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Stories, news, and events from Soccer Chaplains United’s grant program to help distribute new and used soccer gear for use in local and global projects.

World Cup Coming

With World Cup 2014 Brazil, just a few months away, millions are preparing for the largest event in the world to capture the imaginations and dreams of people young and old, from hundreds of different countries, and many different backgrounds.

In advance of the World Cup, there are many different groups and organizations looking to leverage one the largest sporting events in the world (next to Olympic opening ceremonies), and if the last World Cup (2010) viewing numbers – estimated close to 1 billion with TV and internet viewing – is to be believed, the 2014 finale will probably grow beyond. It is probably safe to say that the World Cup has significant influence globally. But while some will use the World Cup stage to sell and promote their product or their country, there will be several groups working to promote something much more important: Jesus Christ.

Athletes in Action is one such group and they have produced a DVD featuring soccer player testimonies for use around the world. The DVD known as THE PRIZE: UNDER PRESSURE is a follow up to the 2010 version THE PRIZE: CHASING THE DREAM. Translated into 35 different languages, The Prize: Under Pressure features the stories of five professional footballers: Kaká, Eyong Enoh, Jacob Mulenga, Cacau, and Brad Guzan. These players, recognizable around the world, share how they cope with the pressure that comes – whether playing for club or country.

CrossTraining has received several copies of The Prize: Under Pressure. If you would like a copy for your group, please contact us. A small donation to help cover the costs of the DVD and shipping and you will be able to use this tool to share the good news of Jesus Christ with many who follow the world’s game of soccer.

Send an email request to info@crosstraining-us.org.

Timothy Project 2014: Mission Ministries Mexico

After a Houston Chronicle article in 2009 declared the city of Juarez, Mexico the “most violent zone in the world outside of declared war zones”1  most Americans and many Christian mission organizations stopped travel and efforts to help the poor of the estimated 1.5 million people who call the city home. The violence spawning from the drug cartel wars has claimed many lives and mission work in the city was deemed too risky. But there were a few organizations that still dared to carry on the work – meet Missions Ministries. Started in 2002, Mission Ministries worked at constructing homes for Juarez’s poor and they partnered with churches throughout the southwest United States in order to build relationships and help people in need.

Recently, Steve McConaghie, a pastor at Cherry Hills Community Church was invited to sit on the board of Mission Ministries. Pastor McConaghie had led youth trips to Juarez since the 1990’s and had been involved several times via Cherry Hills and the partnership with Mission Ministries. His latest trip to Juarez took place just a few weeks ago.

Our team of seven men partnered with five Mexican men from the staff of Missions Ministries to build a house in less than two days. The recipient is a family of eight from the Tarahumara tribe. They moved to the Juarez area a couple years ago hoping to find work. Thankfully, the father secured a job at a pallet factory, though his $10 a day salary will never be enough to raise them out of impoverishment.

When McConaghie heard about the donation of soccer gear that CrossTraining had received via the Timothy Project, he thought that there might be a good opportunity to take it down to Juarez. CrossTraining provided McConaghie enough gear to outfit two complete teams with shorts, tops, and compression tops and some miscellaneous items.

I delivered the donated soccer gear to one of the local pastors, who helps manage a workout facility and organizes youth soccer leagues. He was very excited to receive the generous gift.

Stay tuned for an updated story and pictures from the Missions Ministries work in Juarez. If you would like to donate to the Timothy Project, please use the PayPal button below and make a notation with your gift.

1. Olsen, Lise. (2009-10-21) Ciudad Juárez passes 2,000 homicides in ’09, setting record | Breaking News | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle.

Timothy Project 2014: Bethel Orphanage

mike_andersonFor Rev. Mike Anderson, the Bethel Orphanage in Juarez, Mexico has been a place that has captured his heart for years so when he heard that CrossTraining had some extra soccer gear from the Colorado Rapids that was available as part of the Timothy Project, he jumped at the opportunity.

We went down to Juarez about 18 years ago to build a house and stopped by a local orphanage, and, being adopted myself, I’ve really had a heart for orphans. About five years ago, a fellow minister invited me to Bethel Orphange to take some trees to plant in the neighborhood and at orphanage – we stayed with the children and workers and God just grabbed my heart as they invited me in – it was a special bonding time.

