Blog

Latest News

  • When I went down with an injury I thought everything was over. A chaplain helped me see that it wasn't.

    An injury can be devastating — especially for an elite, professional footballer. It may not be a "serious" injury — even a slight strain or tweak of a muscle can mean exclusion from playing of being put outside of the team's plans. And small, niggling injuries can be deciders — word gets out that an athlete "struggles to stay healthy" or that one has a "problem staying fit." Sometimes injury can occur and there aren't good resources applied to healing and recovery, or an athlete may be dismissed or disregarded. This prayer is for the one who is struggling to regain form or come back from an injury or pain that prevents playing and can leave someone feeling left out or

  • Athletes know mentality is critical, especially, at elite level of sport. Having the right mentality is key. What do you do to stay focused? How does one keep a mindset of peace? Whether it is the worry and stress of earning the next contract, or winning a starting role in the first eleven, or performing well in a game — there is a lot of pressure that can be on a person in football. This doesn't even take into account the pressures that one might feel or struggle with personally, the "off the field" issues as it is sometimes known. This prayer is a prayer for having the right mentality based on Philippians 4:8-9. Being a person of peace and a

  • It is probably too much to say that the goalkeeper in football (soccer) is the most important position on the team, but it certainly is the most unique position. Of the 11 players on the field for a team, the goalkeeper (GK) is the only one who can legally use his hands to defend the goal. It is often said that GK's are "crazy" or "a different breed." But certainly, a GK must have a different kind of mindset and mentality than most of the other players on the field. This prayer is a prayer that someone who is a GK might pray — a blessing for the work of his or her hands. A prayer to God to help

  • Coming home — whether it be from a match, a season, a trial or tryout — can bring with it a mix of emotions. If we have been successful in our away endeavors, a return home can be a celebration, a glorious moment. If we have had a loss or if our contract has been terminated, retuning home can be difficult — we feel defeated, deflated. Sometimes a win is not all that it may seem to be. Sometimes a loss is not all that we believe it will be. This prayer is for the one who is returning home. It is a prayer that begins from a difficult place, but ends with confidence and a reminder that one is loved and accepted

  • Addiction is a fierce reality when it comes to sport — it may be an addiction to things intended to be helpful (like medicines used to alleviate pain and promote healing) or addictions to hurtful things (like alcohol or drugs, sex or pornography). But there can also be unhealthy addictions to some of the unseen things that sport, especially football (soccer), seems to provide, like power, prestige, identity or influence. The roar of the crowds or the approval of parents or loved ones may be just as addicting as one of the more familiar "vices." This prayer is a prayer asking God for help in the midst of addiction — no matter what the addiction is. It is a prayer to

  • The beginning of the football season is a wonderful time filled with a mix of emotions. For some footballers, they are still trying to earn a spot on the team or they are in a year when they need a new contract. For some it may be their first season in the sport and for others it can be their last — whether due to age, injury, or another reason for retirement. This prayer is based on Deuteronomy 20:1-4 and Psalm 121. In ancient times, before the nation of Israel would head off to spring time war — a time of securing borders and making sure that the farming lands were secure — the instructions were to call for the