Tonight at 7:00 pm Central, Rev Isidro Piña, volunteer chaplain to the Rio Grande Valley Toros FC of the United Soccer League — Championship division, will be leading a bilingual (Spanish and English) service with his church El Buen Pastor (United Methodist) which will air on Facebook Live. Click the link here to watch and participate in the service.
El Buen Pastor is located in Edinburg, Texas and Rev Isidro has been serving RGV Toros FC since 2018.
Soccer Chaplains United has three different offerings during Holy Week for 2021.
Spy Wednesday — Betrayal | This week’s From the Touchline podcast with Rev Brad Kenney looks at betrayal in football and in the life of Jesus. Click here to listen.
Maundy Thursday | Join Soccer Chaplains United with Rev Billy Cerveny, Rev Brad Kenney and and some special guests as we look at Jesus’ foot-washing example from a unique angle and also celebrate Communion, or The Lord’s Supper, virtually. This virtual experience (approx. 20 min) is on our YouTube channel or on our website.
Good Friday | Join Soccer Chaplains United with Chaplain Ben Dudley, Rev Brad Kenney and a special short-feature video designed to help you reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus. This virtual experience (approx. 10 min) begins Friday at 12 am ET on our YouTube channel (Services playlist link) or on our website.
Don’t forget!
You can also download our app (SoccrChapUtd) in the App and Google Play stores to experience these offerings on your mobile device.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:24 — 20.9MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Email | Youtube Music | RSS
Today is known as Spy Wednesday. Coming in the middle of Holy Week, we are just days away from Easter, but tonight is the night when, according to the biblical account, Judas agreed to betray Jesus and disclose the disciple’s location so that the religious leaders could arrest Jesus. 30 pieces of silver. That was the price, that was the blood money that Judas took — the equivalent of paying off the life of a slave.
On today’s From the Touchline podcast, we look at Judas’ betrayal and betrayal moments that happen in football. If you have been around professional football for a length of time, it’s likely you have experienced some form of betrayal — whether as an athlete, a manger, or as a staffer. How do we respond to moments of betrayal in our lives. We take a closer look on today’s pod.
Scripture and resources mentioned on today’s podcast include:
From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-15 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, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google stores.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:32 — 37.6MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Email | Youtube Music | RSS
In the wake of the shootings which occurred in Boulder, Colorado on Monday, March 22, 2021 one of the most difficult and penetrating questions that people ask is, “Where is God?” Where is God in the midst of suffering? Where is God in the midst of a shooting where ten people lose their lives?
Today’s From the Touchline podcast is different. I almost didn’t record one. It was difficult. But I share a few readings that can hopefully get us down the road a bit in wrestling with the question, “Where is God?” A passage from John Stott. A longer essay from Peter Kreeft, entitled Shared Hells. The ancient words of David from the text of Psalm 139. I have hyperlinked the resources below for quick reference.
From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-15 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, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.
Clint Moore, has been serving, unofficially, as chaplain to New Mexico United for the past two seasons. During that time, Clint and I have had a lot of conversations about joining Soccer Chaplains United for mutual collaboration and support as he looks to serve the United Soccer League — Championship (USL) side. Clint is the Pastor over Missions and Community Groups at Christ Church Albuqurque. You can read more about him on his bio page here.
It is always amazing to me how God finds people to work with the soccer community. When New Mexico United was announced as an expansion franchise a few years ago, I began praying, especially since the team is just down the road from Denver. After a few initial reach out inquiries to local pastors within my network, I reached out to friend and former Colorado Rapids player, Mike Graczyk, then assistant coach at University of New Mexico.
Mike, I am looking for candidates that might be interested in doing chaplaincy with New Mexico United, do you know of anyone that might be interested in going through the process?
Mike told me, “I’ve got a guy.”
That guy happened to be Mike’s pastor whose sons have been involved in soccer. An invitation by the Colorado Rapids Developmental Academy to his sons afforded us an opportunity to meet in Parker, Colorado (of all places) and for me to share the vision of Soccer Chaplains United and meet Clint in person.
