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.
The global pandemic of Coronavirus has meant quite a few changes in the United States and around the world. Valor Christian High School, originally slated to fly down to Tamarindo, Costa Rica during spring break and the school’s practicum week (March 14 – March 23) ended up canceling the trip along with their other Discovery Team trips.
Although it is difficult not to be in Costa Rica this week, I was filled with joy that our houses were still built and were able to change the lives of two families forever. I am grateful for the hard work team Costa Rica put into the fundraising for the houses and also to our trusted partner that carried out the work in our absence.
On behalf of all the leaders, I would like to thank all families and friends who helped support our team’s mission. I hope the pictures below bring you Joy. And let’s all remember, this was God’s journey for us and we give Him all the Glory!
Mike Wright, Assistant Coach Valor Christian Soccer and Costa Rica Team Leader
While the trip was cancelled, the building materials and supplies had already been ordered and paid for. Local project leader Maximo Cisneros organized local “Ticos” to take on the work of building two new homes for the previously designated poor and needy families in the community.
Maximo (2nd from right) and crew pose in front of one of the completed houses.
Obviously, it was a big disappointment not to get to see our friends and partners and those we’ve worked with in the past, but it was a blessing to see the pictures of the homes completed and the local community folks reaching out and helping.
I hope that the opportunity that we were looking forward to — taking our student athletes into this environment and serving — will be something that we can resume in the near future.
Brian Shultz, Head Coach Valor Christian Soccer and Costa Rica Team Leader
The Soccer Chaplains United gear that had been distributed to the Valor team will be returned and sent out with another Community Project, per project guidelines. We hope to support Valor in a future endeavor once the issues from Coronavirus begin to subside.
When you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CD50B874-61D2-4BB8-B7A2-7E10BCD1D2C3.jpg360640Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2020-03-26 04:00:002020-07-27 21:29:06Coronavirus Cancels Costa Rica
Valor Christian High School Soccer is returning to Tamarindo, Costa Rica in what has become an annual tradition. This year’s trip will feature sixteen boys from the soccer program. The team will fly down to Costa Rica during the upcoming spring break and business week — March 14 – March 23. The team will look to build two homes for needy families during the day. At night, the team will minister to the soccer community through building relationships, competing in games, and sharing the gospel with athletes from the local area. It is during this time that the team will also look to give gear away to players who need new cleats, goalie gloves, and jerseys.
We look forward to changing lives through the global game of soccer and building a couple houses in the Guanacaste region for poor families. We feel blessed to serve!
Mike Wright, Valor 2020 Costa Rica Team Leader
Valor has been to Costa Rica several times and has been the recipient of our Community Project before including in 2018 and 2017. You can see other projects we have fulfilled and partnered with for Costa Rica in the past – go here and click on the Costa Rica flag!
Rev Brad Kenney went with Valor in March 2018 and led the infamous paint crew
Tamarindo has gone from being a small fishing village 20+ years ago, to now, being more of a small, sleepy surfing and tourist town. Behind the tourism, a lot of poverty exists among the local people. Valor Christian High School Soccer is partnering with Mercy Home Ministries and builder Maximo Cisneros to build “Mercy” homes for needy local families that he has identified. Additionally, they will be reaching out through soccer camps and clinics where they will distribute soccer gear to the many children who do not have shoes, cleats, shin guards, or even soccer balls.
Project Request
20 new soccer balls – size 5
Adult medium sized jerseys/shirts/training tops
Goalie gloves – any quantity new or used
Cleats – any quantity, new or used, up to size 11
When you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/costa-rica.png800800Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2020-02-20 05:00:002020-02-18 15:06:15Valor Request for Costa Rica
Last year, Compassion International, a ministry based in Colorado Springs, CO took a group of athletes from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) to El Salvador on a vision trip. The intention was to allow several athletes to interact with and see the work that Compassion is doing in the country. Matt Pirmann and Ken McKinney, leader of the trip, reached out to Soccer Chaplains United to see if there might be any gear or equipment to take down as part of the trip. Soccer Chaplains United was able to get 150 shirts and 10 soccer balls into their hands with short notice.
