The month-long break is almost over! Soccer Chaplains United’s podcast From the Touchline will return in a few weeks (Aug 4) after a month long break. Stay tuned for more!
In the meantime, you can catch up on previous episodes by checking out this page.
While professional soccer has already returned in the United States and around the world, there is still a massive impact from the novel Coronavirus which has different parts of the country and the world in different stages of reaction and response. Social distancing in one place but wide-open, no restrictions in another, means that finding common ground is difficult. The global pandemic has affected the stock market and global and local economies for months — and businesses and non-profits have felt the effects to varying degrees. So, too with Soccer Chaplains United.
Unfortunately, second quarter for us saw a 25% giving decline from the same time last year. In addition, Soccer Chaplains United lost a key donor to start the 3rd quarter. The deficit is something that the Board of Directors and I talked about at length in our most recent board meeting (July 20). While difficult to forecast — Soccer Chaplains United may only be able to come in at 60% of forecasted donations this year. Challenges to meeting also make new support development a challenge as well.
Despite the current difficulties, Soccer Chaplains United has had some important advances in the past couple of months including the El Paso chaplaincy placement and a few other placements that are currently in the works. Additionally, the chaplains that are part of the group have had several good zoom meetings to collaborate on supporting the athletes, coaches, and staff of the teams and organizations that we serve. From issues of unemployment, to ethical and moral implications surrounding virus testing, to controversies surrounding the national anthem, and more — our chaplains have never been busier in offering pastoral and spiritual care to those we serve. Whether offering guidance on responding to culturally explosive topics, or praying for healing in the racial and social divides, to working through reconciliation issues having to do with ethnicity and race, and helping sustain one’s faith during such uncertain times — Soccer Chaplains United have been working overtime (and socially/ virtually distanced, no less) to serve.
For supporters and followers of Soccer Chaplains United, we need your prayers desperately during these next few months. As Major League Soccer and National Women’s Soccer League come to the end of their respective tournaments and as the United Soccer Leagues play in different markets — please pray for our chaplains on the front lines supporting those in soccer. Pray for their other vocational work (the churches and ministries and organizations where they serve). Pray for Soccer Chaplains United’s financial needs for 2020 to be met. Pray for the continued work of growing chaplaincy in soccer as it continues, no matter what the format for the remainder of the year and into next year. Pray for the health and safety of those athletes, coaches, and staff that are traveling and interacting with others. Pray for wisdom amongst the leadership and executives of the different teams and leagues. Pray for the small, Christian colleges and universities that are wrestling with their own financial needs and situations which may mean shuttering programs or changing the way they do school.
Thank you.
I am excited to announce that with the United Soccer League—Championship kicking off this past weekend, Erick Jiménez, has moved through the candidacy process with Soccer Chaplains United and will now be appointed to serve as volunteer chaplain to El Paso Locomotive FC.
Erick is the Pastoral Director of Young Marrieds and Family at Coronado Baptist Church and is currently working on his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. You can read more about him on his bio page here.
During the time of COVID-19, chaplaincy placement conversations have been extremely difficult as different teams and organizations bide their time to see how the global pandemic will impact the sports industry — across all levels. However, the appointment of Erick as chaplain comes at an important time as many of the USL athletes have been waiting and training in their team markets. With the recent collective bargaining agreement and other adaptations to the league play this year, many athletes have been isolated, even from teammates and waiting to see if soccer would happen at all this year.
After a month long dialogue, and a few weeks of searching for viable candidates in the El Paso area, God made Erick’s candidacy clear. For Erick, the timing was something he and his wife could see God working in,
For awhile I have been removed from sports ministry and my wife and I before COVID-19 had been talking about getting back into some form of ministry utilizing sport. And then I get this random call. I was thinking ‘This was crazy!” I had been wondering if our teams in El Paso had chaplains and then this call and the process, and I am seeing how God is working through this.
Erick Jimenez, on receiving a random phone call about the chaplaincy opportunity
Erick’s appointment as chaplain becomes Soccer Chaplains United’s fourth USL – Championship chaplain and 14th chaplain overall.
Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy, counseling, and community service across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work. Simply click the PushPay (the big P) link below to make a secure, online, tax-deductible gift, or mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081, Denver, CO 80250.
Last week, a couple of teenagers from Lutheran High School and Valor Christian High School showed up to help Soccer Chaplains United pack out more items for our current (and only project, thus far) for 2020 — the Musana Community Development.
With the goal to fill 10 bins each, the four students, each seeking to find some volunteer hours prior to school starting this fall, were able to get items sorted and counted and bins filled in record time. Maybe it was the cooler day in Colorado, or maybe it was jamming out to the tunes, but each one worked quickly to get things sorted, counted, and packed.
You can learn more about the Musana Project by reading the original request for gear and how, with the cancellation of another trip, there will be more going to Uganda this year once the country re-opens.
Remember, 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!
