Subbing Out: Kell Steps Back From Soccer Chaplains United

In 2022, Michael Kell (affectionally know as “Kell”) reached out to Soccer Chaplains United. With his son playing in LAFC’s Academy, he had questions about chaplaincy in MLS. As a pastor in Southern California, he saw tremendous needs along the sidelines — parents who were helping and hoping that their young sons could perhaps make it to the pros. Many times he had been called on — a sort of unofficial chaplain — in the midst of crisis and celebration, in the middle of toil and travail.

Kell joined Soccer Chaplains United in September of 2022.

While an official volunteer chaplaincy role never really materialized, Kell still wanted to go through the process to be prepared and ready and to also have some community. His time on the sidelines and building relationships with other academy parents afforded him a unique space to speak into these family’s lives.

Kell’s son Ethan took some time in his senior year of high school at Woodcrest saw him take a mission trip to the inner-city of Cleveland, OH and he took some soccer gear in partnership with Soccer Chaplains United’s Community Project program. The gear was a hit — and there was even an old Tim Howard jersey in the mix. Ethan went on to play soccer at Liberty University.

More recently, Michael Kell has taken over a pastorate and is still juggling the work of NAMB. All of this leading to a decision to step back from his membership and work with Soccer Chaplains United.

We are grateful to Kell for his years of being part of our group and we pray that God will bless his family and his work going forward!