Archive for category: Chaplaincy

You are here: / Chaplaincy

From the Rev: Tackling Timidity

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

– Paul to Timothy (II Timothy 1:7)

Even though the Colorado Rapids are a great group of guys to work with the environment in professional sports can still feel really intimidating at times.

One of the greatest challenges that I face in my role as chaplain (whether as a hospice chaplain or professional sports chaplain) has been overcoming a spirit of fear, of timidity when it comes to people. Perhaps you have heard the phrase “it’s nice to be wanted” but for the chaplain many times they are not necessarily wanted, or people do not necessarily know that they want or could benefit from a chaplain.

This is more challenging in the professional sports environment because people are not typically as broken – they have health, they earn a high wage, they are entertainers, performers. They do not need God (at least in some minds). They are wary of religion. They do not consider the spiritual. These attitudes can make it difficult to approach and difficult to serve because many times people can misinterpret the presence of a chaplain.

I recently was handing out water and sports drinks to athletes right before a major competition. For me, I saw it as a place to serve, a gap that could be filled; but for one player he saw it differently – “You love doing this (serving water).” The tone for me was difficult to interpret but I took it more in a denigrating way. Almost as if the player was minimizing my role to simply being an over-eager water boy that just wanted to be around pro athletes. I felt my face becoming flush. My spirit started to “turtle” and withdraw. I felt ashamed. I felt timid.

Eventually, anger stirred within me – “doesn’t (he) realize the sacrifice?” I became defensive within my mind and spirit. I want to go back to him and fire off a couple of different responses. I rehearsed how I might have responded having been ready for his remark. I eventually cooled and felt like I wanted to slink away for the rest of my time with the team. The Devil is crafty, friends. Later, that evening I had some significant conversations that had I remained in a spirit of timidity would not have happened.

I can honestly say that no matter the level of education or years of experience that a chaplain may or may not have, each of us faces the difficult and limiting spirit of timidity. But this spirit is not from the Lord – the Lord gives power, love, and self-discipline to us as we minister and serve.

As you consider a chaplain that you might know – no matter the context, no matter the team. Pray that they would tackle timidity. Pray that they would be deeply rooted in God’s Word. Pray that they would be encouraged and reminded that we do not live and minister in a spirit of timidity. But we are empowered by the Lord – to serve and live in power and love and self-discipline.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: End of a Chapter

Last week, the news finally came, Hospice of Saint John would finally be closing its doors. The announcement to staff was not necessarily a surprise as this past July, the 2nd oldest hospice in the United States had to close its inpatient facility. The final close of doors is dependent on getting patients transferred to other hospice care and shutting down its operations, but there will no longer be a Hospice of Saint John.

The Hospice of Saint John will always have a close place in my heart – it is where I first began paid vocational ministry work after finishing seminary. I started as an 0n-call weekend chaplain before working for nearly three and a half years in that same inpatient facility that shut its doors in July. Hospice of Saint John is where I met Elias Burgos (CrossTraining’s first Spanish-speaking chaplain) and also where I met Ricardo Orellana (recently departed for New Jersey after serving 4 years as Spanish-speaking chaplain).

Taken in September 2008, I give a tour of the Hospice of Saint John Chapel.

The hospice was also for me a tensioning extreme – it was very clear to me that the work that I was doing with the professional athletes of the Colorado Rapids was in contrast to the people that I served in hospice care. And the stories…there are so many stories, so many special moments (like this one that was recorded). I have thought that I might one day try to write the stories of my experience, but for now they are embedded in my heart, mind, and soul.

The last four years, as I have been pastoring at Cherry Hills Community Church, I have still remained in touch with several at the Hospice of Saint John. And now, to hear that the hospice will finally close its doors, I can be thankful on two fronts. First, for the opportunity afforded to me. To grow in my ministerial experience. My hospice experience matured me pastorally in ways that are really inestimable – while I had a heart for ministry I grew in a short amount of time and for hospice and for God’s favor in it, I am thankful. Secondly, I am also thankful for God’s provision – for my family and for continuing ministry. I did not really have a vision to leave the hospice, but a very special lady – Helen Parton (a nurse at the hospice and church member of Cherry Hills) told me about the position in pastoral care with the church. She encouraged me to apply. Her job was one of the ones lost last week. Helen is a dear woman of God – always giving of herself (as this story will show you). Helen’s surgery to donate a kidney (see the previous link) was my first visit as a pastoral care pastor from Cherry Hills. Please pray that God provides for her and her family.