Compassion Team Members and NWSL athletes show the children some games and drills with a ball donated from Soccer Chaplains United.
Compassion is a long-serving organization whose mission and vision is to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Compassion’s three-cord approach is to be: Christ Centered, Church Based and Child Focused. With that in mind, Compassion’s development work with children around the world aims to be holistic in its approach. Compassion’s three-cord approach is to be: Christ Centered, Church Based and Child Focused. With that in mind, Compassion’s development work with children around the world aims to be holistic in its approach.
Nicole Barnhart, pictured in the photo at the top of the page, was one of the NWSL athletes and Compassion team members. She shared this about her experience,
The trip to El Salvador was the opportunity of a lifetime. I went there thinking that I was going to inspire these children, help spark belief and give them hope that they have the strength to fulfill their Go-given potential, but in the end they stole a piece of my heart and inspired me beyond anything imaginable.
Nicole Barnhart, Goalkeeper Utah Royals FC
Lori Krueger, looks on while a Compassion child shares
One of the members of the team was NWSL Chaplain Coordinator, Lori Krueger. For Lori, the trip was a blessing — as she had been praying about hosting a retreat for players at the end of the season. But then, the opportunity from Compassion to take athletes on this vision trip came along.
The trip to El Salvador with the athletes from the NWSL was such a special experience. It was pretty incredible to see the difference that Compassion is making to support these kids who are living in extreme poverty. I saw talent kids, living with hope and dreams because of the ministry.
Lori Krueger, NWSL Chaplain Coordinator
The athletes had opportunity to watch the Compassion work in person and to play some games with the children that are part of Compassions outreach through the various centers that they have throughout the country.
A young girl heads a ball donated through Soccer Chaplains United.Team members were exposed to the impoverished conditions many El Salvadorans live in.
It was hard to see extreme poverty first hand, but at the same time it was so amazing to see how these people who have so little really have so much. They are so joyful and liven and gracious and their passion to live a life in Christ is unbelievable.
Nicole Barnhart
Compassion’s request was the 10th project for 2019 and the first time we have supported a project for El Salvador. One of the outcomes is a new initiative from Compassion to raise awareness and support for ongoing work in El Salvador. You can learn more through this link and opportunity. Additionally, Compassion is exploring other opportunities in other countries for athletes to “give back” to they native lands and people by coming alongside in similar initiatives.
Smiling faces were found to be in high order for many of the girls that the team spent time with.
A piece of my heart will always remain in El Salvador and I will never forget the amazing people I met and how they have motivated me to be better. Jesus showed me a beautiful example of what it means to have a thankful heart no matter our circumstances. He provides for us all and meets us where we are.
Nicole Barnhart
Remember, when you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help projects and requests like this one for Compassion International. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CW2302185-Compassion-El-Salvador-NWSL-Vision-Trip-ES0835-303-scaled.jpg12801920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2020-02-13 05:00:002020-02-11 10:51:35Compassion in El Salvador
Musana Community Development is the first Community Project request for Soccer Chaplains United for 2020. Musana is a non-profit located in Uganda, which started 11 years ago, when Colorado natives Andrea and Leah Pauline traveled to Uganda for a summer internship. Witnessing extreme poverty and corruption at a local orphanage, they knew they had to help.
Shortly after starting Musana, the girls began partnering with local Ugandans to empower them to BE THE CHANGE in their own community. That is when their vision shifted and they realized a new way to tackle poverty. Led and envisioned by local Ugandans, Musana is not a charity, but a sustainable solution. Bringing economic and social development together, Musana uses social enterprises as a catalyst for change.
Musana is breaking the cycle of poverty through an integrated, holistic approach that is restoring hope and dignity by pointing to the local people, in helping them realize their own capacity to not only survive, but to thrive.
