Today’s Nations and Devotions podcast features a prayer for the nations of Ecuador and Côte d’Ivorie as both teams have a group stage match against each other. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Chaplain Jason Rollins, born in Ecuador and his wife growing up in Côte d’Ivorie, delivers a prayer for these two nations and offers a reflection on always being ready because we never know when and where or how God will use us. Today’s special hashtag is #ecuadorandcôtedivorie for the Nations and Devotions sticker challenge.
Make sure to use #soccerchaplainsunited and #soccerpsalmsworldcup with your social media posts.
Join us again tomorrow for another special day and time of prayer throughout the World Cup!
From the Touchline is a short-feature 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/2026/05/ND-Artwork-Days-1-5.png11701170Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2026-06-14 00:00:002026-06-11 11:45:18Nations and Devotions – Day 4 – A Prayer for Ecuador and Côte d’Ivorie
Jordan Rivera recently completed the process to being serving as a volunteer chaplain to New Mexico United, a team playing in the United Soccer League — Championship (USL-C) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. USL-C is part of the second division of professional soccer in the United States and New Mexico United has, historically, been one of the stronger and more exciting teams to play in the league independent of any Major League Soccer (MLS) club affiliations.
Established in 2018, NMU is a constant contender in the Western Conference of what is USL-Championship
Jordan, originally from Ecuador, was tabbed by current volunteer chaplain Clint Moore to help assist with Spanish-speaking needs throughout the organization — from the first team through the academy. Growing up, Jordan enjoyed playing soccer but when his family moved from Ecuador to Argentina and then to the US — the call of God was heavy on his heart and he started to pursue a theological education and a deepening of his relationship with God.
Jordan has a heart for Jesus, the game of football, and the people on and off the pitch. Being from Latin America gives him even more language and cultural ability to serve the club in unique ways. I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses him at NM United!
Clint Moore, volunteer chaplain New Mexico United
Jordan bring a number of skills and talents and other unique notes as he joins the team of Soccer Chaplains United. At age 28 he is now the the youngest chaplain to serve in the group. He is the first chaplain of Ecuadorian descent (although not the first to be born in Quito — see Kurt Trempert). Jordan joins a growing list of bilingual chaplains which have represented the nations of Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, and Chile. His ordination with Comunidad Cristiana La Nueva Esperanza of San Juan, Texas is tied into the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) making Jordan the 4th chaplain in Soccer Chaplains United history to come from that denomination.
Jordan enjoys coffee and playing guitar and other instruments as well as learning to be a new dad
Jordan joins the chaplaincy team in the midst of preparing to launch a Spanish-speaking congregation in Albuquerque in the next year or so. He is married and he and his wife have a young daughter whom they are both enjoying learning to love and parent.
I have been really impressed at the lengths Soccer Chaplains United goes in this process. It feels affirming and feels important — this isn’t just a pat on the back and go do the work. I look forward to working with the people, in my time shadowing Clint in the past I have learned that there is a slow and steady work to build trust and to serve people where they are.
Jordan River, on joining Soccer Chaplains United and serving NMU
Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of individual donors and church partners to carry out our work of growing chaplaincy service across all levels of soccer. Our chaplains are not employed or paid by any of the clubs that we serve. Check out our Donation Page with all the different options. Or, simply click the PushPay link below to make a secure, online, tax-deductible gift, or mail a donation to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081, Denver, CO 80250.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jordan-Rivera-hs.jpg8001000Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-02-07 00:00:002024-07-08 23:54:25Jordan Rivera Joins Soccer Chaplains United in Albuquerque
Matt Keifer, the Director of Operations for Cumbre Alta, recently sent the following report:
First of all… thank you again! This is awesome stuff and can’t tell you how excited our men and womens team will be to get all of this new gear.