And as the Hospice of Saint John closes its chapter, I will be always grateful to God for the ways that I learned and grew as a chaplain there. To Him be the glory.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Why the Rapids Might Win the Cup Again

The odds are not in their favor. The team is not favored to win and there are doubts of them even making the playoffs. According to one site, the Rapids have a 4.2% chance of winning the Major League Soccer Cup at this point right now. The same might have been said of the 2010 side that won it all and took home the league’s most prized trophy – they weren’t supposed to win. Some say that side received the “luck of the draw.” Other bemoan the league’s constant change of decisions with playoff formats that allowed the Rapids to gain the final through the Eastern Conference playoffs (although they weren’t the only team from the west to do so).

But there was something that set the 2010 side apart from other years, other seasons. There was something special in the team that overcame much adversity to win it all and claim their first ever championship. The difference? From this Rev’s viewpoint, that team was much like a family. Let me explain.

Families are not some glorious idealistic that all teams ascribe to – families are messy, dysfunctional and often falling apart and imperfect. But good families, in spite of their differences find ways to overcome. They find common ground on which to stand. They have a strong faith and love in one another and in something greater than themselves. They are willing to sacrifice for each other. They laugh and cry, they celebrate and mourn – together.

The 2013 Colorado Rapids are becoming more like a family – the recent observance of Head Coach Oscar Pareja’s birthday might be a slight indication of the change in the team. It has taken some time for the team to get to this point – which is usually the case. Pareja’s tenure began in 2012 and there has been a period of adjustment for players and staff alike. That time of transition is starting  to come to a close and the team is getting closer and closer to each other and becoming more and more like family every day. And that may just be enough to push a team with little or no chance all the way to the game’s highest level.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Pursuing Ordination

It seems (and has been) months since last writing. The long dark tunnel of work towards ordination has consumed my extra time and in making choices I have tried to make conscious decisions about “people over paper” – a clever phrase my best mate and I used during our seminary years to help keep priorities in check.

I am currently ordained and have been for the last 2 years with the Evangelical Church Alliance. The ECA has faithfully maintained my credentials both as an ordained minister and as a licensed pastor since 2005, and fills an important need for credentialing chaplains and people in ministry who have non-denominational or small organizations without ordaining and licensing functions. I have not been ashamed in any way to be part of the organizations, but since entering into parish ministry I have found myself desiring more: more community.

Serving at Cherry Hills Community Church for the past four years, I have found myself looking for the theological and ministerial sharpness that comes from being part of a closely connected community. While some of my involvement in the community has filled that need, as I began to look around at some of the influential pastors in my life, I discovered that many of them were part of this same community – the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The EPC is a small, young denomination (Protestant) in comparison to some of the others that I have been associated with in the past but pursuing ordination has a greater significance than a mere aligning with a denomination for the first time since my seminary days. True, there has been some theological changes for me over the years, but I hold even those things in less regard for the importance of being in community.

In the process, while I have been stretched and taxed mentally and emotionally and spiritually (as has my family), there has been a deeper appreciation for the richness of the Body of Christ and the Kingdom of God. Even in my preparations for the Bible exam, I was rediscovering portions of scripture (especially around the prophets) that were giving me fresh vision and renewal in my soul.

I am certain that standing before God, I will not be asked what order I belong to; rather, He will ask me to give account for my life and ministry – first to my family and then to the communities that He has placed me in. Whilst one might serve God under many different titles (pastor, chaplain, homemaker, mechanic) or different banners (Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Catholic) I know that the best place to serve God is from within the context of community. It is my hope that in the coming years, CrossTraining would imitate that – for the chaplains involved in sport. And while CrossTraining will never ordain anyone in an ecclesiastical sense, I am excited to see the people ordained by God to serve this ministry and in our fellow ministries as well.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Losing Longevity

The Colorado Rapids recently announced the trade of long-time player and captain Pablo Mastroeni. Mastroeni was the longest-tenured player with the Rapids and served as team captain since 2004. Mastroeni came to the Rapids as part of the Major League Soccer (MLS) contraction which occurred in 2001 and in his letter to the fans, he shares some of what Colorado has meant over the past 12 years.

Some of you know that I serve, also on staff at Cherry Hills Community Church as a pastor in pastoral care. Because of church finances and transition, the church recently had to lay off several employees and a couple of pastors as well. Some at Cherry Hills had served on staff for over 10 and upwards of 20 years. This time of transition is part of a larger transition where Cherry Hills’ Senior and Founding Pastor Jim Dixon, of 30+ years is retiring. The happening of both events are the source of my reflection this week.