About Musana
WE BELIEVE IN… LOCAL OWNERSHIP: Our projects are envisioned and implemented by a team of local men and women who empower and drive the community to take a leadership role in “being the change.” SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: We promote an innovative social business mentality by creating enterprises focused on health, education, and skill development. SUSTAINABILITY: We aim to generate 100% of our operating budget through locally generated funds from our social enterprises. ACCOUNTABILITY: We fight corruption through strict checks and balances, and internal controls to ensure that every Ugandan shilling is spent with integrity and efficiently supports the development of the community. THE CYCLE: Our social enterprises (Education, Health Care and Skills Development) work independently but in support of each other, cycling the profits back into the community through education scholarships, rural workshops, medical assistance, microloans, and skills training.
The Project
Musana is teaming up with Homes of Living Hope to donate much needed supplies to Musana’s replication site, where a new school will be opening February 2020. The purchased land and start of construction will result in a third campus of the Musana Nursery and Primary School to provide a unique, quality education to 1,000 Ugandan children living in Kaliro.
The organization will have 2-3 containers located in North and South Denver for three months (February – April) — building out these shipping containers to be used as vocational classrooms at the new site in Uganda. The containers will also be filled with medical equipment, school supplies and sports equipment. Uniform donations from Soccer Chaplains United will fulfill a huge need for the students.
The Request
Musana is requesting matching uniforms for teen boys (including jerseys & shorts), soccer balls, cleats and shin guards. Any quantity will be welcomed, as they have multiple teams, with over 100 students playing soccer each year.
When you financially support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals projects and organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Soccer-Secondary-School-scaled.jpg12821920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2020-01-09 05:00:492019-12-30 20:37:31Musana First for 2020
Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church’s 2019 mission trip to Juarez was a strengthening, encouraging and fun-filled time of ministry. Jacob Smith, a team member reports back on the trip:
The first full day we were there, we went to the park where we spent the afternoon playing a fantastic soccer game with the local people. During the game, we passed out the jerseys and some soccer balls that were generously donated to us through Soccer Chaplains United’s Community Project program.
It wasn’t just the kids that rushed forward to have a jersey, but the men and women were thrilled to have one too.
Jacob Smith, Mission Team Member to Juarez
The jerseys and gear helped us bond with the local people and church over the common sport of soccer. It was a wonderful beginning to our week of ministry together. Thank you!!
When you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/image1.jpeg8001200Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-11-14 12:00:362019-11-14 14:24:30Jerseys in Juarez
Earlier this year, Matthew Hulst and some men from Coram Deo went to Haiti on a mission trip. They requested some soccer gear to take with them, probably with no idea what it would mean or what it would lead to. Matthew shares the following report with Soccer Chaplains United, evidence of the work of God, in the country of Haiti, and in the lives of His children there. Please take time to also watch the video at the bottom. Read on,
Planting Seeds for a pro-level Christian soccer club
The team poses with Haitian leaders setting up the tournament
Five friends and I set out on a trip to Cap-Haiti (Northern part of Haiti) with dreams of seeing the Lord move through a two-week soccer tournament. Although there were reports of rioting throughout Haiti and our government putting out warnings for travel, we still felt led to go, thank the Lord we did. During our two-week stint, we saw 20 young men (ages 18-35) give their lives to Jesus and 60 more commit to long term discipleship programs with the local Haitian team we were working with. Through a donation of uniforms and equipment from Soccer Chaplains United, we were able to provide the resources needed to run a high-level tournament and pour “gas on the fire” of a God-given calling of launching a new Christian pro-level soccer club. This club will be created and led by one of our new Haitian friends named Renaldo. The uniforms and equipment that were donated to Renaldo confirmed his calling from the Lord to start this new soccer club. The dream of this club is not just good soccer but rather to use soccer as a vehicle to transform and disciple young men who would otherwise not encounter Jesus and raise up future Haitian leaders who will put an end to the corruption that is the current reality in the country.
