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Kalyn Phelps Joins Soccer Chaplains United Board of Directors

Feb 09, 2023

I’m pleased to announce that Kalyn Phelps has recently joined the Soccer Chaplains United Board of Directors. Kalyn played for Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs and captained the team for three years. She went on to play collegiately at the University of Northern Colorado which was a Division 2 NCAA school at the time. She played all four years, captaining for two and playing mainly as a center midfielder. She has spent time coaching at the high school and youth levels, as well. Today, as a mother of three, she most recently coached her daughter’s U9 team for Pride Soccer Club in CO Springs and she still enjoys playing the game.

Flashback photo to Kalyn’s playing days at UNC

Kalyn is married to Reid, whom she met after college. Reid is an anesthesiologist and it was during their early married life that Kalyn’s faith was really challenged. In the time that followed, she began to really grow closer to God and owning her own faith through some strong connections to a church and faith community during Reid’s medical school years.

Kalyn and husband, Reid, pose for a picture while mountain biking

Other passions and interests for Kalyn include art and many visual expressions. She serves as a substitute teacher, art educator, and artist having worked in education, primarily.

Kalyn was recently commissioned to produce the above mural in a local private school in Colorado Springs

I came to know Kalyn through Wayne Pirmann. Both were coaching in the Colorado Springs area and Kalyn became interested in the work of Soccer Chaplains United as Wayne described it to her last year. On Tuesday, January 24, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Kalyn to the board. Making her the first woman to serve in such a capacity.

Part of my own excitement of adding her to the board centers around the anticipated growth of the women’s game here in the U.S. and North America in the next few years. The United Soccer League is expected to build out an entire tier of 2nd division professional soccer (some estimate as many as 40 teams). Additionally, Kalyn will be a great help in guiding Soccer Chaplains United as we look to grow the number of female chaplains serving with our organization.

Kalyn shared some of her faith background and journey,

My faith is a story of God pursuing me. He came after me when I was a young teenager with His love and His truth and it captured my heart. My desire is to daily live out my faith in Christ through loving well and engaging with my family, friendships and community in the same way that Christ has loved me. I certainly don’t do this perfectly, but I am confident that I serve a perfect God and that He is with me and for me.

Kalyn Phelps, on her faith journey and story
Kalyn and her family

Kalyn shared more on her excitement of joining Soccer Chaplains United,

I love the idea of Soccer Chaplains United from when I first heard about it…when I heard about supporting with spiritual care and coming alongside of players it really excited me. Athletes (as I know from my own story) can become lost in who they are — recognizing that God loves them and that He has plans for their lives beyond the pitch is an amazing task and responsibility that chaplains and those with Soccer Chaplains United can be a part of.

Kalyn Phelps, on joining Soccer Chaplains United’s Board of Directors

Welcome Kalyn, to Soccer Chaplains United!

If you would like to learn more about Soccer Chaplains United and opportunities to serve on our Board of Directors, please send an email to info@soccerchaplainsunited.org.

Soccer Chaplains United is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that relies on the generous support of individual donors and church partners to carry out its work of chaplaincy in soccer.

You can give a safe, secure, electronic, tax-deductible gift via PushPay by clicking the button below or by texting soccerchaplains to 77977. You can also mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081, Denver, CO 80250.

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