I don’t know if this becomes a growing trend, but it is a testimony and it is a testament. That as we care well for people in this difficult industry and sport, that it can become part of the bar, part of the litmus test for other organizations and part of one’s discernment about becoming involved, working with, or signing a contract.

It is my hope and prayer that a growing number of coaches, executives, and owners will see and realize the value of having chaplaincy within their organization and follow suit. And, of course, Soccer Chaplains United will be there to engage in the conversation.

January 14, 2020

Musana First for 2020

Community, Community Project

Musana Community Development is the first Community Project request for Soccer Chaplains United for 2020. Musana is a non-profit located in Uganda, which started 11 years ago, when Colorado natives Andrea and Leah Pauline traveled to Uganda for a summer internship. Witnessing extreme poverty and corruption at a local orphanage, they knew they had to help.

Shortly after starting Musana, the girls began partnering with local Ugandans to empower them to BE THE CHANGE in their own community. That is when their vision shifted and they realized a new way to tackle poverty. Led and envisioned by local Ugandans, Musana is not a charity, but a sustainable solution. Bringing economic and social development together, Musana uses social enterprises as a catalyst for change.

Musana is breaking the cycle of poverty through an integrated, holistic approach that is restoring hope and dignity by pointing to the local people, in helping them realize their own capacity to not only survive, but to thrive.

About Musana

WE BELIEVE IN… LOCAL OWNERSHIP: Our projects are envisioned and implemented by a team of local men and women who empower and drive the community to take a leadership role in “being the change.” SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: We promote an innovative social business mentality by creating enterprises focused on health, education, and skill development. SUSTAINABILITY: We aim to generate 100% of our operating budget through locally generated funds from our social enterprises. ACCOUNTABILITY: We fight corruption through strict checks and balances, and internal controls to ensure that every Ugandan shilling is spent with integrity and efficiently supports the development of the community. THE CYCLE: Our social enterprises (Education, Health Care and Skills Development) work independently but in support of each other, cycling the profits back into the community through education scholarships, rural workshops, medical assistance, microloans, and skills training.

The Project

Musana is teaming up with Homes of Living Hope to donate much needed supplies to Musana’s replication site, where a new school will be opening February 2020. The purchased land and start of construction will result in a third campus of the Musana Nursery and Primary School to provide a unique, quality education to 1,000 Ugandan children living in Kaliro.

The organization will have 2-3 containers located in North and South Denver for three months (February – April) — building out these shipping containers to be used as vocational classrooms at the new site in Uganda. The containers will also be filled with medical equipment, school supplies and sports equipment. Uniform donations from Soccer Chaplains United will fulfill a huge need for the students.

The Request

Musana is requesting matching uniforms for teen boys (including jerseys & shorts), soccer balls, cleats and shin guards. Any quantity will be welcomed, as they have multiple teams, with over 100 students playing soccer each year.

When you financially 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 projects and organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

January 9, 2020

King’s Table, Part 1

From The Touchline

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (17.0MB)

Have you been “crippled” by football? We don’t often use the word nowadays because it is politically incorrect and insensitive to name or call a person crippled; however, a person may have crippling injuries — physical, mental, and spiritual from football. During the next few weeks, we will journey with a special person from the Bible whose life has some interesting parallels for those in football — whether athlete, coach, staff member, or fan.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad’s best mate from seminary, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) lends his voice and creative talents in a biblical monologue narrative while Rev Brad takes a month long sabbatical. The Kings Table: A Biblical Monologue featuring Mephibosheth, Son of Jonathan, Who Went From Ruin to Royal Court, is narrated by Fraser. At the end of the episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection.

For more on Mephibosheth, you can read his story in the Bible. He appears in II Samuel 4:4, 9, and 21:7.

To see or read more from Fraser — he has a few published books and audiobooks available on AmazonSmile. You can visit his author page here. Remember that when you purchase through AmazonSmile and designate Soccer Chaplains United as your charity of choice, .5% of your purchase price is gifted to us!

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.

January 8, 2020

Sabbatical

From the Rev

One day left. As I write, I have one more day until I go on sabbatical. To confess, I am nervous and afraid. What if…? is the question that most hounds me.

What if people don’t understand? What if people don’t agree? What if people need me? What if the organization, the ministry, the work tanks? What if…? And that’s not just all.