Renaldo is a pro-level soccer player who, a few years ago, was moving up the ranks in the Haitian soccer circuit. During this process, he came to a fork in the road with the question of what was most important to him: soccer or Jesus. He was presented with the opportunity to be in line for the Haitian national team, but he realized there was an unspoken requirement. To be on the team meant he would have to practice voodoo. Many Haitians believe that to be Haitian is “to be voodoo.” But this is not the case with Renaldo. His foundation is Jesus. Because of his commitment to faith, Renaldo quit the sport, believing his dream for soccer had come to an end. This last spring God used our team to breathe life back into a dream that Rendaldo thought was dead and buried. To start, it was our team funding and donations that enabled the first Christian tournament to be played in Haiti. This tournament included 16 teams from all over Northern Haiti battling each night for two weeks straight. Seeing this tournament come to fruition filled Renaldo with passion and faith. Even further, this experience renewed his dream of pro soccer centered around Jesus rather than Voodoo. When we opened the bags of uniforms donated by Soccer Chaplains United, Renaldo was blown away with the faithfulness of Jesus. What he saw in those bags was a miracle to him. He did not just see uniforms, he saw them as a symbol of the love and faithfulness of Jesus and that Jesus has not forgotten the young men of Haiti. When Renaldo’s club officially takes the field they will be dressed in Colorado Jerseys and they will be the first team in the country that Voodoo does not have a major stronghold in.
The uniforms and equipment that were donated to Renaldo confirmed his calling from the Lord to start this new soccer club.
Matthew Hulst, on Renaldo’s call from God to serve his native Haiti
The Tournament
This was the first soccer tournament of its kind. No voodoo was allowed before, during or after the games of this tournament. This is never the case in Haiti. The tournament was hosted at the second largest soccer stadium in all of Haiti and the players ranged from 18-35 years of age. Due to the heat, they played in the late afternoons and evenings in a “world cup” style of play. Before every game, as the teams were in the locker rooms getting dressed for competition, our team got to go into the locker rooms and had 20 minutes to share the gospel and minister to these teams. During these times we saw men rejecting voodoo and getting on their knees in front of their peers and giving their lives to Jesus.
All these sessions were translated by of few Haitian friends (including Renaldo), and due to Renaldo’s influence, these men saw, possibly for the first time, that it was possible to live a life for Jesus alone and still be Haitian. A number of times, we saw the players come back to us after the game asking to learn more about Jesus. A goalie, on one of the teams, after the consolation game finished, came back into another team’s locker room asking us if he could accept Jesus into his life. During these locker room sessions, twenty men rejected voodoo and accepted Jesus and 60 more men committed to long term discipleship with Renaldo and his team.
This was a unifying event between churches and ministries in Cap-Haiti and moved into bringing the gospel to men who would never be reached in a regular church environment. Praise the Lord that he uses soccer to bring the gospel throughout Haiti. They are praying for this to be a yearly tournament and are hoping for it to be in four locations around Haiti next summer. Let’s pray for this be a catalyst for the change we are all hoping to see in Haiti.
The Orphanage
Each day in the mornings our team put on small soccer camps with all the littles at an orphanage called Street Hearts. We started by sharing a gospel message with them and then put them through drills and finished with two on two soccer competitions. These young kids were good and even at a young age, kicked our teams’ butts. Most of the kids we worked with knew Jesus and it was fun to see the joy on their faces as we were able to give them “real” soccer balls, jerseys and equipment. This specific orphanage is doing such an amazing job of training their littles in the ways of Jesus and developing Godly character in their hearts. Our team still talks about it three months later that these young kids give us hope to see change happen in Haiti.
