Rod Underwood, former professional soccer player and current head coach of Chattanooga FC (NISA) joins the podcast today to share more about his life in soccer and his development as a coach for the beautiful game.
Today, on the Soccer Chaplains United podcast, From the Touchline, in part two of a four part series, Rod shares about his transition from being a professional player to becoming coach. He shares about the major influencers and friendships he has developed in the coaching ranks and his particular philosophy and style which he has adopted tactically, as coach.
From the Touchline is a short-feature (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.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/From-the-Touchline-Cover-Art.jpg15001500Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-08-17 00:00:002024-08-20 12:03:48Personal Life Mission with special guest Rod Underwood — Part 2
If you’re in the Mountain or Pacific timezone, than it’s likely that next Sunday you will be sleeping when I am presenting at the 3rd Global Congress on Christianity and Sport. At least from the initial schedule of speakers, the session time slot for my presentation will be 11:30 am Cambridge time (4:30 am for my wife and children), Sunday, August 21. My presentation? The Sports Chaplain as Captive: Issues of Pay and the Differences Between Preaching and Peddling the Gospel. What can I say, I like long titles…
It’s with some mixed feelings, if I am honest, that I look forward to next week’s session. It’s at the end of the congress (will people stick around or will they have been headed out to catch the flight home?) so that may mean a smaller group in the room. Part of my emotion also has to do with my daughter getting ready to leave for college and only having a few days remaining by the time I get back home before we pack the car and try to set her up for her next chapter in her life’s adventure.
But regardless of the number of people in the room, I think what excites me has been the work of preparing for this presentation and the study in the Bible to get to the point where I am landing. Sometimes in this moments you submit an abstract or a thought about where you are going to end up going — there’s a process of development, I’ve learned. And even after a presentation, you can often get people coming up and helping add meaning and value to the conversation because they heard or say or interpreted or experienced something different than you have — so you have to hold all of these things loosely and still handle the text (especially Scripture) really well.
I share my abstract with you here:
Tension exists for chaplains in sport — the majority are unpaid, volunteers (Paget & McCormack, 2006). This characteristic necessitates chaplains have other meaningful vocational work or fundraise support, both activities detracting from the chaplain’s work. Should sports chaplains be paid? Or, is there a conflict of interest in chaplains leveraging privileged positions or exciting experiences to earn an income or wage?
The apostle Paul, writing in 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6, defends his work and ministry, self-identifying as a “captive” led by Christ and contrasting his work with “many” others who “peddle the word of God for profit.” Paul, previously (I Cor. 9), defends the right of pay for those who “preach the Gospel.” So, then, is there a balance to be struck? If so, what is that balance?
This presentation will reflect theologically on the Corinthian texts, Paul’s meanings and example — offering practical ramifications and considerations for sports chaplains.
I am keenly aware that this issue is a bit “niche” if you will — but it’s the space where I am working and developing (sports chaplaincy). Probably some of what I am learning and studying has applications and ramifications outside of such a narrow window, but I have been amazed at some of what I have been learning and growing in as I go.
Special thanks goes to Dave Schoeman for his help in getting to Cambridge. I’ve come to be blessed by Dave and his wife, Barbie, as they have encouraged me and pushed me to reflect well on this subject and what it might mean for chaplains in sport.
I look forward to seeing some old friends and meeting some new ones in a week’s time, even though you will probably be sleeping. 😉
Sincerely from the Rev,
Rev Brad Kenney
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/W8A1013-1024x682.jpg6821024Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-08-14 00:00:002024-07-08 23:58:27While You Are Sleeping (Probably)
Rod Underwood is the head coach of Chattanooga FC which plays in the NISA (National Independent Soccer Association) – part of the third tier of professional soccer in the United States. Rod also serves on Soccer Chaplains United’s Board of Directors. A few weeks ago, as part of one of our board meetings, Rod shared with the board his personal life mission statement and I was encouraged to try and get Rod onto the podcast to share more.
