General news and information about Soccer Chaplains United including newly formed partnerships, news on the different teams and communities being served, and upcoming events for donors, partners, and communities.
I had the privilege of being interviewed by Chad Burmeister on the You Matter to Christ podcast which recently aired. The interview, about 30 min long, had me reflecting on a bit of my own journey as a chaplain and as a Christian. One of the most interesting questions that Chad asked me was, “What would the younger self say to my self today?” I usually have pondered this question in reverse and I felt like this was a great twist to a common way of reflecting. You’ll have to listen to the podcast to hear what I said!
You can hear the podcast here. It is also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and other listening apps, you can find it by searching YOU MATTER To Christ in your favorite app, or by clicking this link to Apple Podcasts or this link to Google Podcasts.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/image.jpeg492940Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-12-19 00:00:002024-07-08 23:44:01Brad Kenney Guest on the You Matter To Christ Podcast
We’d like to say thank you to everyone who took part in the ColoradoGives Day and made a gift to Soccer Chaplains United. From November 1 to December 5, Soccer Chaplains United was able to raise $5,057 through the ColoradoGives Day program toward its year end fundraising needs.
Currently, we are estimating a deficit of about $10,000 as we pass the midway point of December.
Thank you for considering giving a year-end gift toward our organization and work if you have not already.
Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work. Our chaplains are not employed or paid by any of the clubs that we serve. Check out our Donation Page with all the different options. Or, simply click the PushPay link below to make a secure, online, tax-deductible gift, or mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081, Denver, CO 80250.
Today, I am really pleased to announce the volunteer Tacoma Defiance chaplain, Jubal McDaniel, will become the West Coast Chaplaincy Manager for Soccer Chaplains United. The role will “officially” begin January 1, 2024, but in truth, Jubal has been doing the work for some time.
With the chaplain growth that we experienced in 2023 (8 chaplains and 40% growth), the importance of continuing to support our existing chaplains and continue to discover and develop new chaplains is leading to this new organizational structure augmentation. As “Chaplain Manager,” Jubal will be tasked to 1) support chaplains within the Pacific timezone and 2) work to discover and develop out new chaplains for new chaplain opportunities that arise.
Jubal joined Soccer Chaplains United three years ago (in late 2020). In that time, he has grown in the role serving the Defiance as well as with Soccer Chaplains United. Jubal has gone back to Liberty University to also grow in his professional development, taking on courses in chaplaincy and sports chaplaincy to grow in his understanding and work to serve the team and the Beautiful Game well. He finished a Master’s in Sports Chaplaincy earlier this May.
Mid-year, this year, I started to toy with the idea of having some “timezone” specific help. Interviewing candidates, inquiring about new opportunities and vacancies, and supporting existing chaplains for our growing ministry were all motivations behind the idea. Jubal was one of the first to raise his hand and I asked him to share more about his own thoughts behind diving in “deeper”:
I’m very encouraged by the growth of Soccer Chaplains United over the last 18 months. We have added a significant number of chaplains to our team, and continue to remain faithful to our common code of conduct, professional standards and the Lord. It is truly an honor and a blessing to have the opportunity to serve alongside Brad – by serving and caring for new and current chaplains.
Jubal, on seeing the growth and feeling called to become more involved
To offset the additional time and commitment, we are working to grow a stipend fund for the chaplain managers. But, for Jubal, it’s not so much been about funds or funding but seeing the value of the work and wanting to see the chaplaincy continue to grow.
It honestly makes me emotional to be serving in this way. I never dreamed I would be serving in professional soccer this way. Even when I joined SCU three years ago, I was amazed to simply have the opportunity to serve the Tacoma Defiance, but the Lord had another plan. Starting in Tacoma and now being able to serve the west coast is an incredible blessing!
Jubal, on seeing the Lord grow and expand his own heart for the ministry
Jubal will work to raise additional support through Soccer Chaplains United. You can support his work by selecting Tacoma from the PushPay drop down fund. Visit our Donate page to have quick access to other links and learn where you might also mail checks in support of Jubal and his work in Tacoma and beyond.
Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy service across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work. Simply click the PushPay (the big P) link below to make a secure, online, tax-deductible gift, or mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081, Denver, CO 80250.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_3226.jpg640960Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-12-15 00:00:002024-07-08 23:44:04McDaniel to Lead Up West Coast
The 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup final between Argentina and France was a game for the ages with an intense battle that saw Lionel Messi’s Argentina win in penalties after a hard fought game. If you watched the finale, you know that this was some amazing soccer to behold.
