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Today, the summer transfer window for Major League Soccer opens. From July 10 - August 9, MLS teams can make trades and bring in foreign talent. For many teams, this window represents an opportunity to make improvements to a team — some teams bring in a player from another country or from a team within the league in an effort to try bolster team needs and win a coveted playoff position. For fans, many are hopeful that a playmaker or difference-maker brought in can propel their team to victory or help continue to sustain early-season efforts. But on the other side, the summer transfer window also represents a time of need for MLS teams and their respective chaplains or ministry

This past week, the Soccer Chaplains United Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve Dr Jan van Vliet to the board. As an educator and professor at Dordt College in Iowa, Jan brings a rich wealth of academic knowledge and experience to the organization. Born in the Netherlands and holding dual citizenship in the Netherlands and Canada in addition to US permanent residency, Jan possess some unique multi-cultural understandings that will be helpful for our growth. Jan and I met in 2011 when he was a visiting scholar at Denver Seminary. The Colorado Rapids had just won the MLS Cup and a mutual friend connected us for a coffee. Since then, Jan has been on my radar as a potential

The Lewan Family Foundation made it three years in a row in helping support Soccer Chaplains United. The foundation provided a small grant which will help with the growing costs as we continue to build the chaplain and counseling work throughout soccer in North America. The Lewan family has been a notable name in Denver for many years through their company, Lewan Technology. The Lewan Family Foundation has had a long legacy of service and support of many local Denver and Colorado organizations including Denver Seminary, where many of our chaplains and counselors have received training. I came to know the Lewan family during my time serving as a pastor at Cherry Hills Community Church. It is encouraging to see their

It is time to submit nominations for Major League Soccer Community MVP. Each year, Major League Soccer and Wells Fargo proudly recognize individuals who are using soccer to improve the lives of others. Do you know a role model in your community making a difference? This contest allows different communities to nominate a role model who is using soccer to make a positive impact to improve the lives of others. Nominations should consider several factors including: Social Issues focusing on diversity, equality and inclusion Health issues affecting men, women and/or children Community service for a local, national or international charitable organization The nomination deadline is Monday, July 9 To learn more or to make an official nomination follow this link.

The Timothy Project, through Soccer Chaplains United, is returning to the Kingdom of eSwatini for the third year in a row!  Never heard of eSwatini?  That's because up until April 2018, the country was named Swaziland.  (The king renamed the country in honor of the 50th anniversary of gaining independence.)  Despite eSwatini being only the size of New Jersey, and almost literally halfway around the word, the Timothy Project has been connected in 2016,  2017, and now again in 2018! I will be going to eSwatini with a team from Mountain Springs Church in Colorado Springs in coordination with Beyond Survival.  Once again, we will be working with Adventures in Missions on the ground in eSwatini.  Adventures in Missions serves

The United Soccer League (USL) recently made an announcement of another expansion franchise that is set to join the league next year. USL New Mexico will begin play next year. The league held an introduction announcement today. USL NM will be based in Albuquerque, NM and will be the 4th expansion team for the second division professional league in 2019. USL NM joins Birmingham, El Paso, Austin, and Memphis as cities and teams that will begin play in 2019. But, more importantly, the franchise becomes approximately the 20th in the second division that does not have a chaplain serving the team. With soccer in North America booming right now, many cities are looking for opportunities to add a professional team to