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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.

Hearts for Haiti

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Six friends are heading out on a journey to be part of what God is doing in northern Haiti. Matthew Hulst, an urban missionary with Urban Skye and leader with Coram Deo — Lafayette will be part of a group that will head to Haiti between June 13-23. The team will be helping launch a long term soccer ministry in Cap-Haïtien. The project will be lead by local Haitian leaders who have a heart to disciple and mentor youth and the team orienting from Colorado will come alongside to aid and support the launch. Hurst shared with me,

Their vision is to use soccer to plant seeds of hope and empower the youth to future embrace their role as future influencers in Haiti.

Matthew Hulst, Trip Leader

The team will be partnering with a couple local non-profit organizations including the local expression of YWAM and a ministry called Street Hearts Haiti. YWAM will help facilitate the soccer ministries and is led by local Haitians. Street Hearts Haiti is a street kids home that the team will focus on with hope to organize a soccer team from these group of orphans for a local tournament.

Currently, Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and there is a lot of political, societal, and spiritual brokenness. The youth the team is going to invest in are among the poorest in the nation, it is estimated that in this region a family of six will gross under $800 per year. A number hard to imagine that is even possible. The team is expecting the local tournament that they will help to setup will, itself, involve 100-150 young men and many younger kids for soccer camps during the day.

In addition to playing soccer and providing meals for attendees, the team will be looking to share the Gospel in various ways each day. Further, by working with these local organizations the team is hopeful to develop long-term relationships and be able to provide discipleship. Hulst further shared,

Our desire and prayer for this time is to invest hope, identity, and love into the youth who will be involved in these soccer programs.

Matthew Hulst, Team Leader

To make all this happen the team is in need of financial support. The teams looking to raise funds for the clinics and tournament. In addition to financial donations, the team is collecting old uniforms and other soccer equipment to bring to Cap-Haïtien.

Specific to the request from Soccer Chaplains United, the team is looking for the following donations: 15 soccer balls, 4 sets of jerseys (adult sizes), shin guards / socks (as many as possible), 4 pairs of goalie gloves, 4 goal keeper uniforms, stop watches, corner flags, 4 sets of pennies, cones.

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!

Ecuador on the Horizon

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Two years ago, a group of students, parents, and sponsors from Colorado Springs Christian Schools (CSCS) headed to Quito, Ecuador. Their mission trip team partnered with Inca Link Ecuador and their soccer ministry, Cumbre Alta.   Inca Link has a massive vision — they desire to reach the 300+ million youth in Latin America with Christ’s irresistible love. The national Inca Link organizations do this through evangelism and discipleship, training leaders, connecting people, and compassion ministries. They are devoted to helping the least of these in Latin America.

This year, a group of students who attend CSCS will again be looking to come alongside and serve the needs Inca Link has in their ministries, specifically in Ecuador. Jason Rollins, CSCS Athletic Director and coach of both the girls and boys soccer teams will again lead the team in Ecuador.

Part of the trip will include the CSCS students working with Casa Deportiva Cumbre Alta.  CDCA is dedicated to reaching the highest level of Ecuadorian sports as the teams look to share Christ with those in their sphere of influence. They look to grow their soccer academies to be attractive to others in Ecuador and share about Jesus. Much of this is done through the success of the CDCA First Team. In their debut season last year, the First Team finished third, one spot away from being promoted to the next tier of Ecuadorian soccer. This year they hope to push into the top two and win promotion to the fourth tier. 

Our First Team is our best team, regardless of age, which will be trying to reach the highest levels of Ecuadorian soccer. The more athletic success our First Team has, the more the public will recognize Cumbre Alta and want to send their children to play in our Academy and club teams. As we reach the highest levels of Ecuadorian soccer, our goal is to help our players, and those who are in the clubs sphere of influence, take their next step with God, whatever that might be. We do this through team devotions and prayer, and through one-on-one time with our players.

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 CSCS student from 2017 talks with several Ecuadorian boys.

Not Your Usual Community Outreach

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Imagine getting the first bit of news: Sorry, we won’t be offering you a contract for the next season.. It’s okay. You’re young — well, late twenties in professional soccer isn’t exactly young, but you’ve still got some miles in the legs. But then the second bit of news follows, too closely: Sorry, your spouse has cancer. Pressures on. What to do. Insurance is ending as the contract expires on Dec 31. Next season, what team will take you on? How do you get a contract when your spouse needs help and support? And, oh by the way, your usual bills are still coming due — rent, utilities, and so on and so on. So what do you do? Where do you turn? Where do you go?