When I asked Clint to consider the opportunity, he did due diligence – first going to his wife and church leadership to have them help discern what the Lord was doing in this opportunity. With the church’s blessing and with an informal availability and service over the past couple of seasons, Clint has been able to be there — even in the midst of the global pandemic.
It’s been my joy to serve the team voluntarily and informally for the past couple of seasons, truly…My hope is that I’ve been there when needed, but never a distraction. That’s my goal – no pressure for anyone to utilize, but right there and eager as a…resource for anyone in the club who desires it.
Clint, on serving New Mexico United the past few years
Clint’s heart is to missionally serve, not just New Mexico United but the city of Albuquerque, so what better way to do that than through this exciting, professional team?
As Clint officially joins Soccer Chaplains United, he brings the number of chaplains currently serving to 17 chaplains and New Mexico United becomes the 6th USL team being served by Soccer Chaplains United.
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 across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:00 — 50.8MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Email | Youtube Music | RSS
With the start of the season only a few days away, Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville) Chaplain Ryan Doyle joins to talk about his faith and family journey and what’s ahead for the CPA Lions. Rev Ryan Doyle, a long time soccer coach with CPA, now serves the team voluntarily as chaplain, a role that he really relishes.
Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, listen as Ryan shares about his faith story and how God took him as a young man and used a friend to confront him about his lifestyle — leading him to seek a different path. Ryan also shares about his family, especially his children — from adopting three of their six children and how his two sons are really enjoying being part of the CPA soccer program.
From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-15 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, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.
2020 was an interesting year — for non-profits and soccer, alike. The global pandemic changed many plans for chaplains and for the world of football, in the U.S. and around the world. And, as the world raced to come to grips with the changes and to adapt, Soccer Chaplains United and other groups serving soccer also needed to adjust to the ever-changing and always changing needs.
The Soccer Chaplains United Annual Report 2020 contains a brief summary of the work accomplished in the past year. Of course, there are so many stories and highlights from this past year that you can find on our blog roll, but we’ve tried to condense and put together a summary that holds us accountable to our donors and key stakeholders here in this document.
You can download a pdf copy of the annual report utilizing the download button below.
Soccer Chaplains United is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that relies on the generous support of individual donors and church partners to carry out its work of chaplaincy in soccer.
You can give a safe, secure, electronic, tax-deductible gift via PushPay by clicking the button below or by texting soccerchaplains to 77977. You can also mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081, Denver, CO 80250.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:58 — 60.4MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Email | Youtube Music | RSS
Valor Christian High School Boy Soccer starts their season next Monday night. Soccer Chaplains United Chaplain, Greg Navitsky, who serves the team voluntarily, joins the podcast today for part two — sharing his soccer and life journey as well as his hopes and prayers for the Valor Eagles team.
Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, listen as Chaplain Greg shares more about his Liverpool Academy experience and his journey that led him to Colorado and serving at Valor.
From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-15 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, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:09 — 51.0MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Email | Youtube Music | RSS
Boys high school soccer in Colorado is just about to kickoff from a delayed started going back to last fall. Valor Christian High School chaplain, Greg Navitsky, joins the podcast today to share about his soccer and life story in this, part one of a two-episode podcast.
The From the Touchline podcast hosted by Rev Brad Kenney, features an interview with Chaplain Greg. Greg shares about how soccer was a huge part of his life growing up and how he reached a really high level, but was aware that maybe God was calling him to something different. Hear more about this former Liverpool Academy trialist who is a recent Denver Seminary graduate and addition to Soccer Chaplains United.
From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-15 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, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.
I recently shared with some friends the evolution of Soccer Chaplains United. When I was getting started with the volunteer chaplaincy withe the Colorado Rapids in 2002, I wanted to have something that would help craft vision and mission guide and guardrails. I was reading I Timothy 4:8 — Physical training is of some value, but godliness (or spiritual training) has value for this life and the life to come. That’s it! I declared. We need to be cross-trained. We need to have physical and spiritual training balance.
