Last year, CrossTraining announced the Timothy Project: Liberia 2015 and the goal of Liberian Institute for Empowerment (L.I.F.E.) to fill a shipping container from Colorado to send to Liberia with soccer equipment and school supplies. CrossTraining initially gave over 500 pieces of soccer equipment including Colorado Rapids jerseys, cones, training vests, backpacks, and cleats for the container project. Then, in May 2016, CrossTraining was able to provide an additional 300 jerseys to add to the container before loading day. You can see some of the photos from L.I.F.E.'s blog here of the loading of the container. With the container en-route, Director Thomas Fahn will be heading to Liberia in early August to meet the container in Monrovia. L.I.F.E.'s mission is to assist in

When the Colorado Rapids announced their first ever jersey sponsor, it was a historic moment for the club. However, it wasn't long before one of the original clubs of Major League Soccer started looking for a new sponsor - when Ciao Telecom failed to make payments, the Rapids needed a new sponsor. But, what to do with all the merchandise and clothing that had already begun to be made? Rapids Lead Chaplain, Rev. Brad Kenney, recalls a conversation with Rapids President Tim Hinchey, We were at a home game and the news about Ciao failing to make payments had been published and I asked Tim, "What about all the gear?" Perhaps a bit tongue-in-cheek, he replied, "We're going to burn it; hold

Since the beginning of the school year, Mrs. Weissman's 4th and 5th grade students at Anastasis Academy have been wondering about the question, "What is a refugee?" Weissman's students had heard on the news that some of these people would be coming to Colorado and right away, they wanted to find a place to help. The class thought, "How can we get involved in our own community?" They discovered ACC Denver and got involved in their youth program, International City. Soccer is a universal language, and when the students learned the kids at International City were in need of soccer balls, they jumped on the opportunity to try and raise funds and provide soccer balls. Wissman and her class reached out to CrossTraining's

Jack Ballou serves as treasurer for CrossTraining's Board of Directors, but in addition to his service for CrossTraining and his work as a Certified Public Accountant, he has a heart for the people of Juarez, Mexico. Ballou, who resides in Arlington, Texas speaks some Spanish and has been preparing for a mission work trip across the border to build a house for a family in Juarez through Casas por Cristo. During Ballou's recent time in Denver for CrossTraining's Board Retreat, it occurred that there might be an opportunity to take some Colorado Rapids gear down to Juarez to give to the poor children and families served by the team working with CPC. As the idea continued to form, Timothy project: Juarez 2016 was born.

For Rev. Cesar Duran, Piedras Negras is more than just the next location for a CrossTraining Timothy Project. Piedras Negras, Mexico is home. When Rev. Duran, who serves as a CrossTraining Associate Chaplain with the Colorado Rapids, was recently invited to teach on chaplaincy by his hometown bishop, Rev. Duran thought it would be a good opportunity to give a gift to pastors that serve in a very poor part of Mexico. I was invited by the Bishop Fernando Fuentes to give a teaching about chaplaincy during the Annual Conference and I wanted to give the pastors a shirt of the Colorado Rapids. Rev. Duran leaves for Piedras Negras June 18 to attend and speak at the United Methodist Church Annual Conference to be held