Less than a month ago, a hefty majority of Soccer Chaplains United chaplains found that their teams were headed for playoffs in their perspective leagues. Hopes were high, but several teams stumbled in spite of achieving this pivotal milestone for a long season of soccer. Of the teams that remain in the playoff hunt, Major League Soccer (MLS), Ben Dudley and Troy Ready's Portland Timbers won against Minnesota United FC, 3-1. They will face my own Colorado Rapids this Thursday, on Thanksgiving Day in an MLS first — a national, televised match on Thanksgiving. Billy Cerveny's Nashville SC play a home game this Tuesday night at 4:00 pm Eastern against Orlando City FC in a game televised on FS1 and

A number of results this past Wednesday night solidified the playoff destinies of teams where Soccer Chaplains United chaplains are serving. In Major League Soccer, while my own Colorado Rapids lost to league-leading New England, Ben Dudley and Troy Ready's Portland Timbers won 2-0 to clinch a spot. In the Eastern Conference Billy Cerveny's Nashville SC won with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Cincinnati to clinch a playoff place with a few games in the season remaining. In the National Women's League, Christina Garber's Portland Thorns clinched the league shield (most points in the season) and will have the top seed for postseason play. In the United Soccer League Championship, Soccer Chaplains United chaplains are serving six different teams. In

Last week, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) sprang back into action with the kickoff of the second annual Challenge Cup series. Major League Soccer (MLS) begins league play this weekend with its teams set to kick off across the US. With both leagues preparing to begin their respective seasons with what will, hopefully, be a bit of a return to normalcy for professional soccer in North America. Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, Rev Brad is joined by Ben Dudley, co-chaplain of the Portland Timbers and Christina Garber, chaplain to the Portland Thorns. The three Soccer Chaplains United chaplains talk about the beginning of the season, contrast things with last year, and look ahead to the season in

Soccer Chaplains United has three different offerings during Holy Week for 2021.   Spy Wednesday — Betrayal | This week's From the Touchline podcast with Rev Brad Kenney looks at betrayal in football and in the life of Jesus. Click here to listen.  Maundy Thursday | Join Soccer Chaplains United with Rev Billy Cerveny, Rev Brad Kenney and and some special guests as we look at Jesus' foot-washing example from a unique angle and also celebrate Communion, or The Lord's Supper, virtually.  This virtual experience (approx. 20 min) is on our YouTube channel or on our website.  Good Friday | Join Soccer Chaplains United with Chaplain Ben Dudley, Rev Brad Kenney and a special short-feature video designed to help you reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus. This virtual experience (approx. 10 min) begins Friday at 12

I recently shared with some friends the evolution of Soccer Chaplains United. When I was getting started with the volunteer chaplaincy withe the Colorado Rapids in 2002, I wanted to have something that would help craft vision and mission guide and guardrails. I was reading I Timothy 4:8 — Physical training is of some value, but godliness (or spiritual training) has value for this life and the life to come. That's it! I declared. We need to be cross-trained. We need to have physical and spiritual training balance. For me, when I looked at the athletes and others I was working with in soccer, I could see an imbalance — the physical was accentuated and had all the time and attention.