Blog

We're just a couple months away from the 2nd Global Congress on Christianity and Sport. This year's congress is being held at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI October 23 — 27 and it's not too late to register. Here is a place for dialogue and sharpening between academics, theologians, practitioners like chaplains and counselor, and others connected into the world of sport. I really enjoyed the last congress in York, England back in 2016. And, as I have mentioned before, it was at the congress that God gave us a new vision to change the name of our ministry to Soccer Chaplains United. At the York congress, I gave a presentation entitled: Foundations of Pastoral Care- Recovering the Spirit

This past week, Ghanian football forward Manuel "Junior" Agogo died in a London hospital at the age of 40. As I watch the different tweets and acknowledgments come from different clubs and teams that Junior played for, and as news outlets produce similar sounding stories, there is a sad feeling inside. While we might say "kudos" for the different clubs acknowledging Junior, how many with those clubs and news sources even were around to know him? I knew Junior. Serving as an assistant for Public Relations for the Colorado Rapids, I met Junior when he came to the club in 2000. He was an exciting, dynamic player. I remember his quickness — it surprised many in the league and he

The team from partner church, Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, returned from Kampala, Uganda and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in July. The team of 19 students and leaders returned with some great stories and pictures of their time in these two African countries.  While the team was in Uganda, they ministered with Youth for Christ (YFC). Youth for Christ has recently moved from the capital city of Kampala to the city of Matugga. On their new property, they have a soccer field where they hold community soccer games. On one of the days the CCPC team were there, YFC invited kids from the community and nearby schools to come play soccer in their field. Members of the CCPC team went down to

How spiritually fit are you? In this edition of From the Touchline, Rev Brad recalls the cross-training movement of the early 2000's and applies the principle of being cross-trained for one's spiritual fitness as well as one's physical and mental fitness.  Inquiries and feedback can be sent to podcast@soccerchaplainsunited.org. From the Touchline is a short-feature (10 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney and occasional guests touching on various issues around faith, family, and football. Check out the Soccer Chaplains United App and go to the Media section. Under podcasts you will see a new podcast for 8/21/2019 entitled "Spiritual Fitness." If you don't have the app yet, you can download the Soccer Chaplains United App from the Google and App Store. Search "SoccChaplain"

In a first for Soccer Chaplains United Community Project requests, Larry and Micah Koorneef are heading to Cambodia this August. The father and son team, members at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, met Setan Lee and his ministry TransformAsia. It was through a series of conversations and Micah's own studies, that God put a burden on their hearts for traveling to Cambodia to serve. As a family we have been praying for years about the specific destination and timing of such a trip...this past fall we started studying up on SE Asia (because that was my dream) and eventually Cambodia in particular. God enabled us to partner with TransformAsia this spring and plan a way to serve with them this summer.Micah