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Timothy Project: Valor Costa Rica 2018 – Return to Tamarindo

Timothy Project: Valor Costa Rica 2018 will see Coach Brian Shultz return to Tamarindo, Costa Rica with his Valor Christian High School soccer players for a second time this March.  Soccer Chaplains United Executive Director, Brad Kenney, will join the team which consists of 20 players and eight leaders from the school’s soccer programs.  Kenney serves as the Valor Boys Soccer Chaplain.

During their time in Tamarindo, Kenney and the team will build two houses for selected needy families and reach out to the local community through soccer camps and clinics.

Coach Shultz shares why the return trip,

This is our second trip, and we intend to repeat this trip annually or bi-annually. Last year’s trip was an amazing experience, and we hope and pray God will work again in our lives and the lives of those we serve. Tamarindo has gone from being a small fishing village 20+ years ago, to now, it is more of a small, sleepy surfing and tourist town. Behind the tourism, a lot of poverty exists among the locals. Valor Soccer is partnering with Casa Vida Church and Pastor Alex Bejarano to build “Mercy” homes for needy families that the church has identified.

The Valor soccer players will be able to share their love of soccer with the local children.  The poverty is great so adequate soccer gear is not a reality for the people of Tamarindo.  Shultz explains how the Timothy Project donations will be used,

We will be reaching out through soccer camps and clinics where we hope to distribute soccer gear to the many children who do not have shoes, cleats, shin guards, or even soccer balls. We also hope to support the local coaches with gear. In the evenings we will do soccer clinics and play FUTCINCO where we will also distribute gear to our opponents and pray with them after the games.

Coach Shultz (far) previews the collected soccer equipment during the team’s pack day in 2017.

To partner again with the Valor Christian High School soccer teams on their spring Discovery Trip is a priviledge for Soccer Chaplains United.  Timothy Project was able partner with the team last year by giving them socks and jerseys and coaches gear.

To support Timothy Project: Valor Costa Rica 2018 or future Timothy Project ventures 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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Timothy Project: Liberia 2018 – LIFE Relocates

The most recent Timothy Project request, Timothy Project: Liberia 2018, will feature a massive change for the Liberian Institute for Empowerment (LIFE). LIFE is preparing to relocate to the heart and purpose of their organization, Liberia. Soccer Chaplains United has had the privilege of partnering with LIFE a number of times in the past few years (read previous stories here).  The work LIFE is doing in Liberia is changing the landscape of life and providing opportunities never before offered.

Thomas Fahn is the founder and executive director of LIFE.  He recently returned from Liberia and shares his plans as his family prepares to relocate from the US to the area.

L.I.F.E.’s goals is holistic community development in rural Liberia. We are specifically targeting youth sports a key component to our community development goals.

L.I.F.E. began as a result of a vision I had when I first moved to the USA for my college education. Born and raised in a village in rural Liberia, I intimately know the desperate conditions that the children and youth of rural Liberia are currently faced with. I faced those same obstacles and challenges and it’s my heart desire to be a blessing to them by giving them hope and the promise of a better future.

One of the areas we are currently focused on is youth sports, mainly soccer. I was in Liberia for the five months and recently returned to Colorado. I was amazed with the number of youth players we currently have in our soccer program in Liberia. Evidently, football is absolutely an integral part of the Liberian society. It is such an empowering and motivating tool that brings joy and happiness to most Liberian youth. In most villages in Liberia, simply showing up on a field with a soccer ball will win you instant access to many things. Most kids will go to school just for football.

While I was in Liberia, I ran a lot of soccer clinics with some of our youth teams, and I saw that most of them were in desperate need of training equipment such as boots, socks, balls. We also saw the deplorable conditions of the fields they play on. Our goal is to help them with equipment and build three soccer fields in the region. We will be using two for training purposes and one will be reserved for games. The cost of building these fields is $1500.00. Any assistance will be highly appreciated. And please feel free to contact me at any time for more details about our soccer program.