What if I don’t use the time well? What if I don’t encounter God? What if I am unable to find rest and renewal. What if…?

I podcasted earlier this week some thoughts on sabbath and sabbatical. As I have been explaining to people, even to my own family — God gave us instructions to rest (people and animals) every week. And God gave instructions to rest (the land) every seventh year. I’ve been at it for nearly 20 years (am I 3x overdue?). I am not a farmer — but my vocation is similar to that of one: there is tilling, planting, cultivating, watering, and harvesting elements to my work.

I wish I had more stories of farmers who actually rested their lands in those seventh years. What happened to them? What happened to the land? Did they survive? Did they crash and burn? Did they and the land flourish?

I recall someone — either a seminary professor or in a book somewhere — stating that there is no evidence that the nation of Israel ever obeyed the command to allow the land to rest every seven years. No evidence! Gulp!

I have known some pastors and ministers to go on sabbatical only to wind up leaving the ministry altogether when they returned — perhaps they were too burned out and the engines never were able to reignite. I have some of these questions as well — I have been going at such a high pace and rate for so long now, how do I slow down? How do I shut off? How do I disengage? (and then how do I get going again?)

Some have wished me well. Some have wondered what exotic location I will be off to or have encouraged me to have a great “time off” — no, it’s none of this. It’s got to be different. It’s not a vacation. It’s not a stay-cation. It’s not _______. But then again, not having ever done this, I can’t quite really say what it is either.

Pray for me. Pray that I find good, soul rest. Pray that I have meaningful time with God. Pray that my spirit and soul awaken to the new thing that God wants to do.

Sincerely,

January 5, 2020

2019 Community Project in Review

Community

It’s always fun to look back on a year and see what happened — the places where one has been, the different things accomplished, and the like. For 2019, we can’t say necessarily that it was a record-breaking year, but it was an exciting year, nonetheless. Here are some of the highlights:

10 Community Projects

2019 saw 10 different Community Project fulfillments. We are still waiting for stories and reports on two of those, but similar to 2018 we had 10 fulfilled projects go out locally and around the world.

1288.5 lbs of gear

2019 is the first year of recording specific weights for projects as we carefully took into consideration different needs and capacities for the Community Project requests that came in. Some project requests had baggage weight limits around 50-75 lbs. Others were larger and took more amounts of gear.

401, 540 and 628

No these aren’t area codes, these are our biggest quantities — shorts, socks and t-shirts/jerseys — these are the amounts that went out in 2019, respectively. Added up it makes for a lot of soccer gear sent out on various projects.

Vincent Gerbouin at Pexels

Cambodia was a new country for a Soccer Chaplains United Community Project

10 Different Countries; 2 New Ones

While we had 10 different Community Projects, we had 10 different countries, but not every trip was to a different country! And two of those countries were to brand new places — Cambodia and El Salvador.

Mexico, Liberia, Haiti, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Uganda, Eswatini, Cambodia, El Salvador, and the United States were the 10 countries represented or touched by Community Projects this year.

9568.03 miles

The longest “great circle distance” that a Soccer Chaplains Community Project traveled — 9568 miles from Denver, CO to the African country of eSwatini.

Where will 2020 see Soccer Chaplains United Community Projects go?

We are excited to see all that God has in store for this next year of 2020. Among some of our anticipations: providing a One World Play ball for each project (up to 10); providing at least 10 regular soccer balls for each project; new church partners and new projects; new countries and new and old friends revisited.

Remember, when you financially support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals projects and organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

January 2, 2020

Sabbath

From The Touchline

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (26.3MB)

When was the last time that you really rested? When did you last “get off the grid” or completely and totally “shut-down”? The ideas and concepts of sabbath, sabbatical and rest may seem like foreign concepts to you and me or something that we absolutely can’t do in our current place in the journey or station in life.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad reflects on his upcoming, month-long sabbatical and some of his own struggles that he has encountered in trying to take a sabbatical. He looks at the way that God has setup and designed human beings in their need for sabbath rest.

Notable mentions in today’s podcast:

— Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11, NIV; Exodus 23:10-11, NIV; Matthew 11:28, NIV

— Books: Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-12 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.

January 1, 2020

King’s Table, Part 4

Special Shoes

King’s Table, Part 3

King’s Table, Part 2

No Chaplain, No Contract