Because of the amount that was given, and the varying sizes, we have enough of the compression gear to give to both the first team’s of the men and women. There will not be another team in category that has anything like this for the men, and zero teams regardless of classification will have anything like this for women. Women usually get the leftovers at best, but usually get the worst clothing, equipment, and field choices. This is one area we want to distinguish ourselves by putting the women on equal footing with the men in every way. I have no doubt our guys and girls will be flooding their personal social media pages with their new training gear- I really can’t explain how cool and rare this will be for our players.
The t-shirts we received are already put to good use. We have already given out a bunch as “prizes” to kids that attend our games- we have small competitions before and after games and we give the tshirts as prizes for competing. Something else that no other team is doing around here (taking care of their fans and giving stuff away for free)!
We gave the jackets away to the women’s teams. In all we gave away 56 jackets to the players of our 2 women’s teams. It is another way that we demonstrate to them that they are just as valued as their male counterparts… Thank you!
We still have about 35 tshirts of smaller sizes that we will give to the kids of a local orphanage. We have a small camp planned there where the kids will receive these tshirts.
Again… thank you! Getting donations like this is rare but super beneficial to our program as a whole, but more importantly demonstrates the love of Christ when we get to explain to our players where the clothing/ gear comes from and why. It’s another touch point that allows us the share the Gospel with our players.
Cumbre Alta was able to add their logo to the compression gear the team took down
When you financially support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community Project from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals projects and organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-e1622053271979.png-e1652133785306.webp334673Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-11-03 00:00:002024-07-08 23:56:35Cumbre Alta Strives for Equality With Latest Gear
The Colorado Springs team led by Jason Rollins, left today to head to Ecuador and work with Inca Link’s Cumbre Alta through June 19. I was blessed to be able to visit the team, hand off the soccer gear (listed below) and pray over the team this past week before they packed and left. Please keep the team in your prayers!
When you financially support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community Project from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals projects and organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Team-Photo-2019.jpeg-scaled.webp8191920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-06-10 06:00:002024-07-09 00:00:142022 Community Fulfillment for Cumbre Alta
The Cumbre Alta professional team is currently in the 3rd division in Ecuador. A number of the team members come from diverse backgrounds, but most have very little resources. Sometimes the young people cannot even afford the $.25 bus fare to come to trainings and practices. Past trips and gear donations have allowed the club to share about the love of Jesus as they give athletes and coaches new equipment and supplies.
Rollins will lead a team of 18 down to Ecuador, June 10-19th. The Cumbre Alta club also works with an orphanage and has a youth academy — the hope has been that the continued success of the professional team will be an attraction for younger people and the youth academy where coaches can share and show the love of Jesus to young people.
The Cumbre Alta men’s pro team poses for a team photo in 2019
Rollins and his team are requesting any equipment, warm-ups, jerseys, in various sizes from youth small to large.
When you financially support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community Project from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals projects and organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-e1622053271979.png-e1652133785306.webp334673Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-05-12 06:00:002022-05-19 10:11:48Cultivating Community with Cumbre Alta
It’s always great to get updates from the different trips and teams that Soccer Chaplains United has helped equip. I wanted to share an email update that came to me and Cory Jones comes from Nate Taube, along with a few photos.
Cumbre Alta team members pose
Good morning Brad and Cory, I just wanted to personally thank you for all the gear you sent down with Jason Rollins. Your generosity with Casa Deportiva Cumbre Alta is fantastic. As I’m sure Jason has told you, we are a small soccer club here in Quito. Our goal is to share Christ as we reach the highest levels of Ecuadorian soccer. We are able to do so because of people like you who continue to partner with us to provide a great experience for our players.
Our players come from diverse backgrounds, but the majority come from low resourced homes. Whenever we are able to hand them a pair of cleats, a warm up top, shorts, whatever, their faces light up. We are able to tell them that we only do this to show Christ’s love. It just opens doors for us to continue to pour into them. And you guys are a part of that. So thank you. Thank you for your generosity.