To support Timothy Project: Liberia 2018 or future Timothy Project ventures 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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Timothy Project: Nuevo Tantoan, MX – Final Update on Los Burritos

Chaplain Cesar Duran and his wife Andrea relocated from Denver to Laredo, Texas in the summer of 2017.  This meant Soccer Chaplains United and the Colorado Rapids had to say goodbye to their Spanish-speaking chaplain and translator, Cesar.  But this move brought the Durans closer to their home and opened new opportunities to explore.

Andrea Duran recently shared an update on the Timothy Project request they made last year before leaving Denver.

August 2, 2017, I had the opportunity to visit the “Burritos” soccer team of Nuevo Tantoan, Mante Mexico. That afternoon they were training on the field, and I gave them the donation from Soccer Chaplains United’s Timothy Project. This donation included a cooler, soccer balls, water bottles, and jerseys of the Colorado Rapids.

I shared with them the responsibilities of a chaplain. Some of the soccer players met my husband, former bilingual chaplain of Colorado Rapids, Cesar. They were talking about the Rapids and asked about Tim Howard and other players. I also shared with them the gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of the spiritual life. I explained to them how the Bible compares the care of the spiritual life with the effort of an athlete. For an athlete, it is most important to get the trophy and be the winner. This goal helps them to have discipline, train and spend a lot of time working with that in mind: be a champion! Many athletes sacrifice their families and many things, but to get the goal is the most important for them.

I shared with them about the love of God and all that God is offering to them. I also had the opportunity to listen to their dreams, victories, families, and goals. They also shared about the bad times on the field and their frustration as a soccer team. I prayed for them and motivated them to give the best from themselves in the next match.

After our time of visiting and encouraging one another, they opened the cooler and found the jerseys.  They were happy wearing their new jerseys.  All of them also were thankful and invited me to attend their next match. They also share words of thanksgiving for the Timothy Project donation. Thank you, Soccer Chaplains United, through the Timothy Project, for bringing happiness to my people in Mexico.

To support future Timothy Project ventures such as including Nuevo Tantoan, Mexico with our donations please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to. Your financial gift helps us purchase new equipment, sponsor a missionary 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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Colorado Springs Has A Community Coordinator

I have learned in this ministry work, that sometimes as you go along, you pick up people interested in what you do. Sometimes they want to financially give, other times they want to get involved and that’s exactly how we came across our new Community Coordinator for Colorado Springs, Cory Jones.

Cory was part of a team that made a request of our Timothy Project. He and team members from  Mountain Springs Church and Beyond Survival, made their way to Swaziland with several bags of soccer gear. What followed was a pricking of his heart as he asked, what more can be done?

I enjoy the very idea that I can support Soccer Chaplains United as they support local mission trips with equipment that will bless people and spread the Gospel.

Boys sport Colorado Rapids jerseys as part of the Timothy Project fulfillment in 2017

Cory, along with Pastor Rick Clapp and Beyond Survival, spent a couple of weeks serving and ministering in Swaziland. The donated gear went to help a local coach who runs a sports ministry. When Cory returned from Swaziland, it was a conversation with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Chaplain Kurt Trempert and another church leader that spurred Cory on to exploring, “What if,…” with Soccer Chaplains United. A few meetings later, steps taken to replicate the Community Coordinator and Timothy Project for the Colorado Springs area, and Soccer Chaplains United has grown another part of its ministry. Cory shared some of his own heart and desire for moving forward with Soccer Chaplains United,

As the organization grows, I look forward to working with local churches and business to garner support and look for way to support them moving forward.

Cory will serve in the Colorado Springs area to liaise and facilitate requests and gear donations. In addition to coordinating with the Denver-area Coordinator Erin Burmeister, Cory will help develop relationships with local church and soccer entities in the Springs area to help steward and hand off gear through the Timothy Project as well as developing other emerging community initiatives with the Chaplain Trempert.

As the Director of Soccer Chaplains United, it’s exciting to see growth in this area — it’s a natural outworking of our serving a local professional team and seeing the chaplaincy and care ministry grow and effect a local community.

