Blog

For the second year in a row, Soccer Chaplains United chaplains and board members will have an in-person retreat with a few zoom meeting moments during the annual Founder’s Retreat in scenic, Fairplay, Colorado, November 10 — 13.

Last year (2021), the retreat format and style was changed to include chaplains and board members after 2020 saw the retreat canceled due to the pandemic. Prior to 2020, the Board of Directors and chaplains had met in alternating years, but last year felt like an important time to mix both parts of the ministry for the sake of encouragement and support.

The Board of Directors retreat in 2019 had a vision and dream session facilitated by Dave Meserve. The Board also dove deep into each others hearts and lives and prayed about the future of the ministry together. The time together was important for establishing a “stabilizing” sense around the work of Soccer Chaplains United.

The chaplains retreat in 2018 was a guided retreat entitled “7 Stories.” The retreat time featured sharing meals and some fellowship times together and a deep dive into some of the personal stories that each chaplain brings with them into ministry.

The Founder’s Retreat is so named after the celebration day (November 11) for Saint Martin of Tours, to whom the origins of chaplaincy are credited. The retreat comes right at the tail end of the regular seasons for Major League Soccer, the United Soccer Leagues, as well as the National Women’s Soccer League.

Supporters of Soccer Chaplains United are encouraged to pray for the time spent amongst the chaplains and board members — for a time of renewal and refreshment.