Our team wants to thank Soccer Chaplains United for partnering with us through funding, donations, and prayer as we were part of God moving in this small area of Haiti. We could not have had the impact we did without you guys. We have so many more stories including a Haitian wedding, a gangster street kid becoming a ministry leader in the church, soccer among the poorest of the poor in the villages, praying for the mass rioting and so much more. But that will be for another day. Thank you and please join us as we are praying for next year’s tournament.
We’d like to thank Matt and his team for their faithfulness and this amazing story of God’s goodness and faithfulness.
Haitian pastors who helped organize the tournament
When you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
Cap-Haitien Soccer Tournament Thank-you
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/praying.jpg12801920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-11-07 05:00:362019-11-06 09:46:13Jesus Rather Than Voodoo
The latest community project request comes from Compassion International in Colorado Springs. Compassion is a long-serving organization whose mission and vision is to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.
Compassion’s three-cord approach is to be: Christ Centered, Church Based and Child Focused. With that in mind, Compassion’s development work with children around the world aims to be holistic in its approach. Matt Pirmann, whose father (Wayne) once helped Soccer Chaplains United, and now works for Compassion, recently reached out to request soccer balls.
Compassion in El Salvador has recently engaged in sports development as part of its youth development strategy. We will be taking a few professional women’s soccer players to see Compassion’s development centers and programs addressing children living in the most extreme poverty. They will also have a chance to spend time with coaches and players participating in soccer as part of the sports development programs.
Matt Pirmann, Compassion International
Matt Pirmann
Matt, himself, recently returned from leading a trip to El Salvador where he was touring sponsors to get “eyes on” the way that their child sponsorships are having an impact.
I was just down in El Salvador last week co-leading a Sponsor Tour and played with one of the teams last week a little ad hoc as part of the sponsor visit to that particular development center. Short story – our centers and the teams (the centers that have them) are short on balls.
Matt, talking on the need for their centers to have soccer balls for the children
Compassion’s team will feature professional female players from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) touring the centers in El Salvador. The balls will be part of the team’s ability to hand out and spend time with the children in play.
Compassion’s request is the 10th project for 2019 and the first time we have supported a project for El Salvador.
Remember, when you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help projects and requests like this one for Compassion International. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/compassionelsalvador.jpg156324Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-10-31 05:00:282019-10-29 17:41:04Compassion to El Salvador
Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, one of the partner churches for Soccer Chaplains United, is headed out to Juarez, Mexico. The church has been serving and working together with Iglesia Maranatha for many years and this annual trip has become a traditional outreach for families to go and serve others. Cherry Creek’s request will be the 9th community project of 2019 that is sponsored by Soccer Chaplains United.
One of this year’s team members, Jacob Smith, shares what the experience is like and what he and other members of the team are looking forward to:
The team of Juarez 2019 consists of more than twenty-five people, some of which are included in families, others that are traveling to Juarez without their related family but are still traveling with their church family. The leader of the team (Parker Dragovich) has been going to this small church, in Juarez for more than twenty-five years, she has a strong relationship with many people there, and because of this, our giant church in Cherry Creek, USA has a great relationship with the small local church in Juarez, Mexico.
The mission starts about month before we actually leave for the trip, with a full team meeting in witch we discuss a typical day during the trip, jobs, packing list, and what goals we hope to accomplish while there.
This year, the CCPC Juarez team has requested 5 soccer balls and 40-50 t-shirts or jerseys and soccer ball pumps. Below is a picture of what Soccer Chaplains United is able to provide.
Soccer Chaplains United is able to provide nearly 300 soccer t-shirts and 7 new soccer balls
We leave for the trip on Saturday morning at 4:00 am, we drive for about 10-12 hours until we reach El Paso, Texas and have dinner. We then drive for about half an hour, across the border to Iglesia Maranatha the local church and compound we will be staying in for the week. Upon reaching the church, our team unloads the baggage and finds the rooms we will be staying in, and by rooms I mean a concrete roof , floor, and walls, with no doors. There are no furnishings beside ply wood bunks that threaten to collapse when you put any weight on them. After we find our rooms, we have a meeting with the pastor and his family, and then go to bed.