Unfortunately, this story is common in professional sport and this story in particular happened last year to a former player with the Rapids. The result? A flight back home — only what they could carry. Sell it all — the apartment furnishings, everything. Donate the rest. New chapter beginning. Hospitals and doctors and diagnoses are the new concern. Insurance. Support. GoFund Me pages. Because you’re never ready for cancer.

I have seen many times, the athletes and coaches that find themselves in the churn of the sport. The sport itself is nomadic. It is a transient lifestyle. There is little stability. There is less security. Sometimes you end up leaving in the middle of the night. Sometimes you leave behind a spouse and children to pack up the house and move to a new city, a different country. Sometimes you’re not paid — depending on the integrity of the club, or the league, or the national federation. Sometimes the insurance ends when the contract ends.

As a chaplain, we are called to help “cover” people that are vulnerable. We are called to help people pick up the broken pieces and shattered dreams of their lives and begin to piece it back together again, somehow, with God’s help. And one of the ways is by reminding people who they are and how much they are loved.

An assortment of boxes — left overs from someone’s story in Colorado heading back home

Well, I mentioned that this was a community project. But of a different type. Sending some personal items back to the player from the story above. For me, it’s about not having to lose “everything” — especially, memories and personal things left behind in the heat of the moment and the urgency of flight. It’s about trying to restore something that has been lost. It’s about reminding people that they are loved and held, not by us, but by God.

Thank you for your support of Soccer Chaplains United. When you give, a portion of your gift automatically goes to help needs within the soccer community. 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.

Community Request from Sadaya International

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Sadaya International may not be a familiar name, but its founders are familiar to Soccer Chaplains United. Thomas and Jamie Fahn, moved to Liberia last year (2018) and along with the move, L.I.F.E. (Liberian Institute For Empowerment) became Sadaya International. Sadaya translated means — “God’s grace” in the Goala dialect in Liberia.

Sadaya means “God’s grace”

Sadaya International has several programs and among them is the Sadaya Football Academy. Through football (soccer), Sadaya Football Academy seeks to use the power of sports to inspire, motivate, and encourage children and youth to stay out of trouble and focus their attention on things that will enable them to be successful. Sadaya recognizes that not all players will go on to earn a living from playing sports; therefore, the academy looks to provide other opportunities for players to get quality college preparatory education while learning their football skills. The academy’s youth sports program is for players (boys and girls) ages 6 through 19, and is designed to provide players with opportunities to learn technical and tactical skills that will enable them improve their soccer skills. As the players grow and improve, they are moved through the next age groups where they receive coaching tailored to their age and abilities. The final step of the process comes when they graduate from the U-19 team, where they are usually invited to join our premier team (Sadaya United) in Monrovia. 

The young boys from Sadaya Football Academy’s U-8 soccer team pose for a picture last year

Thomas shared that through last year’s generous donations, they have been able to successfully run the football academy.  They have been able to provide cleats to some of the players during training and games and the water coolers are being used to keep players hydrated during training and games in the oppressive 100-degree heat! T-shirts are being used for children in the scrimmages and games.

Sadaya’s U-12 Boys lineup for a drill

The needs here are tremendous. The number of players we expected to begin our academy program with has tripled, and parents are asking us on a daily basis to bring their kids to our soccer program…They are very passionate about the game because it provides them hope and happiness.  Born and raised in Liberia, I can truly identify with that feeling.  These kids come to practice every day with old beat-up shoes and some even come barefooted.  All they want to do is play soccer.

Thomas Fahn

In a recent Facebook Messenger call, Thomas shared with me that the biggest needs right now are for balls and cleats. The field conditions are so difficult that often, these items, are ruined or destroyed after just a short time. Additionally, many of the families are poor and cannot afford the soccer equipment.

One World Balls (blue) complement the typical soccer ball and usually last much longer than traditional soccer balls which easily deflate with the harsh field conditions.

Soccer Chaplains United’s community project will look to supply cleats and balls for Sadaya Football Academy. Some of the logistical considerations include the time and cost of shipping items to Liberia — with the cheapest way usually via container.

Boys in the football academy stay hydrated with a water cooler from last year’s request

Remember, when you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help projects and requests like this one for Sadaya 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!

