Archive for month: April, 2026

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The Soccer Psalms – Psalm 139

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Psalm 139 speaks to the way that God knows us uniquely and intimately. This psalm of David speaks to the ways that God knew us before we were even born — and that there was a plan laid out of our lives. What an amazing comfort this can bring in the midst of the moments of crisis or celebration that we go through in this life.

Soccer Psalm 139 mimics that same language by picturing God as a Mastermind Coach or Scout. God is one who knows the athlete — tendencies, mistakes, skills, and abilities — all of it. The athlete can take comfort that God is present and near and He sees and hears. it doesn’t matter if The Beautiful Game takes us near or far — God is with us. In the dawn of a career or in its twilight. How have you realized God’s presence in the midst of your own football journey?

The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the book below:

The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms

The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk

Los Salmos del Fútbol: https://mybook.to/lossalmosdelfutbol

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.

King Sees Silent San Diego Open Up, Begins Chaplaincy Service

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Patrick King began his volunteer chaplain journey in October of 2024 when he put in an application and went through the interview process to serve the local Major League Soccer team, San Diego FC. After excelling in the interview and demonstrating the pastoral heart that we typically look for in a chaplain, he got an introduction to staff at the team and we prepared for him to being service ahead of the team’s inaugural season in 2025. Then, everything went quiet. 

With the club’s beginning season, and all the stress and strain that comes with getting a first-year, top-of-the-line professional soccer team off the ground, the chaplaincy took a back burner. Patrick had some connections throughout the year and offered some availability and support to some staff and athletes, but things felt more like wheels spinning than gaining traction.

San Diego FC had a breakout year. Amongst some of the significant milestones, the club finished 1st in the Western Conference and set a record with 63 points. They lost in the Western Conference Playoff Final to Vancouver Whitecaps, but they had established a new standard for MLS expansion teams on multiple levels. Still, though, the chaplaincy was not going anywhere.

Fast forward to January of this year, I had a hard conversation with Patrick. I asked one question:

Sorry, Patrick. I know that the chaplaincy work hasn’t really taken off. Do you want to keep at it?

– my (Brad Kenney), question to Patrick mid-January of this year

Knowing that the demands on a full-time, senior pastor are immense and that the volunteer chaplaincy can be a difficult and time-consuming add-on, Patrick reluctantly shared that he didn’t think he could keep committing to keeping the space and margin for something that wasn’t showing fruit. We agreed (sadly) to start the off-boarding process.

As I shared with the Board of Directors at our quarterly meeting the following week, Board Member Wells Thompson spoke up. “Hey let me call my friend (one of the assistant coaches) and check in with him one more time before we call it quits.”

That led to an expedient chain of events. “Hey Wells, let me get back to you on this — there is a group of players that have started meeting and they have shared that they want a chaplain or someone to help lead them with their Bible study…”

Over the course of the next few weeks, Patrick was invited to meet with the Assistant Coach, and then one of the group leaders for the players. He was invited to come out to the training center and to visit with the players to learn more of the group study and where the group was desiring to go. Patrick since then has begun to make himself available for the group and for individuals.

When I first met the San Diego players, I encouraged them with Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” God has called us as a group to sharpen our understanding of and commitment to the gospel for our good and the glory of Jesus.

Patrick King, on his initial meetup with San Diego FC athletes
Patrick’s boys and I grab a selfie and some lunch the day of the game
I walked SnapDragon stadium 6 times in 2025, praying for Patrick and the chaplaincy ministry…I’ll walk the 7th with him someday soon!
Even the cameraman had a faith expression…
Me, a bit glum that my Rapids lost 2-0 at the end of the night (with some sore feet)…

Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of individuals and partners to carry out our work of discovering, developing, and deploying chaplains across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today. Click the PushPay link below to make a gift or check out our Donate page for different giving options.

The Soccer Psalms – Psalm 16

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:17 — 17.0MB)

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Psalm 16 has language that resonates in a post-Resurrection Sunday time, “…you will not abandon me to the grave,…” Psalm 16 is known as a miktam — it’s like an inscription. It’s something that one recites to themselves to remind them of truths in the midst of hardship. It’s a mix of praise in the midst of an adverse situation.

I wrote Soccer Psalm 16 as an appeal to God to be working on our behalf like a good agent. With God on our side and looking out for us, he can be helping us into that next situation, that next contract, that next transition. His desire for our best often produces more than what we might have ever hoped for and imagined. Is God your agent? Is he your advocate?

The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the book below:

The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms

The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk

Los Salmos del Fútbol: https://mybook.to/lossalmosdelfutbol

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.

Ben Bost gets Baylor boost to begin in Boise

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Soccer Chaplains United is excited to welcome Ben Bost as the inaugural volunteer chaplain for AC Boise. Ben, a former professional golfer and also a former Senior Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ golf ministry. He is an ideal candidate to begin the chaplaincy ministry for this first year club. Ben contacted me (Brad) after a conversation with mutual friend, Paul Putz at Baylor University, curious about if the new professional soccer team in town needed a chaplain.

I felt like my skills and experience really set me up well to be this sort of missionary back in my time as a pro golfer. Fast forward to today and athletes and people in sport are much of who I look to serve, especially with a focus on mental wellness.

Ben, on his background and experience coming into the volunteer chaplain role

Ben is the Founder of CORE IV Athlete, an innovative mental wellness and performance platform for college athletics and club sports. Powered by his consulting company Firelamp, CORE IV Athlete leverages mental health education along with personal development to assist athletes in their pursuit of being holistically healthy and high performing in the midst of a pressure packed culture.

The way that I am wired, I am fascinated by change and how it occurs while maintaining a high value for organizational health and outside the box thinking. I think much of what I bring to the chaplaincy table is a deep creative aesthetic and a philosophical approach for how we as people might adapt to our rapidly changing culture.

Ben, on his skill set and mentality as a chaplain

AC Boise begins their inaugural season in the United Soccer League — League 1 division, but their sights are aimed higher with an eye toward potential promotion into a higher tier of football once promotion/relegation in the USL begins in 2028.

We are excited to welcome Ben to the team. Ben is fundraising his position and role through Soccer Chaplains United and you can support him and his work by clicking the link here.

Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of individuals and partners to carry out our work of discovering, developing, and deploying chaplains across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today. Click the PushPay link below to make a gift or check out our Donate page for different giving options.

The Authority of Jesus — A Holy Week Reflection

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:23 — 39.0MB)

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During Holy Week, I’ve often talked about “Spy Wednesday” (Judas’ betrayal of Jesus) or occasionally about something around “Good Friday,” but today on the podcast I look at some of the events going on during “Temple Tuesday” (during a time of Jesus teaching in the temple courts). It’s in this moment that the authority of Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders of the day. And Jesus’ response to their questions is classic.

We live in a day and time when authority is questioned constantly. Whether it is governments or political factions that people are rising up against or whether it’s the board chairman or president of the football club that is about to make a decision — people aren’t afraid to let their voices be heard and to rise up in protest against the “authority” of the day. Sometimes standing up to authority is right and important, but in other times and moments we are called (as followers of Jesus) to accept those who have been put in authority over us. How do we know which is which? We get into all this and more.

From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

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