With the start of the season only a few days away, Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville) Chaplain Ryan Doyle joins to talk about his faith and family journey and what’s ahead for the CPA Lions. Rev Ryan Doyle, a long time soccer coach with CPA, now serves the team voluntarily as chaplain, a role that he really relishes.
Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, listen as Ryan shares about his faith story and how God took him as a young man and used a friend to confront him about his lifestyle — leading him to seek a different path. Ryan also shares about his family, especially his children — from adopting three of their six children and how his two sons are really enjoying being part of the CPA soccer program.
From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 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.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Doyle-Headshot.jpg1114953Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2021-03-17 00:00:002021-03-08 14:48:49Ryan Doyle, Christ Prebyterian Academy Chaplain Joins the Podcast
The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) on Tuesday announced a modified schedule for contact sports which will see boys soccer move to the spring and girls soccer move later into a spring-summer schedule. The news was difficult as it comes at a time which creates conflicts within the broader local soccer schedule, especially for boys soccer when players often play for their respective clubs during the spring season and will now be confronted with possibly having to choose whether to play high school or club soccer. On the girls side, the move of their season to a May-June timeframe means that elite level players may have to give up on playing in high-level tournaments that usually take place outside of the typical high school season — tournaments that gain players additional exposure to collegiate scouting and recruiting and the chance at scholarships in continuing their education.
Soccer Chaplains United has high school chaplains in both states and it is uncertain how the shift for Colorado will affect chaplaincy, while the chaplaincy work in Tennessee will likely need to adapt to the COVID-19 protocols in order to support the athletes and family members of Christ Presbyterian Academy’s soccer program.
Please pray for the chaplains that are supporting high school soccer athletes and programs as they navigate and minister through these difficult and changing times. Pray for the mental and spiritual health and protection for those involved in soccer during this time, especially.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3183.png359640Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2020-08-07 08:00:002021-05-11 13:02:48CHSAA and TSSAA Show Pandemic Differences
It is the season theme for Christ Presbyterian Academy’s Boys Soccer Program. It’s a theme that tells of where our priorities as a Christian lie and, according to CPA Chaplain Ryan Doyle, it’s part of what Head Coach Tom Gerlach and the rest of the CPA staff are constantly working to instill in the hearts and lives of the young men of CPA; a solid foundation of faith for the rest of their lives.
It echoes out from our team chant, and it rings in our hearts every minute of every game and every practice. It is what we are about at CPA Men’s Soccer.
Ryan Doyle, CPA Chaplain
CPA, this year, expanded the effort and reach of doing ministry through soccer by adding an official chaplaincy program in partnership with Soccer Chaplains United. Ryan Doyle, announced back in January, has been serving CPA for a number of years on the coaching staff and this year has begun the work of serving more intentionally as chaplain to the program.
Chaplain Ryan Doyle stands with the family of a CPA alum who has gone to be with the Lord.
Some of the extensions of what Ryan has led or supported have included pregame player-led devotions to developing game day prayer partners, from listening to worship music during practice to publicly honoring the courage and Christian character of our opponents. For a team that is finishing the regular season at 16-1 there has been plenty of jubilant celebration in victory but also there has been moments of work and prayer to provide encouragement in the midst of season-threatening injuries and other trials and travails that accompany the sport of soccer. Ryan shared with me,
The Lord has been present and moving in our midst this year, and his gracious favor has been evident.
Ryan Doyle, CPA Chaplain
Head Coach Tom Gerlach (back middle, with hat) looks on as Chaplain Ryan Doyle (back right) shares words of remembrance with CPA players and alumni.
Sometimes in sports we think that it’s mainly about winning and losing, but from the chaplains perspective we often see the difficult details of life that are in the in-between and day-to-day spaces. Even at 16-1 and heading begin district champions has come at a cost.
We have lost loved ones and grieved together as brothers, and we have celebrated the individual accolades of teammates as if they were our own.
Ryan Doyle, CPA Chaplain
CPA boys soccer is a highly decorated program and the vision of Head Coach Tom Gerlach and the school has always been about ministry through soccer, and this year there was an intentional step to orchestrate and integrate a chaplaincy program that could stand in the gap during the high and low moments of the year. For Ryan and the program, the chaplaincy has been a great blessing, and is the beginning of a ministry that will continue to grow. CPA begins post-season play in a regional quarter-final on Tuesday.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3183.png359640Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-05-06 11:38:572019-05-06 11:47:18Love God. Love the brothers. Love the game.
February was a heavy travel month — as there is a preseason in sports, there is a preseason in sports chaplaincy as well.
Feb 7-8: Leoti, KS
To begin, a 400-mile road trip out to Leoti, KS for presbytery meetings. As an ordained minister in the EPC (Evangelical Presbyterian Church), it is important to work to attend a number of our quarterly meetings if at all possible. The added benefit for this trip was two fold: a) I got to spend an unexpected amount of time with our new chaplain in Memphis, Greg Aydt. His re-routed and re-directed flight put him into Denver and I had an extra seat. It was a God-thing to get the additional 4 hours on the drive to talk and work through some of the chaplaincy needs of the preseason. b) Soccer Chaplains United was able to have our new introductory video played at presbytery. The video highlights our chaplaincy, counseling and community work and many in attendance commented on the quality of the video and how it conveyed a new sense of the scope of work being done with Soccer Chaplains United.