Community Request from Y Quien Habla Por Mí

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Soccer Chaplains United’s first community project request fulfillment of 2019 came last week as one of the directors of Y Quien Habla Por Mí was in Colorado visiting me and my family. Nasser Moreno and I became friends a few years ago when my family was in Juarez, Mexico on a family mission service project. Nasser, a former football (soccer) player, happened to be visiting his family in Juarez at the time and we hit it off.

Nasser and I met in October 2017 in Juarez, MX

Last year, Nasser and his uncle and aunt came to the U.S. for a visit. We ended up hosting him for a number of days. Between my broken Spanish and his broken English we have managed to form a friendship that is perhaps the unlikeliest, or in the least not one that I would have expected. And not only has Nasser become my friend, but one dearly loved by my family. As we caught up via text message around Christmas, we had the idea of having Nasser come out to Colorado again and spend time with our family.

Nasser and I pose outside the front gate of Garden of the Gods in CO, 2019

It was on this latest trip, that Nasser began to share more of his work with Y Quien Habla Por Mí. This foundation is quite rare in Mexico. According to the website, it is one of the first of its kind to be dedicated to be dedicated to eradicating various violations against children. Whether it is crimes such as human trafficking, kidnapping, disappearances, child pornography, or other means of exploitation. The foundation has several programs and is involved in an amber alerting system similar to here in the U.S.

The children of Y Quien Habla Por Mí are involved in many programs aimed at bringing comfort and healing after they have been hurt and wounded.

One of the programs includes using soccer (fútbol). Nasser helps to direct the soccer programs and for the associated orphanage in the Iztapalapa neighborhood in Mexico City. There are approximately 70+ children that are in the orphanage in a given time and usually hundreds others that are participating in the sports programs.

At one point during Nasser’s visit, he turned to me, “you can help the childrens, if you want?” I could see in his eyes that he was hopeful for these children that have no hope. He explained that there is little support in Mexico for these kinds of things — many children endure abuse and other exploitations and are left abandoned and alone, especially in Mexico City.

You can help the childrens, if you want?

– Nasser Moreno, March 2019

We spent a couple hours going through bins in the garage — pulling out uniforms and soccer gear donated by the Rapids and other soccer organizations. We loaded up two bags full of soccer gear. With various jerseys and shorts we sent Nasser back with about 100 lbs. of gear to give back to the children and those working with Y Quien Habla Por Mí.

Remember, when you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help projects and requests like this one for Y Quien Habla Por Mí. 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!

Community Project Update from Momentum FC India

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Our friends from Valor Christian High School and Momentum Global went to India earlier this year and requested soccer gear from Soccer Chaplains United.The trip which featured some students and teachers from Valor were visiting a Valor alumnus in effort to build out a more sustainable soccer program to reach out to the community and make a lasting impact.

Momentum FC wants to thank you for the generous gifts that were donated…We thank you for the amazing jerseys and soccer balls that [you] provided, which has been a great blessing to the club.

Click the link below for a pdf version of their message to us and see what Momentum is about and how the donations made an impact.

Momentum Global India Soccer Gear Report

Remember, when you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help projects and requests like this one for India. You can also 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 an individual or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

Students Grow in Unexpected Ways During Month In Guatemala

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Valor High School senior, Class of 2019, Colin Kemp spent the month of June in Guatemala with a team of his school peers and a few teachers and mentors.  Kemp shares about the trip from his perspective in this post.

The first two weeks in Atitlán were harder than any of us ever thought they would be. We launched our trip by studying for six hours in a Spanish school every day, 1 on 1 with a teacher.  We also empathized with the local residents after a volcano eruption changed the village, and even took the lives of many families.  We struggled not knowing what to say or do to show them how we cared and were there for them emotionally, spiritually, and in as much of a physical sense as we could.

Kemp goes on to explain how the rest of the time in Zacapa unfolded.

We filled the remaining weeks with sweating with everything we had in us to play with the kids and do construction for local churches by day, then pouring into the lives of those who have never seen the true love of Christ by night.

As a team, we were there for each other and supported one another in the midst of some of the most challenging moments we’ve faced in our short lives.  We also built each other up by loving one another in the midst of our greatest joys and laughs. This trip was more than just an everlasting memory to me, says Kemp, it was an experience that will forever change the way I love on friends and family that deserve it, and it will impact how I show the unconditional love of Christ to those who have never seen his beauty.

To support future ventures like this, please donate through PushPay — simply select “Timothy Project” from the selectable funds to contribute to.  Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor an individual or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

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One Child Matters Takes Soccer Gear to Hundreds of Children

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In May of this year, One Child Matters (OCM) sent a team of 11 workers, including the president of the organization, to Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  The purpose of the trip was to witness the impact of child sponsorship firsthand and to deliver soccer equipment.