Although not identified, we assume that Michael is here in the middle, wearing brand new compression shorts that were part of Soccer Chaplains United’s Community Project for Ecuador earlier this year.
I’m attaching a couple of pictures of the night after we had given away a bunch of the compression shorts you guys sent down. They guys LOVED them. The next day they all came to practice wearing all their new gear. Thrilled. We have a tall skinny player, Michael, whos legs really didn’t fit into the compression shorts, but he wore them with pride anyway. They wanted to get their picture taken showing up their new shorts and their (for some) non existent leg muscles! We had a blast.
Thank you for partnering with us. Thank you for caring about Cumbre Alta and the work we are doing here. Thank you. Nate Taube
It is always wonderful to hear these stories and see the gear and equipment that we send to the far reaches, be used to point people to Jesus Christ.
I want to encourage you to consider making a gift — for children like Michael and for leaders like Nate. When Soccer Chaplains United is able to send gear with short-term mission teams, it makes a huge difference! We do send used gear, but we also use a portion of every dollar to buy new soccer equipment — things like soccer balls, whistles, and certain youth sizes that we don’t normally receive. We also occasionally will help to pay shipping costs to get gear to teams and organizations.
You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds.
Thanks for helping make a difference along with Soccer Chaplains United and these churches, schools, and short-term teams.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/compression-shorts-2.jpeg9601280Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-07-05 13:11:462019-07-05 13:11:49Cumbre Alta Compression
Two years ago, a group of students, parents, and sponsors from Colorado Springs Christian Schools (CSCS) headed to Quito, Ecuador. Their mission trip team partnered with Inca Link Ecuador and their soccer ministry, Cumbre Alta. Inca Link has a massive vision — they desire to reach the 300+ million youth in Latin America with Christ’s irresistible love. The national Inca Link organizations do this through evangelism and discipleship, training leaders, connecting people, and compassion ministries. They are devoted to helping the least of these in Latin America.
This year, a group of students who attend CSCS will again be looking to come alongside and serve the needs Inca Link has in their ministries, specifically in Ecuador. Jason Rollins, CSCS Athletic Director and coach of both the girls and boys soccer teams will again lead the team in Ecuador.
Part of the trip will include the CSCS students working with Casa Deportiva Cumbre Alta. CDCA is dedicated to reaching the highest level of Ecuadorian sports as the teams look to share Christ with those in their sphere of influence. They look to grow their soccer academies to be attractive to others in Ecuador and share about Jesus. Much of this is done through the success of the CDCA First Team. In their debut season last year, the First Team finished third, one spot away from being promoted to the next tier of Ecuadorian soccer. This year they hope to push into the top two and win promotion to the fourth tier.
Our First Team is our best team, regardless of age, which will be trying to reach the highest levels of Ecuadorian soccer. The more athletic success our First Team has, the more the public will recognize Cumbre Alta and want to send their children to play in our Academy and club teams. As we reach the highest levels of Ecuadorian soccer, our goal is to help our players, and those who are in the clubs sphere of influence, take their next step with God, whatever that might be. We do this through team devotions and prayer, and through one-on-one time with our players.
When you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
A CSCS student from 2017 talks with several Ecuadorian boys.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ecuador-flag-922x614.jpg614922Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-05-15 08:49:592019-05-15 08:50:02Ecuador on the Horizon
Timothy Project: CSCS Ecuador 2017 is pleased to report the Colorado Spring Christian School (CSCS) Ecuador mission team returned home filled with great stories and memories to share.
Jason Rollins, CSCS’s Athletic Director and soccer coach, wrote to CrossTraining sharing few of the experiences the team had.
“Our time was fantastic and the whole team had a great trip!
We had the opportunity to pass out the pull overs to each of the players on the Cumbre Alta team. Numerous players on the team struggle to even get to practices and games because they cannot afford the 25 cent bus ride, so the pull overs were a very special gift for them. In fact, 3 days after we passed out the pull overs we were driving around town and saw one of the players walking along the street with his pull over on…so they were definitely a hit!