You can read more about Cory Jones on his bio page.

If you are in the Colorado Springs area and want to become more involved with Soccer Chaplains United and our work there we are always looking for more financial and church partners to help continue to support the work and ministry. Please reach out to us at info@soccerchaplainsunited.org.

Timothy Project: One World Futbol, Play On….And On…

Timothy Project: Soccer Chaplains United has packaged and delivered soccer gear around the world, again and again.  Sometimes the gear goes to small, remote villages that are not represented on a map, other times the gear is distributed in cities with too many people to count.  Regardless of what we send, with whom we send it or to where it is going, we try to include at least a few One World Futbols.

One World Play Project is a B Corporation founded in 2010 by a man passionate to provide disadvantaged people around the world with the gift of play, more specifically play that does not deflate in the harsh environments of refugee camps, thorny vegetation, and glass-ridden playing fields.

One World Play Project has developed an indestructible futbol (soccer ball) that is capable of withstanding the harshest environments.  The ball can be punctured, driven over by a vehicle or weather any storm and still reinflate for play.

“The One World Futbol was just the beginning. The impact of our efforts showed us that the need for play was something much greater. We discovered play’s critical role in the lives of people all over the world—and where play can take us all tomorrow.”

Play is in our DNA—a need as important as food, medicine, and shelter. It’s an intrinsic part of our lives, regardless of geography or culture, and through play, we become stronger individuals, build better communities and create a more positive future,” One World Play Project website.

Soccer Chaplains United is honored to be able to include One World Futbols with our soccer gear donations.  To date more than 1.8 million balls have been donated/distributed to over 175 countries which has impacted an estimated 54 million youth.  (https://twitter.com/oneworldplayprj/status/921438327814815744)

To support future Timothy Project ventures such as including One World Futbols with our donations please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to. Your financial gift helps us purchase new equipment, sponsor a missionary 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!

#TPT

 

Timothy Project: CCPC Juarez 2017 Final Update

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Timothy Project: Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, Juarez 2017.  Soccer Chaplains United has a strong commitment to support ministry partners.  Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church of  Englewood, Colorado is a ministry partner so great efforts went into providing a robust Timothy Project donation when they requested it for their recent trip to Juarez, Mexico.

These reflections capture Emily Smith’s experience of her time on the trip:  Timothy Project generously donated many soccer-related items for our team of 35 from Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church to take with us on our recent mission trip to Juarez, Mexico.  Our church has been taking teams down to Juarez for nearly thirty years and it was a blessing to be a part of this year’s team.  So much of what we are doing while there is to support and encourage the local church with which we partner.

We strive to draw in as many people from the community as possible.  Soccer and games are instrumental in that effort.  Sharing the Timothy Project donations with the local church and community during a long and lively game of soccer at the city park one of the days we were there was such a delight.  We divided the shirts and jerseys between the two teams of players and continued on with our game, enjoying it all the more because of the gifts. Chaplain Brad Kenney, director of Soccer Chaplains United and a team member for Juarez shared,

 

It’s always amazing to me how a round ball can break down so many barriers – age, gender, culture, language – we were all able to play and share in a fun game of soccer with people from the church.  Shouts of ‘aqui’ or ‘tranquilo’ throughout the game made our time memorable.

Later in the week, a particularly special blessing for us was getting to hear the church leaders tell us about the first mission trip they took as a church last year into Mexico City and surrounding impoverished areas.  After many years of receiving the love and encouragement of our church’s mission to them, they were inspired to do the same and go out and support a church in their own country on a mission trip.  We gathered together one night for them to show us a slideshow of pictures from their trip and to hear more about how they were impacted by it.  We surprised them at the end of that evening with more Timothy Project gifts, but these were for them to give on their next mission trip. Parker Dragovich, team lead for this year’s trip, shared about the church,

We have been in partnership with La Iglesia Maranatha for almost 30 years, and the Timothy Project has been a wonderful addition the past several years.  What made this particularly special is that the Timothy Project not only provided us with supplies for our trip but also supplies for the Juarez church to take on their own mission trip to southern Mexico next summer.