The orphanage, named Casa Hogar Bethel,  houses some 100+ children who have either been abandoned by or taken from their parents and families. As a ministry, it struggles – from food in the panty to finances to carry out the work. But workers live and serve by faith in God and they are proud of the children that they serve. The orphanage has won awards for excellence in education in the state of Chihuahua and have excelled in many soccer tournaments – thus, Rev. Anderson thought that the children would love some of the gear and equipment donated by the Rapids.

I’ve brought soccer balls down there before and by the end of the second day they are already worn out – the kids are so eager to play. Down the street is a park that the government built with a caged soccer field – but it is really too dangerous for the kids to leave the orphanage.  The children have to remain within the walls of the orphanage for their own safety as they could be taken into slavery, or there are sometimes shootings – so I know they will love the gear from the Rapids.

Rev. Anderson packed a large suitcase – filled with enough shorts and shirts and soccer gear to outfit two complete teams, including goalie gloves and extra gear for adults who coach or oversee the children. Rev. Anderson and his team leave for Juarez, Mexico and the orphanage on April 30-May 3. Please pray for the team that will go down and the gear that they will give to the children. Check back for an update on this Timothy Project.

Timothy Project 2014: Costa Rica

Recently, the Colorado Rapids cleaned house – boxes of used team gear were simply taking up too much space in the confines of Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and after the annual “garage sale” for Rapids fans, there was still plenty left over. That’s when team staff contacted Rapids Chaplain Brad Kenney. The text message read:

Yo. We have 4 boxes of donations for you. Everything from boots to jerseys. You want to get them at some point?

Well, four boxes turned into 20 – jerseys, boots, pants, compression shirts and shorts, socks – the amount was nearly overwhelming. Chaplain Kenney conferenced with Associate Chaplains Hugo Venegas and Ricardo Orellana – how can we quickly move this gear and get it into the hands of people in need? Chaplain Orellana was scheduled for a Kenyan mission trip in March. Chaplain Venegas a trip to Costa Rica at the end of January. Perhaps between the two trips there would be a way to use the donated gear.

Chaplain Venegas sprang into action – putting some messages out to contacts in Costa Rica. Is there anyone who could use some team gear and equipment for their church or a local team? Pretty soon, Chaplain Venegas had 4 different project requests coming out of Costa Rica – a player training with a team in hopes of getting a contact in Major League Soccer, a church group praying for new team uniforms, and a couple of reservations with poor, indigenous people. As Chaplain Kenney opened the boxes, it was almost too overwhelming…Do you have an idea of sizes? (read a text message to Venegas).

Image 3I just remember looking at all the boxes in my living room, my children were trying to help me sort and count, and I panicked – what were we gong to do with all of the gear? Will we have enough? Too much?

Venegas texted back: Mas o Menos! I got quantity requests. I think mostly medium n large! As both men were helping sort and count out the different needs they were constantly amazed to see the requested numbers filled over and over again.

Image 4I think, in the end we were able to come up with nearly 8 teams of 11 kits each. Some had numbers, it wasn’t like we had an Adidas catalogue in front and could simply pick it out – we had to sort through a lot of piles – but it was amazing to see some of the numbers work out exactly to what the need was.

Chaplain Venegas drove away that night with enough gear to meet all the requested need and then some. We will post pictures and more of these amazing stories in the weeks to come. Please pray for safe travels and that the equipment will be a blessing to all those who receive.

 

Supporting: Missions

Image 1When CrossTraining began in 2002, there was a simple focus: chaplaincy to the Colorado Rapids. You can check out our History page to learn more of the story, but essentially as CrossTraining came under fiscal sponsorship, one of the requirements was a clear “missional” type of work supported by CrossTraining. Enter the Timothy Project. The idea behind the Timothy Project was to enable others using sport (soccer, specifically) and faith to reach a community to tap into the network and resources of CrossTraining and to also receive funds and equipment to carry out that work.

IMG_4881Consider it CrossTraining’s way of giving back – each year, CrossTraining gives away a portion of the monies donated in order for an individual or an organization to use sport and faith to serve a community. Those “communities” have been as far away as Mongolia and as close to home as the urban city centers where CrossTraining operates. When people give financially – they are giving to something bigger and broader than just sports chaplaincy to professional teams. And as CrossTraining and the Timothy Project enter into a new phase – we have some bigger dreams and bigger hopes for the Timothy Project to go beyond.

