The Colorado Springs team led by Jason Rollins, left today to head to Ecuador and work with Inca Link’s Cumbre Alta through June 19. I was blessed to be able to visit the team, hand off the soccer gear (listed below) and pray over the team this past week before they packed and left. Please keep the team in your prayers!
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/2022/05/Team-Photo-2019.jpeg-scaled.webp8191920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-06-10 06:00:002024-07-09 00:00:142022 Community Fulfillment for Cumbre Alta
Soccer Chaplains United church partner Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church (CCPC), next month, returns to Kampala, Uganda to serve alongside Youth for Christ Uganda. The church has been sending teams to work alongside YFC-Uganda since 2007. This year will be especially impactful as the team looks to support and encourage the staff and volunteers, especially after all the hardship of these past few years due to COVID.
YFC-Uganda Staff share about the love of Jesus after a soccer game
While the team is in Uganda, they will serve at the Mirembe House, a home for single pregnant teens to live and find care. Additionally, they will help to support school outreaches, put on a sports ministry camp, and help with other work projects as needed. The team will take some time at the end of the trip to see and experience the beauty of Africa with a short safari in Murchison Falls National Park.
I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for this amazing trip! I have been challenged spiritually while deciding to go on this trip for multiple reasons. I have learned to fully trust in His plans for my summer. I learned that sometimes there isn’t a right or wrong decision, sometimes there is just faith – faith that the Lord is doing BIG things and He cares and provides for us so well.
Olivia Schwarz, 2022 CCPC Team Member, on looking forward to this year’s trip
Soccer Chaplains United has supported multiple CCPC trips to Uganda. This year (2022) marks the 4th such trip and includes trips dating back to 2015, 2017, and 2019. You can see other reports and mentions of our partnership work in Uganda by clicking here.
Uganda is one of the poorest nations in the world with over 87% of the population living on $5.50 USD a day or less. For team member, Olivia Schwarz, she has seen the providence of God in many ways, even before the trip has begun. She shared,
As I prepare, I am excited to immerse myself in the culture and learn all I can from this experience. To have the opportunity to see what the Lord is doing 8,516 miles away and to be His hands and feet is very special. I have personally seen the Lord’s hand throughout preparing for this trip, through financial support, learning what faith is and how to trust Him more, and Godly counsel. I am excited to see what the Lord has for me and the team on this trip. I feel very blessed to see God’s provision through the opportunity to donate items of need, from baby clothes to soccer gear in order to further bless the people of Uganda.
Olivia Schwarz
Project Request
The CCPC Team is requesting 1 indestructible (One World Play) soccer ball and Rapids jerseys or shirts for 25-50 children.
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/2022/06/Uganda17-330.jpg11201680Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-06-09 06:00:002024-07-09 00:00:19CCPC Returns to Uganda After Missing Last Year
Keeley and Jamie are at the end. There’s been unfaithfulness in the relationship and Keeley comes to grips with Rebecca’s earlier words of wisdom to ask about the place of accountability in a relationship. “Being accountable matters” she tells Jamie before telling him their relationship is over.
In today’s “Lessons from Lasso,” we talk about accountability and why it matters in life and in football. There is coming a day when all people will stand before God and have to give an account of themselves — their actions and behaviors, things done and left undone against others. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 14:10-12 of that day and we briefly talk about why and how it matters.
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 Kenney2022-06-08 00:00:002024-08-20 12:14:07Lessons from Lasso — Being Accountable Matters
After a few months of research, Soccer Chaplains United, with the approval of the Board of Directors can now receive crypto currency donations. In order to do this, we have created an account with Every.org. Every.org will convert a variety of the most common crypto currencies into an instant donation for the ministry.
According to Every.org, they’ve been tracking donors and seeing that give 240% more in charitable giving than donors of other means. As we researched the different platforms for cryptocurrency acceptance, we decided that Every.org was the best fit for our organization.
Jeremy Tittle, on the donor profile of cryptocurrency donors
Every.org uses Coinbase, but will automatically convert your Bitcoin, Ethereum, or USD Coin to USD on behalf of Soccer Chaplains United. You will receive a donation receipt (from Every.org) once the transaction has been confirmed. Coinbase charges a flat 1% fee that is deducted from the crypto donation.
If someone desires to donate a different coin worth over $5k or to arrange a manual exchange with lower fees, email crypto@every.org and note Soccer Chaplains United as your charity of choice.
Every.org also allows donors to initiate a stock transfer (via First Republic Securities Company LLC) or to a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) transfer through its database. Every.org also take Venmo, PayPal and Credit and Debit Cards; however, all transactions will be receipted through Every.org and not Soccer Chaplains United. (But we will be super grateful 🤗 and send you a thank you card!)