 

Sharing soccer jerseys and gear with them during our fun day at the park was sweet but how much sweeter it was to give them a gift that they could pass along.  The truth that it is better to give than to receive was written all over their faces as they teared up with joy from the blessing they would be able to pass on to others.  Thank you, Timothy Project, for your generosity and work in stewarding gifts and allowing us to use those gifts to bless others.

To support future Timothy Project ventures such as this one to Juarez, Mexico please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to. Your financial gift helps us purchase new equipment, sponsor a missionary 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!

#TPT

Liyana and Soccer Chaplains United

This week at the Denver Film Festival, in its 40th anniversary, local Colorado filmmakers Aaron and Amanda Kopp co-produced and directed film Liyana is being played and has a special connection to Soccer Chaplains United.

In 2016, Tim Rogers made a special Timothy Project request as he and his fiancé, Tiersa planned to honeymoon in Swaziland. Tiersa had worked at an orphanage in Swaziland and the plan was to take down soccer gear for the children of the orphanage and run some soccer camps. You can read the story on our former website by clicking here.

That same orphanage is where the story of Liyana is born.

*Liyana is a Swazi girl who embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue her young twin brothers. This animated African tale is born in the imaginations of five orphaned children in Swaziland who collaborate to tell a story of perseverance drawn from their darkest memories and brightest dreams. Their fictional character’s journey is interwoven with poetic and observational documentary scenes to create a genre-defying celebration of collective storytelling.

(*from the film’s website)

If you have a chance to see the film, you will get a deeper understanding of the children and their lives that are touched through projects and programs like Soccer Chaplains United’s Timothy Project.

Thank you for your support of the Timothy Project — you help make a difference in the lives of children around the world!

To support future Timothy Project ventures please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to. Your financial gift helps us purchase new equipment, sponsor a missionary 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!

#TPT

Timothy Project Donations – How the Gear Gets From Here to There

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Long before Soccer Chaplains United begins to pull gear for a trip, many things are happening to plant the seeds that will grow into a bounty of blessings in a far-off land.

When a church partner or organization is in the planning stages of a mission trip they first determine if taking along soccer gear will fit into their trip goals. If so, the group then decides if they have packing space to travel with the gear and do they have a place or group of people to whom the gear will be given.

The group will then come to Soccer Chaplains United’s website and fill out a form formally requesting gear. In the form, they share details about their trip, which gear they’d like and how much they’re able to take. Once approved Soccer Chaplains United sets to work preparing for the give. Often times Soccer Chaplains United purchases new equipment due to the fact that not all items requested are donated, such as soccer balls or soccer nets.

Soccer Chaplains United will prepare in advance by gathering all the requested supplies to be delivered to the group’s Packing Party. At the Packing Party, a Soccer Chaplains United team member will formally present the gear with a talk and a prayer.

Soccer Chaplain United’s latest award was to church partner Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church for their annual trip down to Juarez, Mexico.

Reverend Brad Kenney presented the donations, which included coolers, jerseys, soccer balls, water bottles, cleats, socks, and t-shirts. He shared from where it all came and the spirit in which it was given to Soccer Chaplains United. He talked about the privilege it is for the Timothy Project to be involved in reaching the people of Juarez with these gifts.

As the Denver Community Coordinator, I was able to be in attendance and because Rev Kenney was going on the trip, he asked me to pray for the team, the trip, and the donations. This was a neat opportunity for me and is part of of what we value doing at Soccer Chaplains United — not just giving away gear, but blessing the people and groups who will give it and those who will receive it. My prayer over the team went something like this:

Father God, we praise You for this opportunity that this team of families from Cherry Creek Presbyterian Churchs has to travel to Juarez to work alongside the community and to bless them with this soccer gear that is before us.  Lord, we pray for strength and unity within the Cherry Creek Presbyterian team that they are able to represent the Body of Christ well.  We thank you for the gift of this soccer gear, let it be a blessing to all those who receive it in Juarez.