There are many reasons why change and transition happens and perhaps the circumstances and timing of the events above are too dissimilar for any great insights; however, as I began reflecting there seemed to be some crucial things that are lost when a person of tenure leaves a longstanding position. Amongst these things is the loss of corporate memory. Corporate memory is the knowledge gained (either through experience or training, etc.) by an organization’s employee. When you let go of an employee (by layoff or trade, for example) you lose the history, problem solving, the “we’ve been here before and here’s how we handled it” type of information which really can be invaluable to an institution. Organizations can hire younger, smarter, cheaper replacements, but they lose the wisdom that is gained through experience.

Mastroeni hoists the Cup at the fans celebration after the 2010 MLS Cup win.

A second loss is a loss of organizational identity. When you have people who serve you for a long time in a particular role, especially when they do that job well, they start to take on an identity which becomes attached to the institution. Being a Bronco (NFL) fan for most of my life, John Elway was the identity that was attached to my fandom and for most others – the quarterbacks that have followed since have not garnered the same success or place in the fans heart as Elway did for so many years. And Elway was beloved even in spite of his failure (until late in his career) to win the big game, the Super Bowl. His success in bringing two Super Bowl championships to Denver only solidified his place in Denver sports history. Mastroeni will be remembered as captaining the Rapids during 2010 MLS Cup win. The staff and pastors at Cherry Hills who have been laid off or are retiring will be remembered for their work to love and be with people from birth to death and the many spaces of life in between. Losing these people does something to the identity of the organizations they worked for and served for so long.

Another loss that occurs when losing people who have longevity with an organization is the loss of corporate stability. Undoubtedly, athletes age and their abilities to compete are often overshadowed by those younger, faster, and stronger. Pastors and others in different vocations sometimes grow and become better (wiser, more patient, etc.) through time. They are sometimes described like a wine that gets better with age. Although, sometimes longevity can produce complacency as well; however, these individuals bring a sense of stability. They experience organizational highs and lows, they bring emotional balance as they “steady the ship” during difficult times and as they encourage teammates and co-workers, fans and parishioners to “stay the course” in all sorts of moments of organizational struggle or difficulty. Athletes past their prime are still valued for the leadership and influence that they bring to a locker room or team.

There are perhaps more parallels that might be drawn when considering the loss of longevity, and for those reading that are in positions of influence, power, or authority you might find that there are experts out in the field that can speak more to retaining or minimizing the losses that happen during these types of changes or transitions. As a chaplain with the Rapids, my role is to help those that I serve out of the richness of my own longevity (with the club, as  Christian, as a father, as a husband, etc.). As a pastor at the church, I still serve, although my tenure is not considerable there yet as these are the defining and shaping moments whereby we learn how to steady the ship and bring a sense of peace and stability to the difficult situation of transition. And when we find ourselves square in the sights of an organization that is cutting ourselves loose after years of service – of course, the place where we can look to without hesitation is to God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the I Am that I Am – He is the One with true longevity. And He can see us through, even in the midst of such losses. In the Ancient of Days we can retain that sense of corporate memory. In the Image of the Invisible God, we can retain a sense of identity. In the Prince of Peace, we can discover a source of stability. And God helping, we will survive moments of transition when we lose longevity.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Make A Wish

I was moved by the recent story of the Portland Timbers and how they worked with the local Make-A-Wish group in order to help an 8 year-old boy’s dream of playing against his heroes true. If you haven’t read the story click here or view some of the photos here. It’s a moving story and memorable for this young boy and for all those who helped make his dream come true.

Of course, this story is an “echo.” It is similar to another story that many of us are familiar with. A story that all of us live. It involves people diagnosed with a fatal disease. They are wishing for something or someone who could save them. They are a people who wanted to be honored and elevated in spite of the difficulty of their condition. They are people who long to have hope and to rejoice in life. “They” are us. We are those who, because of the fatality of sin, have been separated from God. We are a people searching for hope, praying for salvation from our damnable state.

It is interesting to me some of the metaphorical parallels – the cross of Christ and the token wood cut that Atticus received; the exchange of jerseys and the symbolic way that God often gives us a new name, new life in Him; the cheering crowd and the cloud of witnesses that surrounds us; the end of the match and even the time when life for us must end and we go on to life eternal. The story of Atticus and the Green Machine is really our story. As chaplains, we are bearers of the story. We remind people – that we belong to God. That the cancer of sin that separates us can be overcome through Jesus Christ. That we are special to God. That He wants us to win.