Today, on the Soccer Chaplains United podcast, From the Touchline, in part one, Rod joins me to talk about his origins of learning to play soccer — beginning with mom helping to coach all the way to his days as a professional soccer player which preceded the formation of Major League Soccer.
From the Touchline is a short-feature (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.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/From-the-Touchline-Cover-Art.jpg15001500Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-08-10 00:00:002024-08-20 12:04:09Personal Life Mission with special guest Rod Underwood — Part 1
Greg Navitsky, chaplain for the past few years to Valor Christian High School Boy Soccer, has announced that he is stepping back from the chaplaincy role which he has held since 2020. Despite Greg stepping back from the chaplaincy, he has expressed his desire to stay on with Soccer Chaplains United in a consultancy and writing role for the time being.
During the last two years of soccer chaplaincy, it has been an immense and precious gift to hold space for students, coaches, and parents. If the last two years has taught us anything, it’s that being an incarnational presence in others lives is what our souls ache for. I believe the work we do is crucial and having Kingdom influence in more ways we can imagine. I’m thankful to stay connected to all you, albeit different ways, in the coming months. Cheering you all on!
Greg, on his time as Valor chaplain
Among some of the critical mass reasons for the change include a new role as pastor of students at Smoky Hill Vineyard Church; his pending wedding and marriage to fiancée, Bekka Weeks, in September; and, a new role with Where Grace Abounds.
I am excited that Greg will continue to stay connected and look to help and serve Soccer Chaplains United. We’ve really benefitted from his past experience in soccer and his passion for young people — in the midst of the brokenness and pain that we see, especially in this world of soccer. I hope that in a not-too-distant future Greg will have time and bandwidth to take on a direct chaplaincy role, again. For now, still feeling blessed that he will be part of our team.
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 chaplains and our work. Check out our Donate page for different giving options.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Greg-e1659976892360.png414509Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-08-08 00:00:002024-07-08 23:58:31Navitsky Steps Back from Valor Chaplaincy, Remains in Consultancy Role
It’s not often that I preach a Sunday morning message at church — it actually never has been. As a hospice chaplain for some four years, and a pastoral care pastor for six my main moments of speaking or preaching have tended to revolve around a funeral or memorial service. Well, hopefully, next Sunday morning’s opportunity to preach at partner church Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church (located in Denver, Colorado) won’t feel like a funeral or memorial service!
A week ago, one of my daughters asked me how work was going.
“Well, there’s this sermon that I am trying to study and write and prepare for…” They could tell that it was weighing on me. I tried to explain that while it is a tremendous honor and privilege to be invited to preach at church, and especially at a church where you worship together as a family, that there is a weighty burden that often accompanies it (as it should) because we are handling and disseminating the very Word of God!
Add into this the very simple fact that I rarely preach (maybe x1 a year, every other year) and I have been telling people — you get what you pay for! There’s a pressure and a burden to deliver “your best sermon ever.” Think of the pressure, you went to seminary (even though it was 20 years ago) and you learned Hebrew and Greek and homiletics; you’re in ministry; you’re an ordained Teaching Elder in the denomination…should be a breeze right? Well, if I were crafting a podcast or writing up an article for the website or coming up with a 5-10 minute devotional for the team it’s a totally different story. But this sermon prep stuff is hard! It’s not what I am used to.
I shared some of this with Rev Kevin Hasenack (Rapids 2 chaplain) this past week when we met to discuss and debrief some of the Rapids chaplaincy needs. “I have a refreshed respect for you doing this week in and week out…” I told him. It was funny as he commiserated and even said — “Yeah, you probably feel like you have to hit not only a home run, but a grand slam!” What was funny was that as Kevin said these very words, a guy outside the coffee shop made a swing-for-the-fences motion that caught my eye. He did this a few more times as Kevin went on with his baseball metaphors, which made me laugh.
But for all of my complaining (and believe it’s likely to get worse as the week goes on and the moments approach), I am reminded of Paul’s charge to his young protégée, Timothy:
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.