The girls Cumbre Alta team chose to pass them out to the girls as a reward/prize. They’ve struggled with consistency with attendance so they used the pull overs as an incentive…and with the girls team it was also a special thing to pass out.
We gave some of the soccer balls to a French after school program in a very poor community and also gave a couple soccer balls to some kids we connected with on a dirt field close to where we stayed. These kids were in heaven!
I gave the dvd’s with testimonies to the coaches so they could hand them out at appropriate times.
Thank you again for your donations. It was a blessing for us to be able to give them away!”
If you would like to make a contribution to future projects like these please note Timothy Project in your donation. Please use the Donate button to make a secure, online donation either using PayPal or a credit card. Your financial gift helps to secure additional equipment, sponsor a missionary or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
CrossTraining, through the Timothy Project, was able to provide:
30 soccer balls
a ball bag
approx. 80 jersey/half-zip pullovers
cones
water bottles and carriers
80 The Prize DVDs
Rev Brad Kenney, CrossTraining Executive Director shared about some of the exciting ways that God had pulled some of the items for the project together,
It was interesting because Coach [Jason] Rollins had requested water bottles and carriers and we don’t normally get those types of things. We weren’t sure that we would have enough funds to purchase those along with the soccer balls. But the week after we started praying about this project, the Colorado Rapids athletic trainer took me to a room in the stadium and said, ‘Can you do anything with these?’ The room was half full with coolers and water bottles from the past season that were just sitting there. It is a great reminder of how good God is and how in His kingdom — He lets nothing go to waste.
Rev Kenney and Colorado Springs Switchbacks Chaplain, Kurt Trempert, were both on hand to deliver the Timothy Project items and to pray over the team and gear. Trempert, who grew up in Quito and coaches the girls soccer team at CSCS prayed in English and Spanish for the team. He shared,
You all know that Ecuador is very close to my heart and I am excited that you get to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people there.
Please keep the team in your prayers as they travel and minister and serve.
If you would like to make a contribution to future projects like these please note Timothy Project in your donation. Please use the Donate button to make a secure, online donation either using PayPal or a credit card. Your financial gift helps to secure additional equipment, sponsor a missionary or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
Timothy Project: CSCS Ecuador 2017 will feature a soccer team from Colorado Springs Christian Schools (CSCS) headed to Quito, Ecuador mid-June. The team will partner with Inca Link and their soccer ministry, Cumbre Alta. Soccer players and their parents who attend CSCS will be working to serve the needs Inca Link has in their ministries. One of those groups is the semi-professional team Cumbre Alta. It is a team driven to compete at the highest level while focusing on ministry and discipleship.
Jason Rollins, CSCS Athletic Director and coach of both the girls and boys soccer teams, expounded on Cumbre Alta and its objectives within the Quito communities,
Jason Rollins, CSCS Athletic Director, soccer coach
The soccer players also work with youth to connect with them through different programs, church outreaches and youth soccer teams. The goal of Cumbre Alta and Inca Link is to develop talent within youth soccer players while building relationships. The ultimate goal is to disciple and nurture a stronger relationship with Jesus.
In addition to supporting the team, CSCS players will have the opportunity to train along side Cumbre Alta. They will also interact with the youth soccer programs Cumbre Alta and Inca Link have established.
Cumbre Alta team logo
The final group we will serve will be the local orphanage with which Inca Link has partnered. We will do different projects at the orphanage and interact with the kids who live there and have very little. The students of CSCS will have the chance to pour into the lives of dozens of children in Quito who live in poverty, are orphaned and are high risk.
If you would like to make an additional contribution to this project please note Timothy Project in your donation or if you would like to support future Timothy Project ventures, such as this one, please use the Donate Now link to make a secure PayPal donation. Your financial gift helps to secure additional equipment, sponsor a missionary or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!
We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
Essential Website Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
Other external services
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
Privacy Policy
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
