For Rev. Mike Anderson, the Bethel Orphanage in Juarez, Mexico has been a place that has captured his heart for years so when he heard that CrossTraining had some extra soccer gear from the Colorado Rapids that was available as part of the Timothy Project, he jumped at the opportunity. We went down to Juarez about 18 years ago to build a house and stopped by a local orphanage, and, being adopted myself, I've really had a heart for orphans. About five years ago, a fellow minister invited me to Bethel Orphange to take some trees to plant in the neighborhood and at orphanage - we stayed with the children and workers and God just grabbed my heart as they

On the last day of 2013, there is occasion to pause for reflection. There is much debate around looking backward in order to move forward in our culture. Some criticism - that the only reason we look back is so that we can make more efficient our practice or modernize our mechanistic attitude. Some wisdom - that we ought to learn from mistakes and strive to not repeat them, to teach our children how to overcome them. Some practical application - goal-setting, resolutions, and the like. Some fantastical dreaming - see above. In looking back and contemplating 2013, there are several poignant moments (notice I didn't use the word highlights) for 2013 that have shaped and framed 2013 as its

It seems (and has been) months since last writing. The long dark tunnel of work towards ordination has consumed my extra time and in making choices I have tried to make conscious decisions about "people over paper" - a clever phrase my best mate and I used during our seminary years to help keep priorities in check. I am currently ordained and have been for the last 2 years with the Evangelical Church Alliance. The ECA has faithfully maintained my credentials both as an ordained minister and as a licensed pastor since 2005, and fills an important need for credentialing chaplains and people in ministry who have non-denominational or small organizations without ordaining and licensing functions. I have not been

The first Timothy Project of the year is already complete. A team from Colorado and Cherry Hills Community Church made their way to Haiti to work with children during a weeklong mission trip, March 26-April 2. The team hosted several soccer tournaments and camps and did several construction projects, including building church and school benches, hosting hundreds of kids in Vacation Bible School, securing tarps on roofs for widows, serving at a large orphanage, delivering rice and beans, fitting hundreds of people with shoes and clothes and helping the sick. This Timothy Project involved providing a mix of used and new equipment (shoes, clothing, and balls) to the team to give away to youths and area churches. The team worshipped at

This past week, as I headed into training to spend time with the team, I watched as the odometer hit a  milestone: 200,000 miles. In that moment, I gave a brief prayer of thanksgiving to God, for safety of travel and His grace over the roads traveled and the paths walked over the years of doing ministry for CrossTraining. CrossTraining chaplains can travel upwards of 8-10,000 miles a year in serving the needs of the professional sports team. Sometimes a road trip to an away game, the weekly trip to the stadium or bible study, the occasional get together with a couple for counseling, helping a player move from one apartment to another, driving a player who has been cut