Feb 19-21: Nashville, TN
I had the wonderful privilege of spending time with one of our newest chaplains, Rev Ryan Doyle. Ryan is getting started with providing chaplaincy for Christ Presbyterian Academy Boys Soccer for the upcoming spring season. We enjoyed a coffee and catch up in the historic Franklin downtown. We shared for a couple of hours on different ideas for the chaplaincy.
While in Nashville, I also got a chance to spend time with our Nashville SC chaplain, Billy Cerveny. We spent time together talking about the chaplaincy issues that will likely be faced this year as the team makes the transition from United Soccer League – Championship to Major League Soccer. Some Martin’s BBQ made for a full day as we also took in the announcement for Nashville’s new logo when they begin play in MLS.
Nashville SC new logo launch and reveal party
My trip also include some time spent with Nashville Head Coach Gary Smith and his family and an old friend, Pastor Don Diehl. Don was my youth pastor for a couple of years back in high school and early college. We were able to grab a quick breakfast and catch up with each other, before heading off to my final February destination.
Don and Diann Diehl, long time friends back to my high school days
Feb 21-26: Charlotte, NC
The longer part of my trip was to take part in the 3rd Summit on Global Sports Chaplaincy. Here, with leaders from around the globe, we worked through the continuing development of sports chaplaincy at a global level. How do we develop chaplaincy in developing countries? How do we equip and support chaplaincy leaders that lack resources? To what level do we try to formalize partnerships and relationships? These were some of the questions and tasks that everyone around the table worked to tackle.
Dr Steven Waller and I pose outside the Championship Conference Room at Joe Gibbs Racing Center where we had our meetings over a few days
For Soccer Chaplains United, the aims of this group is much broader than our own; however, the global nature of soccer and the relationships that God has afforded me to make over the years has meant that this is a significant conversation to continue to be involved in and contribute to.
I was excited, too, to learn that my hosts were connected to the most recent candidate to emerge for the Charlotte Independence vacancy. I had a dinner meeting with someone from the club during one of the nights where we had some time off from the meetings and then a breakfast the next day to meet with the candidate and speak more about what the chaplaincy with the team looks like.
All in all a full February and many ways in which I was able to see God’s faithfulness in so many ways. Thankful for the many miles travelled and the safety and provision of God.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IMG_8051.jpg14401920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-02-28 16:13:402019-02-28 16:13:46On the Road Again
Over a year ago, sitting across the table at Crema coffee shop in Nashville, TN, I was visiting with Ryan Doyle. I could sense his enthusiasm for the sport of soccer. A pastor of a church plant and soccer coach of 18 years, we discussed the upcoming opportunity with the pro team coming to town. Ryan has a passion for the game, but more so, a passion for people.
As we talked about soccer and chaplaincy in the weeks to follow via email, I made a casual comment. Soccer Chaplains United isn’t just about the pro game — we’re looking to get chaplains at all levels of the sport. That mention started to gain momentum as Ryan and I discussed potential chaplaincy with Christ Presbyterian Academy, a private, coeducational, college-preparatory school for grades preschool through 12. CPA seeks to provide transformational education through a Christian worldview and is a ministry of Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Doyle family back in spring of 2016
Ryan has served as both a head coach and as an assistant coach in soccer with CPA since 2001, and leapt at the opportunity to create such a program at CPA. His main work is as pastor of Mercy Presbyterian, a PCA church plant of the Nashville Presbytery. He will begin this spring to transition more into a role of chaplain with the CPA Boys Soccer Team.
“I have loved soccer and been around the game as a player and a coach since age 5. However, beyond love of the game, what has always been the central focus of my coaching has been the opportunity to build relationships, disciple young men, and care for families in the program, through the vehicle of the beautiful game of soccer. Our team motto is ‘Love God, Love the Brothers, Love the Game’.
Ryan earned his Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He is currently working on his Doctor of Ministry at Covenant. He also serves as Adjunct Faculty at New College Franklin, teaching Biblical Greek and Theology. Before working in church planting, Ryan served as Assistant Pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church and as Instructor of Bible/ Worship Leader at Christ Presbyterian Academy. Ryan and his wife Lindsey have six children the youngest three from Uganda and China. Ryan and Lindsey are passionate about discipleship, worship, adoption, and local and global mission, leading trips to Uganda and Belize every year. They see no greater gift than to serve others for Christ.
This chaplaincy creates a more formal and distinct structure from within which to minister to our players and families in such a manner. I am deeply grateful for the partnership with Soccer Chaplains United in leading men along the path as we all follow the Good Shepherd.
Ryan and CPA are now the second high school being served by Soccer Chaplains United. Ryan’s appointment now brings the number of chaplains to 14. We look forward to seeing God grow the chaplaincy work with CPA through Ryan. You can learn more about Ryan on his bio page here.
Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy, counseling, and community service across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Doyle-Headshot.jpg1114953Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-01-22 08:00:092019-01-21 16:41:08Announcing New Chaplain for Christ Presbyterian Academy
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