Every.org logo
We’ve also updated our DONATE page which has links and details the different ways that a donor can support the work of 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 chaplains and our work — simply hit the Donate Menu button to go to our donate page for different giving options or PushPay button at the bottom of the page to make a tax-deductible, one-time or recurring gift.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/o14jd_ob9de.jpg9001600Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-06-01 06:00:002024-07-09 00:00:25Donate Now With Crypto Currency!
HCC, originally partnered with us from 2017 – 2020. At the time, HCC was the third church partner in our history. HCC provided monthly financial support during those years to help advance the work and mission of the ministry. Additionally, the church would feature the work and ministry of Soccer Chaplains United in its local missions moments — including a few Sunday morning introductions.
A few months ago, as I was anticipating some life changes for me and my family (namely high school graduation and needing an extra living space in our home), I spoke with Brian Gawf (Pastor of HCC) about whether the church might have an extra office that I might be able to use. We discussed some different ways that myself and the ministry could partner with the church in exchange for utilizing the space, and in the end, HCC was gracious and generous in offering a new space.
Located near I-25 and Orchard Road, the church is a little bit closer to the stadium for the work that I do with the Colorado Rapids. But more than that, the new space allows my family a little bit of breathing room as I have been had a home office for the last 7 years.
I am grateful for the space and opportunity to continue the work of Soccer Chaplains United in this new space. I pray that God blesses Highline ten times over for the ways that it is blessing and supporting Soccer Chaplains United and me.
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 — simply hit the donate link to go to our donate page for different giving options or PushPay button at the bottom of the page to make a tax-deductible, one-time or recurring gift.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/hcc.jpeg168300Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-05-31 06:00:002024-07-09 00:00:26Highline Renews Partnership with Soccer Chaplains United
It has been a few years since members of Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church were able to go and serve in Ethiopia. This year, a team of 14 will traveling to help Hope for the Fatherless (HFTF). HFTF is a ministry that helps orphaned and vulnerable children. The ministry, led by Belay T. Gebru, focuses on building and finding Christ-centered homes for children in Ethiopia.
The CCPC team is going for a couple weeks to provide respite and relief for the HFTF workers. The team, comprised of a couple of families and other church members, will run a Vacation Bible School (VBS) program for the children, giving the staff a few days off to take a rest. In addition to the VBS, the team will also bring some critical supplies and work through STEM and English curriculum.
Our goal is to build relationships with the staff and kids, and provide rest and the supplies that Hope For The Fatherless needs.
Alysa Waits, 2022 CCPC Team Member, on the goals for this year’s trip
HFTF is an orphan ministry in Ethiopia’s capital city of Addis Ababa. The ministry works to meet the needs of orphans and vulnerable children by placing them in loving families through domestic adoption and reunification. In addition, they are looking to develop a culture of adoption and orphan care in Ethiopia and around the world.
In addition to the VBS and STEM and English curriculum, the CCPC team will be learning more about orphaned and vulnerable children and how to best advocate and care for them. For team member, Alysa Waits, this is a critical part of the trip for her. She shared,
I am going on this trip because I want to be a part of what HFTF is doing, and support in any way I can. I am hoping to gain a new perspective on missions and life as a missionary. A big part of missions for me is building relationships that are long-term. I am hoping to gain connections internationally, and build lasting relationships with the kids and HFTF staff.
Alysa Waits
Project Request
The CCPC Team is requesting 3 indestructible (One World Play) soccer balls and Rapids jerseys or shirts for about 40 children.
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/2022/05/IMG_7868.webp524556Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-05-26 06:00:002024-07-09 00:00:27CCPC Heads Back to Ethiopia to Work with HFTF
The villainous Rupert Manion seems like he’s gotten away with murder, yet again. The swaggering millionaire appears to be the hero as he pulls out a check for 1 million pounds to help the charity benefit achieve its goals — does anyone see him for who he truly is? Lasso, does.
In today’s “Lessons from Lasso,” we talk about what it means to see people as they really are and the double edge of not judging books by their covers. For me, this is so much the work of a chaplain and pastor — is learning to read the living human documents that God puts before our very eyes. And Jesus of Nazareth was best, hands down, at seeing and reading and speaking into people’s lives.
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 Kenney2022-05-25 00:00:002024-08-20 12:14:41Lessons from Lasso — Seeing People as They Really Are
Jubal McDaniel doubles as a volunteer chaplain by night, an athletic director and soccer coach and non-profit leader by day, and a host of other things in between. Recently, in a phone call with Jubal, he mentioned some work that he is resuming with taking soccer to encourage and love on refugee youth and families in Spokane, WA later this summer.