Friends, we don’t have to make-a-wish. God has already granted us His great gift of grace.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Where Are They Now?

Players don’t just need a chaplain during their playing days. Often it is in the years that follow when life has more challenges – from aging parents, to raising a family, to creating a new career – there is often place for chaplains to be an encouragement and support.

Recently, the Colorado Rapids re-introduced members of its gallery of honor. These former players have made major contributions to the Rapids organization and were collectively recognized during the Rapids vs. Seattle Sounders match. The reunion was also marked by a few events leading up to the game. Events such as these often pique the curiosity of fans into wondering where did their favorite players of yester-year actually end up.

For myself, one of the important parts of ministry and work with the team as chaplain is keeping up with the players, coaches, and staff even as they go beyond the doors of the organization into other endeavors in life. It is part of my hope and belief to be available to these people for life – even long after their professional days with the team come to a close. Part of this philosophy of ministry was encouraged in part by a reading of the book Father Joe: The Man Who Saved My Soul. The memoir of Tony Hendra introduces a homely priest who continues to speak into the troubled life of Hendra throughout the years. The priest, Father Joe, consistently and gently points Hendra back to love of God and love of others throughout the various trials and failings of his life.

As I continue to serve as a chaplain to the Rapids, there are many former players and staff who re-enter the door. Sometimes in a role with the club, sometimes as part of another organization or team, sometimes in a moment of honoring an achievement of the past. In truth, not all former members of the club see me as a “Father Joe” type figure, but there are some that do. There are some that come back, years later, and they have questions about God, about life, about family, or about some burden that they carry heavily in their heart and soul. For me, as chaplain, these are some of the most fulfilling moments – to be able to serve, to be able to share, to be able to help in pointing people back toward God.

It takes a lot of work sometimes to stay even loosely connected to the many that have been part of the organization before. But when you can answer the question, “Where are they now?” And you can help some of them get a little closer to God – it is worth it all.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Coming Back

To be honest, I have been discouraged. This season has not started as I might have hoped – as a chaplain in professional sport sometimes we derive a lot of encouragement and energy from meeting with players and studying the Bible or doing life at some point during the week. It has been difficult to get things going – perhaps its all the new faces, maybe its just a different generation, maybe its me. But Saturday night, I was reminded of something that is much more vital in terms of our chaplaincy work. You might even say it is more vital in the space of our work as Christians. Let me share this with you in the telling of a short story.

He walked with a casual gait. It had been a long, difficult game. Away from the confines of home, it was the team’s first win of the season. A smile. But for him, the game held so much more significance. Two years ago, almost to the day, this young man had left the same stadium but in an ambulance. His leg broken in two different places, he would need emergency surgery to save his leg. His dreams of playing football in jeopardy. April 22. It was Good Friday, but for him perhaps it was too difficult to call anything that day or in the days to follow good. There were many questions about whether there would ever be an Easter-like resurrection for Steve Zakuani.

Zakuani is stretchered off in 2011.

I don’t know if he remembered me – whether jumping in the back of the ambulance to pray before he left the stadium for the hospital, or visiting post-surgery and praying around his bedside, or helping get him to the airport and home to Seattle on a private plane or taking his father to the airport. But as I spoke with him in the hallway after the game, I encouraged him to keep working hard, to keep coming back. Sometimes, this is what our faith needs – we need an encouraging word in our lives to keep us working hard and seeking the Lord. Whether in the midst of discouragement or adversity, we need to keep coming back or as someone once put it “it’s not that saints never fall, but they get back up.” By the grace of God, we fall down, we get up.

As I drove away from the stadium and pondered the seeming full circle that two years had brought, I was moved to consider my own discouragement. Maybe I felt that the “ministry” work was broken or some of my own hopes and dreams shattered. Maybe I have simply fallen into the trap of wanting to influence a lot of people, rather than being content to work in the lives that God has called me to for the moment – chaplain or  pastor, we sometimes want to touch as many lives as possible. But numbers aren’t important. Accolades, or recognition, or “success” (whether from a worldly perspective or Christian subculture perspective) isn’t important. The important thing is being present, being faithful to this call. The important thing is to keep coming back, back to a place where God can use us in whatever way He chooses, or in whatever way He chooses not to – it’s His prerogative. Coming back until He asks us to go or do or be somewhere, something, or someone else.

