For Felipe Olavarría, sports have always been an important part of life. As a young man, he found that basketball was a game where he could compete and a game that he really enjoyed. In addition to playing fútbol in his native Chile, where he was born and raised, basketball was a massive part of his story. In the midst of his semi-pro, traveling time with the team he got invited to church, it changed his life and it changed the place he gave sport in his life.
I came to faith in Jesus at a time in my life when I was a part of semi-professional basketball team in Chile. I spent my last two years with the team (2014-15) sharing the Gospel with my friends and teammates. Ever since then, my heart has longed for an opportunity like serving the Union Omaha.
Felipe on his love of the Gospel and his love of sports
Felipe, as he preaches on a Sunday at Millard Alliance
Felipe is currently an Associate Pastor at Millard Alliance. Felipe is responsible to help engage the church and link the community in unique ways. This opportunity with Union Omaha becomes an exciting extension of that pastoral heart and vision.
Soccer chaplaincy came more into Felipe’s awareness as he served as a ministry resident in Colorado Springs with Kurt Trempert. Kurt invited him to shadow with him as he served the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC as volunteer chaplain. Kurt’s mentorship led to Felipe being open to serving Union Omaha and joining Soccer Chaplains United.
It’s my conviction that as chaplains we are called to serve others by upholding human dignity and value. I saw this in my time with Kurt and I will look to carry this forward here in Omaha.
Felipe, on his connection to Soccer Chaplains United
Felipe and Taya dedicate daughter Josefina at a recent church service.
Union Omaha play in the United Soccer League – League One which is part of the third division of professional soccer in the US. Since Union’s inaugural season in 2020, they have had a championship match canceled because of COVID (2020), have won the league as champion (2021), had a 5th place finish (2022) and are currently closing in on a first place league finish this season. With the placement coming late in the 2023 season, Felipe will begin to be available for athletes, coaches, and staff but will look to provide more service in the upcoming season of 2024.
The star above the crest represents the Owls first championship in 2021
I recently met with the coach and some of this staff to talk about chaplaincy for the rest of this season and next. It is my vision for Union Omaha to see a team committed to the spiritual health of their players, only this sphere will take their holistic health to the next level and I am excited to be a part of helping with that.
Felipe, sharing about his hopes for the Union Omaha chaplaincy
Felipe and his wife do, currently, have an ultimate goal of returning to Chile to plant a church. Felipe’s move may mean a new chapter for Soccer Chaplains United in the South American country that a number of our chaplains have called home. Felipe now becomes the third chaplain to hail from Chile following on from former chaplain Elias Burgos (Colorado Rapids, 2008-2009) and chaplain Ricardo Orellana (2009-present).
Recently, Felipe introduced some church members to some finer Chilean culinary aspects
Felipe joining Soccer Chaplains United means that the organization now has 27 chaplains. He is the first ever volunteer chaplain in the history of Union Omaha. Felipe will be raising funding through Soccer Chaplains United. To support his work you can text “soccerchaplains” to 77977 or you can visit our donation page. To support Felipe select Omaha from the PushPay drop down fund or write Omaha in the memo line of your check.
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 across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work. 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/2023/09/FelipeHeadshot21Crop.jpg240240Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-09-25 06:00:002024-07-08 23:47:51Olavarría Opening Up Chaplaincy Opportunities in Omaha
Last week, the news finally came, Hospice of Saint John would finally be closing its doors. The announcement to staff was not necessarily a surprise as this past July, the 2nd oldest hospice in the United States had to close its inpatient facility. The final close of doors is dependent on getting patients transferred to other hospice care and shutting down its operations, but there will no longer be a Hospice of Saint John.
The Hospice of Saint John will always have a close place in my heart – it is where I first began paid vocational ministry work after finishing seminary. I started as an 0n-call weekend chaplain before working for nearly three and a half years in that same inpatient facility that shut its doors in July. Hospice of Saint John is where I met Elias Burgos (CrossTraining’s first Spanish-speaking chaplain) and also where I met Ricardo Orellana (recently departed for New Jersey after serving 4 years as Spanish-speaking chaplain).
Taken in September 2008, I give a tour of the Hospice of Saint John Chapel.
The hospice was also for me a tensioning extreme – it was very clear to me that the work that I was doing with the professional athletes of the Colorado Rapids was in contrast to the people that I served in hospice care. And the stories…there are so many stories, so many special moments (like this one that was recorded). I have thought that I might one day try to write the stories of my experience, but for now they are embedded in my heart, mind, and soul.
The last four years, as I have been pastoring at Cherry Hills Community Church, I have still remained in touch with several at the Hospice of Saint John. And now, to hear that the hospice will finally close its doors, I can be thankful on two fronts. First, for the opportunity afforded to me. To grow in my ministerial experience. My hospice experience matured me pastorally in ways that are really inestimable – while I had a heart for ministry I grew in a short amount of time and for hospice and for God’s favor in it, I am thankful. Secondly, I am also thankful for God’s provision – for my family and for continuing ministry. I did not really have a vision to leave the hospice, but a very special lady – Helen Parton (a nurse at the hospice and church member of Cherry Hills) told me about the position in pastoral care with the church. She encouraged me to apply. Her job was one of the ones lost last week. Helen is a dear woman of God – always giving of herself (as this story will show you). Helen’s surgery to donate a kidney (see the previous link) was my first visit as a pastoral care pastor from Cherry Hills. Please pray that God provides for her and her family.
And as the Hospice of Saint John closes its chapter, I will be always grateful to God for the ways that I learned and grew as a chaplain there. To Him be the glory.
Blessings,
Rev. Brad Kenney
/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.png00Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2013-09-01 18:30:152018-06-22 09:06:09From the Rev: End of a Chapter
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Last week, the news finally came, Hospice of Saint John would finally be closing its doors. The announcement to staff was not necessarily a surprise as this past July, the 2nd oldest hospice in the United States had to close its 
