Late last week, two teams from partner church Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church made their way to Ethiopia and Uganda. Both teams made requests for soccer gear from Soccer Chaplains United’s Community Project request program. You can follow the teams progress and blog updates below.
Ethiopia
This family trip runs from July 9—24. Serving alongside Hope for the Fatherless, an orphan ministry in the capital city of Addis Ababa that seeks to meet the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children and place them in loving families through domestic adoption and reunification, as well as develop a culture of adoption and orphan care in Ethiopia and around the world.
Student ministry trip runs from July 10-26. The team serves once again with Uganda Youth for Christ, who have been CCPC partners in the gospel since the church’s first visit in 2007. This team of Ugandan young people is on the ground every day, serving Christ, sharing the gospel in schools, caring for and equipping teen moms, and being lights in very dark places.
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 Project 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!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/oneworldballethiopia2018.jpg899899Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-07-14 00:00:002024-07-08 23:59:44CCPC Teams Out to Africa
Lesson 37 and we see Higgins rise to the top as he shares with Coach Lasso and Co. an insightful word about marriage and relationships — Being with the right person makes tough times easy. Lasso, in pain around what is happening with his wife, Michelle, and the impending trouble that their marriage is in, invites Higgins into the inner sanctum to give his “take.” And Higgins, with 28 years of marriage, 5 boys, a dying cat, and house that is too small seems unfazed.
In football, there are many challenges that face a couple — travel, physical, financial, and many more. In today’s “Lessons from Lasso,” I look at the value of being with the right person so that the tough times are a bit easier and one is able to better endure.
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 Kenney2022-07-13 00:00:002024-08-20 12:11:57Lessons from Lasso — Being With the Right Person Makes Tough Times Easy
Jackson Lino is the Youth Program Director for Thrive International in Spokane, WA. Jackson immigrated to the US as a refugee and later started working for World Relief in Spokane. His heart is to see immigrant and refugee youth and families thrive in the greater Spokane area. I initially connected with Jackson via Twitter in 2018 and we hosted our first camp together in 2019. The camp takes place over the course of a week during the summer. The first few days include basic skills and lots of scrimmage games. On the final day, the kids organize themselves into teams and we run a tournament. There are two brackets – one for each age group. In addition, our camp provides free cleats, socks, shinguards, jerseys, goodies and snacks for the kids. We would not be able to do this without our church and community partners!
This year was a massive step in the development of our soccer camp program! We served 60 youth that represented 10 different countries. One of the most exciting developments this year was the additional support from the new USL Spokane group! USL Spokane held a cleat drive for the camp and acquired a donation of soccer balls from Park. This year’s tournament included players from the USA National Military Women’s Soccer Team, who just happened to be training in Spokane! To top it off, a local news outlet came out to feature the youth and Thrive International’s youth program. Absolutely amazing! I cannot wait to see what’s in store for next 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 Project 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!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/image1-scaled.jpeg12801920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-07-07 00:00:002024-07-19 15:07:19Lino Leads Charge to Assist Refugee Resettlement in Spokane
It’s not long into episode five, and we gain more insight into Coach Lasso’s marriage to Michelle and the difficulties that the couple are facing. Lasso shares with the coaching staff that he’s taken this position (some 4,438 miles away) in order to “give a little space” in his marriage to his wife. Giving a little space is sometimes the wisest counsel that a couple, or two individuals with relationship discord can receive.
But how do we make that time or moment of “giving a little space” fruitful and intentional? In today’s “Lessons from Lasso,” I look at a couple of passages in the New Testament that speak to creating space around conflict and give steps for addressing issues in a thoughtful way — emotionally and spiritually, especially. While it can be helpful to have physical “space,” merely giving space and thinking that it will help (on its own) to change or transform hurt or pain, well, it’s likely to fall quite a bit short.
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 Kenney2022-07-06 00:00:002024-08-20 12:12:21Lessons from Lasso — Giving A Little Space
Troy Ready, volunteer co-chaplain with the Portland Timbers, has been part of Soccer Chaplains United since late 2017 when we went through a rebranding and welcomed he and Ben Dudley onto the team. Troy has a long history in soccer as a former professional player and as a coach, which has included coaching at the U-23 level and at the collegiate level as well.
Today, Troy has done a bit deeper dive with us by moving his fundraising and support base under Soccer Chaplains United after serving for a number of years with another non-profit organization. We’d like to welcome those donors that have chosen to support Troy and Jenny and the family as they make this change.
More recently, so much of my work is involved in the soccer realm — from coaching, to the volunteer chaplaincy — that we started to feel that we might need to shift our support for the chaplaincy to be more in alignment with this amazing field where are called to serve.
Troy, on the reasons for moving funding under Soccer Chaplains United
For me, I am excited that Soccer Chaplains United has the flexibility to offer a bit of a “home” for Troy and the work that he has been called to. I’ve constantly felt and believed that God wasn’t calling us to become a large sports ministry because a number of those already exist; however, I have desired our little organization to be flexible enough for the varying needs of the chaplains — whether they need to raise a little money or no money — and to offer, above all, a professionally striving collaborative and supportive group that share similar values when it comes to offering chaplaincy to soccer.