Paul, 2nd Letter to Timothy 4:2
So I am readying myself — TBH, I probably wish it were more like a podcast or simple prayer and blessing — I’m much better at that it seems these days. But I pray that God is glorified and that for those listening and in attendance next week that the text of Acts 8 will come alive and that we will all be challenged by what God has to say — to me and to those I share with.
Sincerely from the Rev,
Rev Brad Kenney
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/W8A1013-1024x682.jpg6821024Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-08-07 00:00:002024-07-08 23:58:33Rev Brad to Preach at Creek Next Week
Erick Jiménez, who served as chaplain for El Paso Locomotive FC, for the past couple of years has moved on from the chaplaincy to the team. Erick, a native of El Paso, Texas most recently served as Minister of Discipleship at First Baptist Church of El Paso but his move to a different church in Richland Hills, Texas has meant the end of his time as chaplain. Erick began serving as chaplain during 2020 and the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. His ministry included meeting with athletes via zoom and encouraging them through an extremely difficult period of time. Erick shared with me some of his thoughts on his time serving as El Paso’s chaplain:
Getting to know you (Brad) was a real blessing to me. You ministered and encouraged me throughout COVID and especially when my mom passed away. It has been great to be a part of something (Soccer Chaplains United) that I never knew existed and seeing all the connections and network of people serving as chaplain to these teams.
Erick, on his time with El Paso
Soccer Chaplains United would like to thank Erick, Jordan, and their entire family for their time serving and investing into the USL-Championship team in El Paso. We will work now to try and find another candidate to serve as chaplain. If you are interested or know someone who might qualify, please send an email to info@soccerchaplainsunited.org.
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 chaplains and our work. Check out our Donate page for different giving options.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/FBC-Headshots-15-of-14-scaled.jpg14401920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-08-05 00:00:002024-07-08 23:58:36Jiménez Moves On From El Paso Chaplaincy
We reach the end of episode five and lesson number 40 in our Lessons from Lasso series. Coach Lasso is saying “goodbye” to Michelle, his wife, while the two are standing out in the rain. It’s a tearful moment, because Lasso is also saying goodbye in another sense — relationally and maritally. It’s at this point that Lasso is mad at himself — he once promised himself he would never quit anything in life.
What do we do with the vows, the oaths that we make in life? Usually the result of some painful or hurtful moment — we swear that we won’t do that again. We won’t make that same mistake that our parents made. We won’t let anyone hurt us again. We speak words quickly and rashly — that often put us under a tremendous burden and a curse, especially when we don’t or can’t live up to it. Today, I look at what the Bible says about making an oath or a promise and how we ought to approach such things.
Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, Coach ‘Ted Lasso.’ Lasso first appeared a number of years ago as a comedic character as NBC purchased the broadcast rights to the English Premier League. Played by Jason Sudeikis, Lasso (as a coach) brings change to the difficult football (soccer) team that he has traveled overseas to coach.
In the ‘Lessons from Lasso’ series, I (Rev Brad) look at some of the different life learning points brought up in the show from a chaplain’s point of view.
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.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LFL-art.png1040778Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-08-03 00:00:002024-08-20 12:10:34Lessons from Lasso — I Promised Myself I Would Never Quit
Our next Lessons from Lasso episode we see Coach Lasso and Coach Beard pontificate on the seeming “change” of tone, although not a change of the surly word that the fans are chanting post-game. Coach Lasso makes a time-reference — the 80’s, when words meant the opposite of what was being said.
How ought one to cope with the shifting sands of change — whether it’s found in 80’s lingo or modern-day text/snapchat culture? In today’s Lesson from Lasso, I talk about the one who does not change — but is concstant and dependable and reliable . Listen to hear more.
Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, Coach ‘Ted Lasso.’ Lasso first appeared a number of years ago as a comedic character as NBC purchased the broadcast rights to the English Premier League. Played by Jason Sudeikis, Lasso (as a coach) brings change to the difficult football (soccer) team that he has traveled overseas to coach.
In the ‘Lessons from Lasso’ series, I (Rev Brad) look at some of the different life learning points brought up in the show from a chaplain’s point of view.