We want to celebrate the Beautiful Game and last year’s FIFA Men’s World Cup, to do so we are reducing our 2022 devotional ebook to $.99 from Friday, December 15 through Monday, December 18th!
Soccer coaches, executives, athletic directors and chaplains are encouraged to email us at info@soccerchaplainsunited.org for information on bulk rate discounts on the paperback versions.
Remember that our revision of the devotional is also available on Amazon (and here’s a hint in advance: we’re making the ebook free on Christmas Day).
Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our chaplains and our work. Check out our Donate page for different giving options.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-11-at-11.04.22 AM.png9281810Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-12-14 00:00:002024-07-08 23:44:07World Cup 2022 Devotional EBooks Reduced to $.99 For the Next 4 Days!
While it doesn’t happen all of the time, I often find a lot of joy in “pulling” soccer gear for a Community Project request. Sometimes, as I am counting out jerseys or soccer balls it amazes me how close the number often come to the original request and the latest from Walnut Middle School was no exception.
The request which came in last month asked for 50 soccer balls, 50 soccer jerseys, and a number of goalkeeper sets (shirts and shorts). It was tense as I counted out recent shirt sizes specific to the program — not every number matched but it was amazing at how close we got to fulfilling even the specific sizes that Coach Duran and I discussed. For me, there’s always a bit of prayer that goes into it — I just imagine that God is going to use the gift of these jerseys to bless someone in need and to make His name known.
Colorado Rapids Academy Jerseys are headed to Grand Isle, Nebraska and Walnut Middle School
But even after receiving the Community Project request, a question remained: how to get the gear to Nebraska? Well, I reached out to friends and supporters of the ministry who live in Wray, Colorado. Wray is “out of the way” up in the Northeast corner of Colorado. Lo and behold, they were heading to Kearney, NE only 40 miles away from Grand Isle for Thanksgiving! They offered to take the gear — for me it took a day to drive out and back, but well worth it to spend time with some college friends and wonderful supporters of me and the ministry.
The final fulfillment looks like the following:
125 soccer balls (sizes 3, 4, and 5)
51 jerseys of various adult and youth sizes
50 long sleeve shirts various adult and youth sizes
5 Goalkeeper sets
Remember, 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 cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_2567-scaled.jpg19201440Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-12-07 00:00:002024-07-10 23:35:36Walnut Middle School Fútbol Fulfillment
Note: This request originally came in June of 2023 and was fulfilled in July 2023; however, a story was not published at the time. This story is a “catch-up” and photos and a final update will follow shortly.
Hope For the Fatherless (HFTF) is on a mission in Ethiopia. Believing that children belong in families, not institutions, Hope for the Fatherless rescues orphaned and vulnerable children and places them into loving homes through reunification, kinship placement, domestic adoption, and small group homes.
Currently HFTF has 30 children in its small group homes, 18 children in the sponsorship program (receiving educational, medical, and other support with their single moms so they do not become orphans), and dozens of children in the adoption program who are in the process of being placed with their forever families.
The Dragovich family (Darren, former Soccer Chaplains United Board Member) has been heavily invested into Hope For the Fatherless. Two of the Dragovich daughters, Reese and Sydney, both served as interns for the ministry in the US during high school and have traveled to Ethiopia multiple times. With a long relationship with HFTF kids and staff when the opportunity arose to spend five weeks there this past summer, both girls jumped at the chance.
Reese has been helping HFTF to develop a social media plan and gather film and photo material to use in the ministry, while Sydney (who will be studying Social Work in college) has worked with HFTF social workers in the adoption program.
Last year (2022), during Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church’s trip to Ethiopia, Soccer Chaplains United gifted HFTF with an assortment of soccer jerseys. The kids were so excited to put them on—even the little 5 year old whose shirt came down to his ankles! The kids felt special, blessed, and loved. This year, when Reese and Sydney arrived for their internships, the teenage boys at Faith House were excited to share that they have officially formed a HFTF soccer team that competes in games around the city!
There are ten teenage boys on the team (who all live at Faith House) and three younger boys (from Hope House) who help out.