You can support Troy and his ministry with Portland Timbers. Check out our Donate page and through PushPay select the Portland 2 (Ready) Fund or memoPortland 2 (Ready) in your check or donation.
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/2022/05/IMG_3695.jpeg938750Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-07-01 00:00:002024-07-08 23:59:56Ready Doubles Down With Soccer Chaplains United
We start episode five, season one and Coach Lasso makes the comment, “It feels good to laugh.” Lasso has just been opening up to Rebecca about his marital issues and some of the struggle its been to try and preserve the marriage. His joke about couple’s therapy breaks some of the tension he feels and reveals the depth of hurt and pain in the same moment.
Perhaps you have heard it said, “laughter is the best medicine”? That phrase may have originated from a verse in Proverbs (17:22) which says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” In today’s “Lessons from Lasso,” we look at the role of laughter in helping us cope when life is hard or things go bad — there is a fine balance to be struck with humor and laughter, and we must be careful to know the right time and place, but laughter can help us spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
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 Kenney2022-06-29 00:00:002024-08-20 12:12:40Lessons from Lasso — It Feels Good To Laugh
Sorry — it could be due to travel, work, or other commitments, but we just couldn’t get the show produced for today. Don’t give up on us yet! Listen to a past podcast, or, better yet — write us a review on your favorite podcast distribution platform.
Thanks for being a faithful listener and follower, we don’t take it lightly!
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/2019/11/From-the-Touchline-Cover-Art.jpg15001500Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-06-22 00:00:002024-08-20 12:13:10Foul! No From the Touchline Podcast Today
Soccer Chaplains United has officially come full circle! Today we are excited to announce Wayne Pirmann, Ph.D., MSFS as coming on board the ministry team. Wayne will assist with the financial development and fiscal stability of the organization as the ministry continues to grow and expand. Wayne will serve as the first Development Officer in our history, and will be in a role that suits Wayne and his gifting, talents, and life experience well. You can read more about Wayne at his bio page here.
I asked Wayne what his hopes were in working with and for Soccer Chaplains United, and in typically Wayne-fashion, he replied with a wry grin,
Why am I even working? And why for Soccer Chaplains United? Well, no one else would give me a job! (laughing)…No, the truth is, I spent 23 years in the financial services industry helping people prepare for retirement…having read both John Piper’s pamphlet on retirement (Rethinking Retirement) and his larger tome (Don’t Waste Your Life) traditional retirement doesn’t work for me…I don’t like it. I need to be working for the Lord. I need to be doing Kingdom work. My recent studies in the Bible have me convinced that I need to be useful to my local church, but I also need to be available to more national or even international ministries. I need to be using my skills, my experiences — all of it. Affiliating with Brad and Soccer Chaplains United — it’s a no-brainer, a synergistic season of life just waiting to happen!
Wayne Pirmann, on working with Soccer Chaplains United
Did I mention that Wayne likes to talk? Our meetings average 2-3 hours because we both get caught up talking ministry, soccer, and Jesus, for hours on end.
I can certainly say that I am really thankful and glad to have Wayne coming on board. Since the summer of 2020, Soccer Chaplains United has been struggling with the financial development side of the ministry. Wayne’s time and attention will not only go towards helping myself and the general ministry finances, but also into helping individual chaplains that are raising funds through Soccer Chaplains United. He will being his gifts, passion, and understanding of biblical stewardship and tithing principles to help out the different chaplains across the various U.S. cities that are currently offsetting ministry costs with fundraising.
Wayne and his former non-profit, S.T.A.R.T. (Short Term Ambassador Ministry Teams), were the original fiscal sponsors for Soccer Chaplains United. S.T.A.R.T. supported us back when we had originally began as CrossTraining Ministries. The non-profit, led by Wayne Pirmann and Wally Hostetter, aimed to equip various short-term mission trips from around the US to go around the world and the group provided the foundational administrative support for the ministry between 2007 — 2012. Being fiscally sponsored allowed us to begin receiving donations to cover the expenditures and costs associated with doing the chaplaincy ministry.
For my wife and me, Wayne and Brenda (his wife of over 40 years) have a special place in our hearts. They opened their home to our little family in 2009; I was in town to meet with Wayne and S.T.A.R.T. and also to travel to Toronto to visit the Colorado Rapids who were playing on the road against Toronto F.C. It was at the Pirmann’s home that we heard news of the church where I eventually worked for some six years, asking me back for a second interview.
In 2012, we discovered that we were outgrowing S.T.A.R.T. and we filed our own 501(c)3 paperwork in October of that year. It took until the following year of November to receive official word that our non-profit had been approved, but Wayne and I have kept in touch since.