Screen shot 2012-05-25 at 2.50.49 PMWhether its appropriating used equipment from a professional team like the Colorado Rapids to supply a local Haitian village, donating brand new equipment to be used by a mission team, or helping a player go back to his impoverished country with the means to recondition a soccer field – your support of CrossTraining helps support Timothy Project opportunities around the world.

As we approach Tuesday, December 10 and the annual Colorado Gives Day – if you are considering making a year-end charitable contribution will you consider CrossTraining?

All donations are tax-deductible and can be made electronically through PayPal (link at the bottom) or through the mail to our mailing address at:

CrossTraining, PO Box 102081, Denver, CO 80250.

Timothy Project: Zocalo Outreach

CrossTraining announced it’s latest Timothy Project award recipient for 2013. Zocalo Outreach and it’s summer day camp program are looking to introduce soccer into the programs and services that they use to reach out to under-privileged children. Approximately 200 under-privileged children, ages 5-12, participate in the program every summer with many of the children facing serious problems of delinquency, school failure, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and teen parenting.

Summer campers at Zocalo will enjoy having soccer be one of the sports that they can learn and play whilst being shown the love and care from camp counselors and the Outreach center.

The mission of ZOCALO Outreach is to improve the quality of life for children in the inner city of Denver and surrounding impoverished areas through teaching practical life skills in order to develop responsible, educated and caring youth. This is done through a summer day camp, an after school program and a home for college boys who have grown up through the programs. Zocalo Outreach strives to accomplish the following: Provide year round programs for children living in poverty, raise up and mentor leaders from the community, provide parents with educational resources and support for their children. The summer camp provides a safe environment for the children to exercise, improve their literacy skills, experience the arts and receive healthy meals.

Zocalo allows inner-city kids to receive love and attention and the message of God’s love.

Zocalo Outreach uses the New Life in Christ Church in Lakewood, CO as the camp location and spiritual home for the community. Daily devotionals support Christian growth for the participants and the counselors. Integration of soccer is part of the evolution of the summer project and is another way to show the children that others care for them. By implementing soccer recreation that will be continued as a part of the camp it will provide a great sport for the children to grow and be challenged. Simple soccer drills and instruction as well as scrimmages will be a complement to the summer camp programs already going on.

Zocalo Outreach has asked for soccer balls for their camp needs. If you would like to make a donation to help support Zocalo Outreach uses the PayPal button below and mark your electronic donation with a note that says Timothy Project: Zocalo. Thanks for partnering with us to help promote the love of Jesus through the use of soccer in ministry!

Timothy Project: Back to Guatemala

Students from Valor’s 2011 immersion talk with local Guatemalan boys about soccer and faith in God. The team received 25 “Higher Purpose” soccer balls from CrossTraining – the color scheme on the ball helps tell the story of God’s love.

CrossTraining has announced the second awarded Timothy Project for 2013. This project will be one familiar to CrossTraining supporters and followers as a team from Valor Christian High School returns to Zacapa, Guatemala – this year with a more soccer-oriented focus in mind. In 2011, Valor had an immersion trip with students learning Spanish and living in country – the team requested soccer balls to take on their trip as they had several outreach moments with children in the city of Zacapa and several surrounding villages.

This year, the team from Valor will consist of players and coaches from the boy’s and girl’s soccer teams. And the plan is to run several soccer camps and clinics during their time in the country and then to bless a local church by leaving the donated equipment for the church to continue to use in reaching out to the community.

Fans in Zacapa, Guatemala watch the game from behind barbed wire fences.

Professional soccer in Guatemala has a different look and feel than here in the U.S. This photo, from Valor’s 2011 immersion experience is after a game with the local team in Zacapa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To find out more about the Valor trip click here.

CrossTraining is currently supporting this project by supplying:

  • 50 soccer pinnies
  • 4 dozen training cones
  • Donated hydration equipment
  • Donated used equipment (soccer shoes, goalie gloves, etc.)

If you would like to help, the team still needs about 150 soccer balls to take down and leave in Guatemala. You can make a donation through CrossTraining by using PayPal below and marking your donation Timothy Project: Guatemala. For more information on the Timothy Project check out our information page here.

Timothy Project: Haiti

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A young Haitian boy is about to hit a corner kick with an old MLS ball and donated soccer cleats from a Colorado Rapids player.