This was the first time Soccer Chaplains United and One Child Matters have been able to partner.  These ministries were brought together by Soccer Chaplains United Chaplain Kurt Trempert, who chaplains the Colorado Springs Switchbacks based in Colorado Springs, CO.  By partnering with Soccer Chaplains United, we were able to provide an unexpected surprise for the children, who typically visit the Hope Center for a hot meal, help with their school work, spiritual teaching, and other activities.

One Child Matters in Honduras has 34 Hope Centers with 4,190 registered children. We were able to deliver soccer equipment to four Hope Centers, three in Tegucigalpa and one in Choluteca. A total of 694 children attend these Hope Centers.

The uniforms were a hit for both boys and girls. They were very excited and thankful that they now look like a more official team. Our staff in Honduras regularly organizes soccer tournaments in which the various Hope Centers compete with each other. These uniforms and equipment will be a great benefit for future competitions. Thank you Soccer Chaplains United for making a dream come true.

To support this specific request for One Child Matters, or future ventures like this, please donate through PushPay — simply select “Timothy Project” from the selectable funds to contribute to.  Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor an individual or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

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Soccer Chaplains United Partner, Cherry Creek Pres, Goes Back to Ghana

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In 14 years we have sent ten mission trips and helped to establish 42 churches, explains Helen Grace Norblom,  who works with Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in the kids@creek department.  In a few weeks, we will be sending another group of missionaries to continue to serve villages in Ghana.

Our service will include running a Vacation Bible School (VBS) program for kids and supporting their villages. This VBS program will involve Biblical lessons and time for kids to play and participate in fun activities. We hope to impart a message about God’s presence in their everyday lives and His unconditional love for all of His children.

While participating in VBS, we also provide the children and their parents with meals and shelter in a nearby school since many of them are coming from distant villages. Most of the adults who come are mothers and during VBS there will be programs for them as well. They will receive training in vocational studies, parenting, marriage, and basic self-care practices among other things to help improve their lives.

Part of our goal is to extend our reach beyond the children and adults who attend our program. We will teach lessons that we hope they will relay to their community members. We would also like to send soccer equipment with them to bring back to their villages.

Another part of our service to these villages is through fundraising to build wells and schools. The task of funding, building, and incorporating a well in these village can be immensely challenging. The cost can range from $5,000 to $7,000 which we raise through monthly donations and fundraising events. Even after a well is paid for and constructed, some villagers may be wary of using it because they have grown so accustomed to traveling to a farther, often less safe location for their water. This is where the importance of our longstanding relationships come in and allows us to reassure and encourage people to make use of the safer and more accessible source.

Through these various programs and services we will reach upwards of 400 people in Ghana and provide them with important resources – both physical and spiritual.

To support this specific request for Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, or future ventures like this, please donate through PushPay — simply select “Timothy Project” from the selectable funds to contribute to.  Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor an individual or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

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Creek Goes to Ethiopia to Work With Hope for the Fatherless

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Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, a Soccer Chaplains United church partner, is sending a team (including Senior Pastor Brad Strait, his wife, Soccer Chaplains United board member Darren Dragovich’s family, and Children’s Ministry staffer Lea Wright) to visit Hope for the Fatherless, a Christian ministry that serves orphaned and vulnerable children in Ethiopia.

Hope for the Fatherless strives to create a culture of adoption and orphan care worldwide by working in and through local communities. The team from Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church will be ministering to the children who are part of HFTF’s group homes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There are ten children in each home.

Bontu will get to meet her sponsoring family

In addition, the team will also visit one of the children who are sponsored by the Dragovich Family through Compassion International. Bontu lives about an hour outside of the capital and attends a Compassion project site that serves over 200 kids. These children are from difficult and impoverished situations.

The Cherry Creek Team is bringing gifts including school and crafting supplies and jump ropes to the Compassion site. They are also requesting some One World Play Soccer Balls to provide HFTF and Compassion opportunities to continue their work with these children. The team is looking forward to using soccer to provide a chance to easily cross language and cultural barriers and engage in a fun, loving, and meaningful ways with the children from both organizations.

Specific Request:

  • 7 soccer balls
  • 18 youth jerseys

To support this specific request for Hope for the Fatherless, or future ventures like this, please donate through PushPay — simply select “Timothy Project” from the selectable funds to contribute to.  Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor an individual or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

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