I asked Wayne if he had any fond memories from the past and to clarify a little bit more on why work for Soccer Chaplains United, and, more specifically, with me. Again, there was a wry little smile and a gleam in the Pirmann eye,
Well, I was introduced to you (Brad) over 15 years ago and I’ve been 100% in support of you and your organization’s mission and goals ever since…When we met in December to watch MLS Cup, I ended up talking to one of your board members (Geoff Eliason) and saying, ‘What if I help Brad Kenney and SCU raise money?’ I didn’t know at he time that it would lead to this, but I am excited that it has because I want to help SCU grow and I don’t want to see Brad Kenney ever have to leave his day job of being chaplain and supporting all of these other chaplains in soccer.
Wayne, on what he hopes to accomplish for Soccer Chaplains United
Another legacy piece between S.T.A.R.T. and CrossTraining/Soccer Chaplains United can be found in the agreement and arrangement between our two organizations which led to the formation of the “Timothy Project” program. The Timothy Project which, today is known simply as our Community Project program, allows short term mission groups to request soccer gear through an application grant process.
Again, we are thankful to have Wayne Pirmann working with us and once again partnering together in this Kingdom work. If you would like to reach out to Wayne and learn more about biblical stewardship and ways that you can support the people and work of Soccer Chaplains United, please reach out to him at wayne@soccerchaplainsunited.org. And please join me in welcoming him!
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/2022/06/wayne-mightykicks.jpg640480Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-06-20 00:00:002024-07-09 00:00:03Pirmann Joins Soccer Chaplains United as New Development Officer
We finally come to the end of episode four, season one and we see Coach Lasso and Coach Beard walking home after the gala. Beard is a mess — his girlfriend has dumped him. He put the “game” (of chess) before the dame, and it seems like this isn’t the first time.
In today’s “Lessons from Lasso,” we talk about first things — and how when we get our priorities wrong, it tends to mess up a lot of different things. Jesus and C.S. Lewis offer us wisdom and instruction into how to correctly prioritize things in life — and for my friends in football, the simple way that I remember it is with the phrase, “Faith, family, football.” It’s a helpful way to think about the priorities that I should have in my life.
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 Kenney2022-06-15 00:00:002024-08-20 12:13:36Lessons from Lasso — Putting the Game Before the Dame
Soccer Chaplains United is pleased to announce the addition of Tiago Souza to the chaplaincy team. Tiago, a native of Brazil, will be assisting with chaplaincy in the Pacific Northwest, as well as adding to the communications and also assisting with Portuguese translations for the group, as a whole.
Tiago became familiar with Chaplain Jubal McDaniel (Tacoma Defiance, MLS Next Pro) and watched Jubal in his chaplaincy role. A passionate soccer fan, Tiago took great interest in Jubal’s work with the team. One of Tiago’s roommates, during his time at Liberty, was involved in military chaplaincy and had introduced Tiago to the concept of pastorally caring for people outside of the church.
I was really interested to see chaplaincy and how this seems to be so consistent with Jesus’ calling on our lives, to go, and to be with people. In college, I had many others who were in different contexts of chaplaincy and I was really intrigued at the idea of pastoral care outside of the church building — where the action is, where life is. And more recently, seeing this in the context of sport — with the risk of injury or losing a contract — as a chaplain to be available to pray, to be present, to counsel others is amazing to me.
Tiago Souza, on his early introduction to chaplaincy
Jubal after a few conversations with Tiago and sharing about his work in the soccer chaplaincy, identified Tiago has someone who has great potential for serving in the soccer chaplaincy space. After an initial call with me (Brad), Tiago interviewed with Soccer Chaplains United chaplains and a board member to further assess Tiago’s fit for the team. Jubal has watched Tiago go through the process from start to completion.
I am excited to see Tiago join the team. He’s a great listener and has a great heart for people. I love that he is the first Portuguese speaker for Soccer Chaplains United and he will bring a great addition to the overall group.
Jubal, on what Tiago brings to Soccer Chaplains United
I had the privilege of spending time with Tiago and Jubal when I was in Seattle a couple weeks ago. Tiago is someone who is eager to listen to people and to learn more about them. His spiritual gifts and language gifts will be a blessing for Soccer Chaplains United.
Myself, supporter Tim Rogers, Tiago Souza, and Jubal McDaniel take in the Tacoma Defiance win against Portland Timbers 2
My hope is to better understand and see my calling being polished in a daily basis — what God is calling me to do and who He is calling me to be for people in sport, in soccer. I am looking forward to being that chaplain, that pastoral person, that presence that is trustworthy and safe. I am looking forward to seeing what God can do to me and in me and through me in serving with this ministry.
Tiago, on his hopes for serving Soccer Chaplains United
The addition of Tiago to Soccer Chaplains United, brings the ministry’s chaplain group to 19 chaplains. Please join me in praying for Tiago and his work with Soccer Chaplains United and the chaplaincy work in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
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.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/headshot.jpg11591000Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-06-13 00:00:002024-07-09 00:00:10Souza Brings Brazil to Soccer Chaplains United
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