The first Timothy Project of the year is already complete. A team from Colorado and Cherry Hills Community Church made their way to Haiti to work with children during a weeklong mission trip, March 26-April 2. The team hosted several soccer tournaments and camps and did several construction projects, including building church and school benches, hosting hundreds of kids in Vacation Bible School, securing tarps on roofs for widows, serving at a large orphanage, delivering rice and beans, fitting hundreds of people with shoes and clothes and helping the sick. This Timothy Project involved providing a mix of used and new equipment (shoes, clothing, and balls) to the team to give away to youths and area churches.

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The team worshipped at Thomassique Christian Church on Easter Sunday and witnessed a Voodoo priest accept Christ as Savior, along with 5 others. Many other Haitian children prayed the prayer of salvation at Vacation Bible School. God is working in powerful ways in Haiti and Cherry Hills and CrossTraining is blessed to partner together in even this small way.

If you have a project idea or proposal for the Timothy Project please visit our page here and fill out the form. Scroll below to see more pictures from the team’s time in Haiti.Image 9Image 6Image 8

Timothy Project 2013

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Soccer camp in Czech Republic was a 2012 recipient of a Timothy Project award.

CrossTraining announced today that applications are now being accepted for 2013 Timothy Project proposals. The Timothy Project involves CrossTraining allocating resources and connections to those involved in missional endeavors to impact diverse communities around the world using the sport of soccer. Proposals often include requests for equipment, financial sponsorship, and event promotion. Proposals may be submitted from the Timothy Project page where a hyperlink will direct respondents to an online submission form that includes criteria for consideration.

The Timothy Project started in 2010 as part of CrossTraining and START Ministries agreement and partnership in ministry. Founder and Colorado Director, Brad Kenney recalls the beginnings of the Timothy Project,

In dialogue with START, we wanted to join in the amazing vision that they had to support short-term mission work locally and globally. Since God has placed us in the sport of soccer and since soccer (or futbol) is the “global game” we found a natural outlet for supporting START and living out this incredible vision by supporting those utilizing the game to transform communities and really impact the world.

Screen Shot 2012-06-22 at 4.03.01 PM

Young boys in Mongolia are the beneficiaries of a group that has a vision to rescue boys out of a cultural path of alcoholism.

What began as a simple sponsorship has grown over the last few years to include project involvement in places as far away as Mongolia and as close to home as Portland and Colorado.

Projects that merit consideration will meet with CrossTraining’s goals and vision for the program and more details can be found on the Timothy Project page of the website and on the online submission form. Donations can be made directly to the Timothy Project by marking an online gift or check “Timothy Project” and even designating a gift toward a specific project. Project submittals will be considered until a  date to be determined or until project funds have run out for the year. Keep checking the Timothy Project page for updates on approved projects.

We’re excited to see what projects God has in store for us to work with this year. There will be some amazing stories, to be sure.

– Brad Kenney, Colorado Director

Calgary Camp Update

Just a couple weeks ago, the third Timothy Project recipient for 2012 hosted its summer camp outreach to those in the Glenbrook community in southwest Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Of the 83 children in attendance, the church (Christian Life Assembly) was able to sponsor 58. Through the Timothy Project, CrossTraining helped to sponsor 4.

According to Wendy Aston, all the campers seemed to have a good time and were inspired and challenged by the devotionals offered daily during the soccer camp. The church is already seeing 2 new families beginning to attend on Sundays.

The area of Calgary where the church and camp are based is very diverse with many different nationalities and social and economic backgrounds. One neat story was when the mother and sister of a Muslim camper attended the celebration event at the end of camp. The father had been quite nervous about sending his son last year and specified that he would have to sit out of the devotional time if he came. And the church was sensitive to the families request. The camper, though, stayed for the whole week, attended the devotionals, and then brought his family to the party. A very encouraging time for the family and for the church in reaching out and showing love.

In another story, a single mom whose daughter attended last year, had been
in contact a month before camp started to ask for prayer.  In order to
complete her university and qualify for a higher paying job, she needed her
ex-husband to resume his child support.  Things were not looking good. A
handful of our ladies gathered around her at camp to pray with her.  She
came to us during camp after her court appearance with cold hands and a look
of despair.  She got the same judge as she had had in the past whom she
didn’t trust.  He had told her he would have to sleep on his verdict.  Our
head coach and Pastor Wendy took some time to pray with her right there and by the
afternoon celebration event she reported that the judge had made an about
face and ruled in her favour granting her 2 more years of support.

God’s faithfulness is evident through these stories and more and CrossTraining and Christian Life Assembly are excited at how God continues to use soccer as a means to touching lives.

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