To support future Timothy Project ventures such as this one to Juarez, Mexico please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to. Your financial gift helps us purchase new equipment, sponsor a missionary 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!

#TPT

 

Timothy Project – Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church Juarez 2017

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Soccer Chaplains United’s Timothy Project is pleased to once again supply Colorado Rapids soccer donations to ministry partner, Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church as a team of 30 plans to cross the US/Mexico border into Juarez.  Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church has been working closely with the community in Juarez for several years and it is always a joy to partner with them when a team goes down each year.

As the years pass and teams continue to go travel to Juarez, relationships with the local residents continue to grow, continue to deepen.  Soccer is an integral reason for this.  Pick up soccer games are common morning, noon and evening and all are welcome to play, regardless ability and skill.  The Timothy Project has helped to build the bridge between Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church members and the people of Juarez.  Timothy Project gear opens the door for soccer to be played.

This year the team will consist of several families, many of whom have young children.  Most of these children have not experienced a cross-cultural opportunity that this trip will afford.  One young participant, Jacob Smith, shares his excitement as the travel date nears.

“My name is Jacob Smith. I am 11 years old and am headed to Juarez, Mexico with 30 other people from my church. This is my first mission trip. We are going to a small church to help them run a VBS program for their community and help with work projects such as building houses. I love soccer and have been playing since I was three years old. I am looking forward to reaching kids in Mexico by playing soccer with them. I can’t wait to make new friends and share soccer gifts from the Timothy Project with them. Thank you so much for supporting our trip and sharing with the kids in Juarez.”

Though the team asked for minimal donations, due to the extreme generosity of the Colorado Rapids supplying Soccer Chaplains United, through the Timothy Project, is able to send far more than they requested.  These pictures show the gathering of the gear that will travel with the team into Juarez.

To support future Timothy Project ventures such as this one to Juarez, Mexico please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to. Your financial gift helps us purchase new equipment, sponsor a missionary 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!

#TPT

Timothy Project – Liberia 2017 Final Update

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Timothy Project Liberia 2017 Update — Over 75 pairs of soccer cleats were gathered and sent with Thomas Fahn and his organization, Liberian Institute for Empowerment (L.I.F.E) in early summer of this year.  The cleats were gifted to Soccer Chaplains United, many from team donations but some from individual players.  They were an array of colors and sizes.  When all laid out on the field for the players to choose, it looked like a rainbow of colors, a rainbow of blessings.

When Fahn reached out to Soccer Chaplains United with a request for equipment, he shared the reality of the status of his soccer organization.

Right now, we are in desperate need of the following items in order to keep our soccer program going and to ensure its future success: * Uniforms – (youth sizes) 10 sets of jerseys minimum * Young adult soccer cleats (sizes 7-12) – 50 pairs minimum * Youth soccer cleats (sizes 4-7)– 40 pairs minimum * Training cones – 100 minimum * Youth training vests – 22 pieces minimum * Young adult training vests – 22 pieces minimum * Size 5 soccer balls – 30 minimum * Size 4 soccer balls – 20 minimum.

While Soccer Chaplains United was not able to fill his entire request, we were able to fulfill nearly all the soccer cleats, the jerseys and many of the soccer balls, among other items.  It has brought great joy and satisfaction to us at Soccer Chaplains United to see the cleats laid out on the field for players to choose.  Hopefully the same feelings of satisfaction will be felt by our supporters and those involved with Soccer Chaplains United.

Fahn has recently returned from Liberia and wrote to Soccer Chaplains United with these words, “Thanks a lot for standing along with us in providing our youth with hope through our soccer program. More than two hundred players benefited from the sporting equipment and they are very grateful for the kind gesture.”

To support future Timothy Project ventures, please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to. Your financial gift helps up purchase new equipment, sponsor a missionary 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!

#TPT

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