Soccer Chaplain Myth 4: Chaplains Just There For the Bad Stuff

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I once had a coach say to me, “I guess chaplains are just there for when things go wrong…” I lament that my apologetic for soccer chaplaincy and our conversation had led him to that conclusion. It’s a common myth, though, that chaplains are only there for people when bad stuff happens. Of course, we think of the hospital or hospice moment when someone is sick, injured, or dying. Or, perhaps, we might think of soldiers going to battle and not knowing whether they will live to fight another day — we see the picture of the priest praying over the troops. It’s reasonable to believe that chaplains are there for difficult times, but is that the only place for them?

Today, on the podcast, I talk about the misnomer and mistruth that soccer chaplains are only there for the bad times — we’re there for the good, celebratory times, too. It might be the birth of a baby or officiating a wedding or hosting a trophy, but chaplains live out the biblical mandate that says “rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.” It’s really a beautiful place and space where a chaplain dwells between the tensions of soccer with all of it’s highs and lows.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.