Pictures from 2017 — CCPC shares jerseys down in Juarez before a local game of soccer
The next day, our team, and many of the people in the congregation, carpool to go to the nearby park where we have an competitive soccer game with the local people and enjoy a delicious lunch. This is the time when everybody grows in community with one another and launches a great start to a great week.
Please pray for Jacob Smith and the rest of the 2019 Juarez Mission Team from Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church while they work and serve with the church at Iglesia Maranatha.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_8839-e1570467517132.jpg19201440Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-10-10 08:00:252019-10-07 11:12:14CCPC to Visit Friends at Iglesia Maranatha
This past Sunday, I got to catch up with Larry and Micah Koorneef, a week from being back from Cambodia. Jet-lag over, they expressed gratefulness for the soccer balls and shirts that they were able to take over to the orphans in Cambodia. They also enjoyed meeting Setan Lee and observing and working alongside him and his ministry TransformAsia. Micah even became the new drone pilot for Setan as he video recorded the different facilities and work for the ministry!
Micah, made a travel journal during his trip. Here is the entry from the day that they handed out gear to the children at the orphanage:
Day 7: Today is Monday. The kids are clingy and won’t stop touching you–very tiring but so fun. They really like to “pet” my dad because he has hairy legs, face, neck, and arms. The kids love to hug and play physical games even when they are completely drenched with sweat. I have never sweat as much in my life as I have this trip.
I am really enjoying playing with the younger kids here. We also went to the farm that is part of the ministry and provides food for the David’s Center. I learned and saw a lot. I got to teach the kids about David and Goliath. Setan translated and then I had the kids act out the story. It was great!
Oh, and today we got to share some of the Rapids’ gear that we packed. The shirts were large on the kids, but it was fun to share. I think they will end up being re-gifted to the older kids and staff who will enjoy them more. That’s ok because we did bring some other clothes that will fit the younger ones better. They use a lot of clothes each day because they sweat so much!
Micah Koorneef
Micah hands out shorts and t-shirts from the Rapids to the children at David’s Orphanage, part of the TransForm Asia work in Cambodia.
During the trip, both Micah and his father, watched and played with the kids games and sports. Soccer and volleyball are favorites among the children. Some additional photos from the trip are below:
A brand new, one-world play ball sees its first use and action
When you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_5979.jpg14401920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-09-12 06:00:092019-09-09 16:09:21Coming back from Cambodia
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 the field to meet the kids. After meeting the people who came, they had the opportunity to give their new friends the gift of Rapids jerseys. They continued to grow their relationships with the people who came by playing two soccer games.
The boys of Uganda pose with some new soccer gear from Soccer Chaplains United and the Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church team from this past summer.
After the games were finished, the team gathered and sat on the field. One of the YFC staff members and Chris Piehl, the CCPC youth pastor, shared the Gospel and gave people the opportunity to put their faith in Christ. Slowly, two of the boys raised their hands. Pastor Chris led them in a prayer to accept Christ into their lives. He also gave them each a Bible that the team had brought.
One moment that stood out to the team happened as they were driving back to the guest house. After loading onto the bus, and driving away, the team noticed that one of the boys with a Bible was excitedly reading his Bible as he walked away from the field with a group of boys.
We are grateful for the ways our ministry was expanded by the opportunity to give people Rapids jerseys. Giving away the jerseys was a way for us to show the community in Matugga our love for them, and point them to the love of Christ. As the people who came to play soccer with us continue to wear their jerseys, their jerseys serve as a constant reminder of our enjoyable time with them and the message of Christ’s infinite love for them
Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church Trip Participant
When you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
*A CCPC team member contributed the content for this article; it has been edited and formatted for use here by Soccer Chaplains United.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/K09A1139.jpg12801920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-08-22 17:00:432022-05-09 22:25:11CCPC in Uganda
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Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
Other external services
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
Privacy Policy
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