God help Steve. God help me. God help us in coming back.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Abusers in the Game

If you have ever been around professional sports environments, you know that there are often polarizing figures who not only play the sport, but coach or work at the executive levels of sport as well.  Amongst those involved in the game, there are varying levels of the antagonist  – from recent extremes such as former Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice and former White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen to former pro and basketball commentator Charles Barkley or owner Mark Cuban. In the world, these personas have a voice amplified by the high cultural value placed on sport but there is often a lot of controversy surrounding the comments or behaviors of these iconic figures.

ESPN’s Rick Reilly comments on the latest Nike ad campaign which attempts to atone for Tiger’s behavior on and off the course, suggesting winning as a cure-all.

It may go without saying that there are tremendous pressures tied into professional sport – whether for a coach, player, or executive but does this necessarily serve as an excuse for abusive language and behavior sometimes exhibited by those who are in the sports spotlight?

In my years working in professional sport – whether in public relations or as team chaplain – I have seen plenty of chairs kicked across rooms, vocalized and gestured profanities. Some of them coming from persons claiming to be Christ-followers. Some of them coming from persons making no such claim. For those claiming to be Christian, there is a more profound condemnation as this is not to be part of our character (see Colossians 3 and Ephesians 4 which speak to putting off unwholesome talk and attitude).

For the Christian in these environments, the pressure is immense, the off-color locker room language and behavior has mob majority acceptance and tends to dishearten and disquiet those who might speak and act otherwise. There are few who feel strong enough to stand up against it – instead choosing to join in to gain acceptance or withdraw entirely. Here is where I have found from time to time, the presence of a chaplain is often helpful to abate or limit some of the behavior and language that goes on.

I recall one moment, walking into the training room, a player uttered a profanity in casual conversation with a team mate. Seeing me come to greet them, the player apologized, “Sorry, Rev., I shouldn’t have said that.” As chaplains, we have a preservative quality. We are like salt and light in the locker rooms and stadiums where we serve. The Holy Spirit inside of us often works to convict and limit the abusers in the game from getting out of control. It is often hard work – to be present to the sometimes verbal and emotional abuse that surrounds the professional game and to not carry that with us. It is only by the grace of God that we can be a helpful preservative.

In my prayer times for those in professional sport, I am challenged to pray for the abusers – that they would come to an awareness and conviction of their words and behaviors, that they would repentantly change, that God would honor and protect his people. Please join me in praying for them and for the chaplains that serve them.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Grieving Our Losses

Image

Rapids team members watch balloons float away after the service.

A few months ago, the Colorado Rapids team and organization was shaken terribly. The loss of one of our children at a tender and young age – made all close to the family pause and think – about life, about death, about cherishing what we have been given, and more. It was not the first loss in the history of the organization, but perhaps was the most difficult in my time and experience as the club chaplain.

The service that was held at the stadium was the first of its kind – a section of the stadium transformed so that this group, this family could gather and grieve. In the world of professional sport we are rarely confronted with the ultimate finality of death. Sure, there are careers that come to an end and dreams that are dashed in a moment in arenas of competition, but rarely is a death part of the fabric of an organization as young as the Colorado Rapids.

Image 1

It is in these moments, when chaplains are perhaps needed most – to offer comfort, to offer a peaceful presence, to listen, to mourn and grieve with those suffering. I am thankful for the many years of serving as a hospice chaplain and in pastoral care. It is imperative for chaplains to be trained in being sensitive and skilled in moments of grief and loss. For many that undertake chaplaincy there is lack of the education and development – even in many seminary-level courses. The investment in understanding grief and loss is important as many with whom we work have these critical moments in life.

So, if I could take just a moment and say a word of thanks – some of you have supported CrossTraining or even myself as an individual – whether by helping make a connection, or financially supporting the ministry, or offering another space for growth and development through education or some resource. Some of you have simply prayed for us  chaplains for the moments when we are confronted with grief and loss, that we would be wonderful representatives of God to the people we serve. Thank you for that investment. There may be many who never know and never fully appreciate and understand how you have indirectly helped them but helping us, but we (chaplains) thank you. And we pray that God blesses you in the moments when you, too, may have to grieve a great loss.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

Community Projects

Contact Us

Chaplain Login

Privacy Policy

© 2026 Soccer Chaplains United

Donate via PushPay

X-twitter X-twitter
Mail Mail