One of the most exciting spaces for the chaplains and counselors with Soccer Chaplains United is something that has developed over the past couple of years — working with the athletes, coaches, and families with the Developmental Academy (DA). In the picture above, the "preachers" as Larry the stadium security guard likes to call us, get ready to lead a life skills session for the Colorado Rapids DA. Rev Brad Kenney and Chaplains Rubèn Rodríguez and Gerardo Alvarez pose for a quick pic. For those unfamiliar with the DA, these are essentially the cream of the crop in soccer. The young athletes in the DA are potential professional soccer players in the making. Professional clubs often pay all of the

It's my pleasure to introduce Rubèn Rodríguez as the latest member of Soccer Chaplains United. Ruben will serve as a chaplain serving on the team working with the Colorado Rapids with the specific aim of serving the athletes and families within the Rapids Development Academy. The DA for the Rapids has approximately 115 athletes and families represented for the 2018-2019 season. Rubèn came and assisted as a facilitator last year during one of the life skill sessions that Soccer Chaplains United chaplains and counselors helped facilitate for the DA. One of the first things that I noticed about Rubèn was his ability to grab and retain the young boys attention as we talked about some important character issues. This, coupled

Soccer Chaplains United is pleased to announce the addition of Gerardo Alvarez to the chaplaincy team serving the Colorado Rapids. Gerardo works as a medical interpreter at Denver Health Medical Center and is fluent in Spanish and English. He will assist with chaplaincy coverage and Spanish language needs from the Rapids 1st-Team to the Development Academy and also with Rapids alumni. He fills the vacancy left by Chaplain Cesar Duran last summer. Gerardo, a Colombian by birth, came to the U.S. in 1997 to be closer to family. He has faithfully served as a medical interpreter since 2004 — helping patients, families, and staff with translation and understanding medical procedures and other needs. He enjoys spending time with his family

Sitting on a train headed north to my best friend's place in Glasgow, Scotland, I decided to message a former Colorado Rapids player and coach who is from Scotland. Me: Hey, headed to the motherland. Thinking of you! Hope you are well. Him: Where are you? Me: Glasgow, for the next few days. Him: Hey, my son just signed for Kilmarnock FC. You should ring him, he'd love to see you. What followed was one of the exciting parts of my job as a chaplain — the chance to see and encourage a former player. We arranged to get a coffee in downtown Glasgow. Together, we reflected on the previous year and the trials and tribulations and how far he

Long before Soccer Chaplains United begins to pull gear for a trip, many things are happening to plant the seeds that will grow into a bounty of blessings in a far-off land. When a church partner or organization is in the planning stages of a mission trip they first determine if taking along soccer gear will fit into their trip goals. If so, the group then decides if they have packing space to travel with the gear and do they have a place or group of people to whom the gear will be given. The group will then come to Soccer Chaplains United’s website and fill out a form formally requesting gear. In the form, they share details about their