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Jordan Rivera recently completed the process to being serving as a volunteer chaplain to New Mexico United, a team playing in the United Soccer League — Championship (USL-C) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. USL-C is part of the second division of professional soccer in the United States and New Mexico United has, historically, been one of the stronger and more exciting teams to play in the league independent of any Major League Soccer (MLS) club affiliations.

Jordan, originally from Ecuador, was tabbed by current volunteer chaplain Clint Moore to help assist with Spanish-speaking needs throughout the organization — from the first team through the academy. Growing up, Jordan enjoyed playing soccer but when his family moved from Ecuador to Argentina and then to the US — the call of God was heavy on his heart and he started to pursue a theological education and a deepening of his relationship with God.

Jordan has a heart for Jesus, the game of football, and the people on and off the pitch. Being from Latin America gives him even more language and cultural ability to serve the club in unique ways. I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses him at NM United!

Clint Moore, volunteer chaplain New Mexico United

Jordan bring a number of skills and talents and other unique notes as he joins the team of Soccer Chaplains United. At age 28 he is now the the youngest chaplain to serve in the group. He is the first chaplain of Ecuadorian descent (although not the first to be born in Quito — see Kurt Trempert). Jordan joins a growing list of bilingual chaplains which have represented the nations of Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, and Chile. His ordination with Comunidad Cristiana La Nueva Esperanza of San Juan, Texas is tied into the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) making Jordan the 4th chaplain in Soccer Chaplains United history to come from that denomination.

Jordan joins the chaplaincy team in the midst of preparing to launch a Spanish-speaking congregation in Albuquerque in the next year or so. He is married and he and his wife have a young daughter whom they are both enjoying learning to love and parent.

I have been really impressed at the lengths Soccer Chaplains United goes in this process. It feels affirming and feels important — this isn’t just a pat on the back and go do the work. I look forward to working with the people, in my time shadowing Clint in the past I have learned that there is a slow and steady work to build trust and to serve people where they are.

Jordan River, on joining Soccer Chaplains United and serving NMU

Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of individual donors and church partners to carry out our work of growing chaplaincy service across all levels of soccer. 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.