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.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LFL-art.png1040778Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-07-27 00:00:002024-08-20 12:10:57Lessons from Lasso — Like the 80s When Bad Meant Good
Lesson 38 in our Lessons from Lasso series and AFC Richmond is in an interesting place. It’s halftime. They’ve just come back from being down 2 goals to tie the game 2-2. However, Coach Lasso has benched their star striker, Jamie Tartt, not because of injury or strategy, but because of his arrogance and audacity — just plain selfishness. The tension in the locker room shows just how far the team will go in putting up with prima donna and bad behavior — but not so for Lasso.
Coach Lasso’s halftime speech gets at the heart of the human condition. We are broken — all of us. This is the beginning of the Christian apologetic. We begin with the sinfulness, the brokenness that separates us from God, and then we go from there. In today’s Lesson from Lasso, we look at the need for change — but for Christian people we understand that there is only One true source of change. Listen to hear more.
Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, Coach ‘Ted Lasso.’ Lasso first appeared a number of years ago as a comedic character as NBC purchased the broadcast rights to the English Premier League. Played by Jason Sudeikis, Lasso (as a coach) brings change to the difficult football (soccer) team that he has traveled overseas to coach.
In the ‘Lessons from Lasso’ series, I (Rev Brad) look at some of the different life learning points brought up in the show from a chaplain’s point of view.
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.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LFL-art.png1040778Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-07-20 00:00:002024-08-20 12:11:18Lessons from Lasso — We Are Broken. We Need to Change. Change is Scary.
I don’t know if I have shared very often about a special film project known as “My Beautiful Game” (MBG for short). MBG is an “inspiring 90-minute sports documentary profiling the lives of exceptional athletes who have committed their lives to not only their sport of soccer but to helping others through compassion, generosity, and social justice. A feel-good film that showcases the humanity in soccer while experiencing all the action and excitement surrounding both professional and amateur competition.”
I’ve gotten to know Martin Butler (director/producer), Brian Bird (exec. producer), and Scott Pomeroy (exec. producer) over the past few years and I really love the vision for the film to tell the story of football that goes beyond the pitch and into athletes lives. As a chaplain for some 20+ years in professional soccer, I’ve seen a lot of story-telling. Usually the story is about victory and paralleled with one’s ability to have spiritual victory, as well. But what space do we have for telling stories of defeat, of grief and loss — on the field and off the field?
Martin and his team with MBG, have just entered into the post-production phase after scouring the world and beginning to tell stories from familiar faces here in the US and globally. With the rise and fall of football and everything that happens on the field of the beautiful game and the field of life — there is a compelling story that is beginning to take shape. Several athletes have opened their football careers, their homes, their lives and told the more vulnerable parts of their story — all with the aim of helping people understand what the Beautiful Game (for them) is really all about.
MBG has an aim to finalize the story-telling in time for this year’s World Cup — and with the groundswell in soccer right now, I have to say, MBG seems poised to tell an important story at an important time. Of course, with any venture such as this one, there is always need — financial needs, prayer support needs, and more. Martin and his team have had to fight through a pandemic and many different challenges to work to bring these stories to light. I’d love it if you take a look at what Martin and his team are doing and perhaps you have an interest to help advance the story-telling.
Two quick ways that you can help:
Partner — easy to be informed, to pray for the project and team members, and find other ways to become involved including donating to the non-profit group behind the film
Invest — funding film projects might be something God has called you to consider as a big investor, I know Martin will meet personally for coffee, or via phone or zoom with members of his team to help you understand the potential of the film and things like ROI (return on investment)
Soccer Chaplains United is proud to be a part of partnering with Martin and My Beautiful Game and we hope and pray that God provide all that they need to get across the finish line and deliver these compelling stories come World Cup this December 2022.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Screen-Shot-2022-07-14-at-11.38.45-AM-e1657820379666.png558918Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-07-15 00:00:002024-07-08 23:59:40My Beautiful Game Enters Post-Production
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