For me, when I looked at the athletes and others I was working with in soccer, I could see an imbalance — the physical was accentuated and had all the time and attention. The spiritual parts of a person were often left, minimally, underdeveloped. So, with I Timothy 4:8 as a scriptural foundation and the concept of crosstraining (at the time a fairly modern concept of training different aspects and parts of the body to achieve better overall fitness and health) became the ministry name and moniker — CrossTraining.
In 2005, we filed our first non-profit documents with the State of Colorado. We were on our way!
And it worked, for a while.
In 2012, we applied for our 501(c)3. The IRS messed up the way that we spelled and put the word together (but that was ok, to be honest). Cross Training Ministries. We formalized a board, and after the non-profit scandals of 2012/2013 delayed our filing by some 8 months or so we finally received that letter that so many non-profits cherish — we were a bonafide 501(c)3.
Soon after achieving our non-profit status, there was a shift. I am not sure where or how exactly, but things started changing. As an organization we were having a lot of talks — we wanted to be transparent and relevant and connect with the people we were trying to serve. In 2014, friend and chaplain, Ben Dudley shared how the CrossTraining name was confusing and didn’t fit culturally within the context he was working to serve in. The next few years, there was a continuing, growing edge to explaining “CrossTraining is actually a chaplaincy ministry to soccer.”
Things came to a head in 2016. I was sitting with friend and then-chaplain for Queens Park Rangers, Rev. Bob Mayo, atop the castle wall in York, England having a coffee. We had known each other for several years and I was sharing with him about the recent growth with CrossTraining.
So CrossTraining, is this like a Christian CrossFit group?
Rev Bob Mayo, 2016 in York, England
The little Ben Dudley who sometimes resides on my shoulder was whispering, “See?” I rolled my eyes and tried explaining once more what CrossTraining was. But now with the craze of CrossFit sweeping the globe, it was a lost cause.
Back in my room at York St John University where the Inaugural Global Congress on Sport and Christianity was being hosted (and I was leading a session), I prayed, Lord, I think it’s time for a name change. To be honest, I think He had been trying to tell me this for sometime — but it was in that August of 2016 that the wheels started to turn.
The reminder of 2016 was a couple of meetings with a branding consultant and talking with our chaplains at the time. We knew that Soccer and Chaplain needed to be in the name. One of our chaplains, Kurt Trempert, advised that we have a three part name. What would be our last puzzle piece? Well, we did what any good group does, we surveyed a select group of folks — from donors, to athletes, to chaplains, and others.
Federation? Association? Consolidation? Consortium? Corporation? No joke — we put a lot out on the table.
UNITED
In the original survey that went out to folks united came in a stealthy 3rd place. But the more we talked about other options — they seemed sterile, distant, uninspiring.
Being a Manchester United fan, I didn’t want to default or look like a bandwagoning, brand/identity thief. But United was emerging as the truly the last piece to the puzzle.
United: because we all come from different Christian faith traditions.
United: because we all had various experiences with soccer.
United: because we all agreed that chaplaincy ought to be done a certain way — with certain integrity and methods of caring and serving.
And so, in 2017, we rebranded as Soccer Chaplains United.
The decision of myself and the board at the time was to simply change the name in a Doing Business As (DBA) format. We still kept getting offers, inquires, and opportunities from time to time for different types of chaplaincy (different sports) and we thought that maybe keeping CrossTraining as the umbrella might be prudent. But as time has gone on, we have become more and more laser focused. Soccer is who and what we are about.
And so, today, in a filing with the Secretary of State of Colorado. We finally say goodbye to CrossTraining Ministries and move forward into a new time forward with Soccer Chaplains United.
We are thankful to God and the many gracious donors who have journeyed with us along the way!
Soccer Chaplains United is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that relies on the generous support of individual donors and church partners to carry out its work of chaplaincy and counseling in soccer.
You can give a safe, secure, electronic, tax-deductible gift via PushPay by clicking the button below or by texting soccerchaplains to 77977. You can also mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081, Denver, CO 80250.