Specifically, HFTF has requested the following:
13 uniform sets
Remember, 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 cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HFTF-White-Logo.jpg.webp302584Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-11-16 00:00:002024-07-08 23:44:20Hope For The Fatherless 2023 Request Team Gear
In celebration of the beginning of the Advent season (November 15), Soccer Chaplains United’s devotional ebook, The Light is Coming, will be free on Amazon, tomorrow. The Light is Coming is our rewrite and revision of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup devotional offering, is now available on Amazon globally via the link above.
It has been one year since we wrote for the Men’s World Cup. This devotional has been edited and re-written to remove time references, make it less “2022 World Cup” centric, and to also make it easier for individuals and teams to utilize in any 8-week span.
The eight, weekly themes match the Advent and Christmas season and fit nicely with a reading plan for this particular time of the year.
The 2022 World Cup devotional remains available for sale on Amazon and in the Spanish and Portuguese languages as well. Follow the links below to view those:
Rev Cesar Duran has served with Soccer Chaplains United for some eight years and now lives in Nebraska, close to his son, César. His son is soon to begin his seventh year as a coach at Walnut Middle School in Grand Isle, Nebraska. The school is school is a Title I school — meaning that the majority of students are on a free or reduced lunch background.
Coach César serves a team of 100+ players along with 3 assistant coaches and two volunteers. When he took over in 2019, the team saw about 60 players come try out. Each year that number has grown. As a school team, for many of the students, this will be the last time they will ever play for an actual team.
As a Title I school, the sports programs require doing fundraisers for equipment or finding unique ways of getting more gear with limited funding and resources.
Our team has had the same practice balls for 6 years. The school is doing its best to purchase new soccer balls and last year we received 10 new ones, but it is a challenge with such a large number of players.
Coach César, on the limited resources for Walnut Fútbol
For Coach César, it’s more than just about fútbol (soccer). He shares about how he is trying to use the game to help these young men.
We share the love to the players by having lessons and conversations on the stereotypes of being a young man. Our students and athletes have challenges with gangs, drugs and the pressure of the young boys having to show off to “survive”… We also work with them on conversations about careers and preparing as they start their high school days…We only get two years to be with them but our connections have stayed with them and many of them come back for games and practices.
Coach César, on the importance of making an impact on the young boys’ lives
Specifically, Coach César has requested the following:
50 soccer balls
50 jerseys
Goalkeeper sets
Remember, 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 cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ed4b038f-e29e-4b1f-bbda-cd3ac0abe43b.jpg12801600Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-11-09 00:00:002024-07-08 23:44:27Walnut Middle School Fútbol Finding Ways
The Light is Coming, our rewrite and revision of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup devotional offering, is now available on Amazon globally via the link above.
With a year, now, gone by since we wrote for the special version and timing of the Men’s World Cup — we’ve re-written the devotional to remove time references, make it less “2022 World Cup” centric, and make it easier for individuals and teams to utilize in any 8-week span.
Readers can still use it during the season of Advent and Christmas. The eight, weekly themes match the season’s usual progressive topics.
The 2022 World Cup devotional remains available for sale on Amazon and in the Spanish and Portuguese languages as well. Follow the links below to view those:
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/326CEB33-A960-4BDD-BE75-20044E5BC427-2-scaled.jpg19201080Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-11-06 15:00:002024-07-08 23:44:32The Light is Coming — Now Available on Amazon
A generous donor has offered a $500 matching donation for new donations to finish out the month of October. From now until the end of October, any donations or gifts toward the General Fund from individuals who have not given during 2023 will be matched up to $500.
Rev Brad Kenney and Soccer Chaplains United are working to raise over $37k by the end of 2023 to come in on budget and continue the work into 2024 and beyond. Gifts made to the General Fund go to support Brad’s salary and the overall operating costs of Soccer Chaplains United, including the generalized support of the 27 other chaplains that comprise the group.
Thank you for your consideration toward a gift to help us maximize this month’s match. Be on the lookout through the month of November and December for additional giving opportunities to help advance the work and mission of Soccer Chaplains United.
Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work. Our chaplains are not employed or paid by any of the clubs that we serve. Check out our Donation Page with all the different options. Or, simply click the PushPay link below to make a secure, online, tax-deductible gift, or mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081, Denver, CO 80250.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kkv-gyuczf4.jpg10671600Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-10-24 10:00:002024-07-08 23:47:36Donation Match To End Ministry Appreciation Month of October
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