Jubal and his non-profit, NW Football Ministries will partner with World Relief Spokane. World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. They partner with local churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
I am hopeful that we see a first successful camp for Thrive International. I am excited about the wider community recognition that this camp has received from community churches, non-profits and local soccer clubs.
Jubal, on his hopes for the 2022 camp
In 2019, Jubal and his group served over 55 children in the first year of the project. The Ball Project was a sponsor in that initial year — the children in the camp all received a soccer ball, cleats, shin guards and soccer socks. In 2020, COVID has forced closure of the summer soccer camp. 2021 saw a return and this year, Jubal and members of World Relief and Thrive International expect well over 100 children to be part of the camp to be held in late June. There will likely be a majority of refugees from the continent of Africa.
Afghani girls enjoy soccer at the 2019 camp. Sports are typically prohibited for women in their nation.
Jubal is requesting any available equipment, warm-ups, jerseys, in various sizes from youth small to large. We are also looking for a donor to offset the costs of shipping gear items to him (approximately $70).
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/2022/05/IMG_6262.jpg1024768Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-05-19 10:00:002022-05-19 10:12:05Reaching Out to Refugees – Soccer in Spokane
What the heck is an NFT? What about an NIL? Do you know? Should we care? Well, today, on the From the Touchline podcast, we dive into a new world where many things seem to be spelled out in three letters or less!
For those that don’t know, an NFT is a non-fungible token and NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness — these are two hot topics right now in sport, and especially in soccer. The two are linked and perhaps a bit infamously as there is a real lack of clarity around what these things are and how they affect people and even the game at this point. I am certainly no expert, but we need to dive into the subject and this is the start of what is likely to be a much longer conversation.
Here are some of the links to different articles and such that I mention on the podcast:
From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with me, Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.
Myself and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).
Also, don’t forget that you can listen to the podcast in our app, SoccrChapUtd, which you can find 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 Kenney2022-05-18 00:00:002024-08-20 12:15:03Navigating a New World of NFT’s and NIL’s
For a number of years now, Soccer Chaplains United’s very own Benjamin Dudley has been collaborating, teaching, and contributing with his alma mater, Baylor University. The well-known, Division-I school in Waco, Texas is also home to the George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Amongst the seminary’s distinct theological and ministry-driven programs is the Faith and Sport Institute (FSI).
It’s exciting to see Truett recognizing sport and recreation as a field that is worth investing into. It’s an important space for developing Christian leaders and Christian thought in and around sport — the athletes, the coaches, and the fans. I’m proud that this is coming from my alma mater and I love serving with a diverse and ecumenical group that challenge the status quo of what people consider as ‘sports ministry.’ FSI is also raising the expectations and accountability of professionalism where sports ministry has generally lagged behind.
Ben Dudley, 1999 Baylor graduate and co-chaplain Portland Timbers
Courses that are part of FSI’s online certificate program have appeared on the radar for our chaplains. A number of chaplains have enrolled in online courses as they look to grow in their understanding and proficiency. Chaplain Jordan Medas and Gregory Aydt have both participated in continuing education offerings through FSI as part of their ongoing requirements.
Recently, Paul Putz, the Assistant Director of FSI, has been building a team of collaborators. The team is assisting the program with the build out of some additional courses to add that emphasize sports chaplaincy. A diverse group includes members of Athletes in Action, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and other ministry groups. There are also professional and former collegiate athletes headlining the FSI Collaboration Team.
For me, it’s a privilege to work to contribute to the furtherance of sports chaplaincy education and excellence with the FSI team. Today, sport has a more and more sacrosanct position in Western (and even global) culture. It is necessary and important for Christian people — especially ministers and chaplains — to work to understand and cultivate this space where many of God’s lost and lonely children reside.
I look forward to working more with FSI in the future. We will periodically share some updates from our friends like the one below.
The FSI High School Retreat is set to take place next month (June 15-18) at Baylor’s campus.
In a recent blog post, John and Cindy White discuss the principles and practices behind the FSI Retreat
In April, FSI Postdoctoral Fellow Brian Gamel delivered a talk on the Book of Revelation and Christian approaches to winning. Check it out on their YouTube page.
FSI Assistant Director Paul Putz recently co-wrote an article for Christianity Todayon the history of football coaches and prayer in American public education.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Screen-Shot-2022-05-16-at-3.08.04-PM.png9971920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-05-17 00:00:002022-05-16 15:21:11Collaborating with Baylor’s Truett Seminary and the Faith Sport Institute
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