This past week, two conference opportunities were afforded for Soccer Chaplains United chaplains. The first, offered by Sports Chaplaincy — UK, was their annual October conference put into a video format. The "Glocal" conference touched on critical themes which have affected the sports chaplaincy world and, so, the global and local themes combined into "glocal" were addressed through the 4-day conference. Key issues of diversity, disability, race, mental health, and what lies ahead for the future of sports chaplaincy were addressed through numerous workshops and teaching times. While start times for the UK conference made attendance difficult, sessions were recorded and made available for later viewing. Another conference also happened this past week, this one stateside as PowerUp Sports Ministry

We are well into the fall season now — leaves are changing, there is a chill in the night air — and the football season here in the U.S. is soon to come to a close with end-of-year tournaments before the cold of winter sets in. Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I reflect on the similarities between the harvest season and the football season. Reflecting on poetic words from Kenneth McLeod's book Road to the Isles and also the apostle Paul's words found in Galatians 6:9-10, I hope that these can be words of encouragement — whether this fall season sees you reaping a bountiful reward or has you feeling somewhat empty-handed. Scripture reference from today's episode is

This October, with it being Pastoral Appreciation Month, we encourage supporters to "adopt" a chaplain — it might be a financial adoption, or prayer adoption — but however and whomever you might choose to "support" this month here is a little bit more on the chaplains that make up Soccer Chaplains United. #adoptachaplain Christ Presbyterian Academy High School Boys SoccerOne of Soccer Chaplains United's newest members, Rev Ryan Doyle is chaplain of CPA in Nashville, TN. Below are some of the ways you can "adopt" Ryan:- provide his 2020 Soccer Chaplains United membership- pray for Ryan, his wife, Lindsey, and six children - pray for his leadership of Mercy Presbyterian - pray for his teaching work with CPA- pray for his chaplaincy work with CPA Boys

In the Kenney household, the fifth week of the month is something special — because mom and dad are on for doing the typical household chores. Yes, each of my four girls, absolutely love when a month has a 5th week — they are jubilant and overjoyed with being able to get a "break" from loading dishes and setting table and such. Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I reflect on where else in life and in football we might need a "5th week" — a bit of rest from the work that we typically have. I briefly touch on themes of sabbath and sabbatical, something that I have podcasted about before (see Jan 1, 2020 podcast) but also

Chaplains with Soccer Chaplains United recently were offered the chance to receive mental health awareness training through an opportunity created in collaboration with the Global Sports Chaplaincy Association (GSCA) and Sports Chaplaincy — UK (SCUK). SCUK National Director of Scotland, Mark Fleming, led the two-hour zoom training session which helped identified particular mental health issues that exist within professional sport and how chaplains might maintain a good level of mental health themselves and for those they serve. Mark's work in sports chaplaincy began with serving as Chaplain to Partick Thistle FC in 1998 and after nine years began gradually to source, train and appoint chaplains at other Scottish football clubs. Today, over 110 Scottish football clubs have chaplains and Mark