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Walnut Middle School Fútbol Fulfillment

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While it doesn’t happen all of the time, I often find a lot of joy in “pulling” soccer gear for a Community Project request. Sometimes, as I am counting out jerseys or soccer balls it amazes me how close the number often come to the original request and the latest from Walnut Middle School was no exception.

The request which came in last month asked for 50 soccer balls, 50 soccer jerseys, and a number of goalkeeper sets (shirts and shorts). It was tense as I counted out recent shirt sizes specific to the program — not every number matched but it was amazing at how close we got to fulfilling even the specific sizes that Coach Duran and I discussed. For me, there’s always a bit of prayer that goes into it — I just imagine that God is going to use the gift of these jerseys to bless someone in need and to make His name known.

Colorado Rapids Academy Jerseys are headed to Grand Isle, Nebraska and Walnut Middle School

But even after receiving the Community Project request, a question remained: how to get the gear to Nebraska? Well, I reached out to friends and supporters of the ministry who live in Wray, Colorado. Wray is “out of the way” up in the Northeast corner of Colorado. Lo and behold, they were heading to Kearney, NE only 40 miles away from Grand Isle for Thanksgiving! They offered to take the gear — for me it took a day to drive out and back, but well worth it to spend time with some college friends and wonderful supporters of me and the ministry.

The final fulfillment looks like the following:

  • 125 soccer balls (sizes 3, 4, and 5)
  • 51 jerseys of various adult and youth sizes
  • 50 long sleeve shirts various adult and youth sizes
  • 5 Goalkeeper sets

Remember, 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 cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

Walnut Middle School Fútbol Finding Ways

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Rev Cesar Duran has served with Soccer Chaplains United for some eight years and now lives in Nebraska, close to his son, César. His son is soon to begin his seventh year as a coach at Walnut Middle School in Grand Isle, Nebraska. The school is school is a Title I school — meaning that the majority of students are on a free or reduced lunch background.

Coach César serves a team of 100+ players along with 3 assistant coaches and two volunteers. When he took over in 2019, the team saw about 60 players come try out. Each year that number has grown. As a school team, for many of the students, this will be the last time they will ever play for an actual team.

As a Title I school, the sports programs require doing fundraisers for equipment or finding unique ways of getting more gear with limited funding and resources.

Our team has had the same practice balls for 6 years. The school is doing its best to purchase new soccer balls and last year we received 10 new ones, but it is a challenge with such a large number of players.

Coach César, on the limited resources for Walnut Fútbol

For Coach César, it’s more than just about fútbol (soccer). He shares about how he is trying to use the game to help these young men.

We share the love to the players by having lessons and conversations on the stereotypes of being a young man. Our students and athletes have challenges with gangs, drugs and the pressure of the young boys having to show off to “survive”… We also work with them on conversations about careers and preparing as they start their high school days…We only get two years to be with them but our connections have stayed with them and many of them come back for games and practices.

Coach César, on the importance of making an impact on the young boys’ lives

Specifically, Coach César has requested the following:

  • 50 soccer balls
  • 50 jerseys
  • Goalkeeper sets

Remember, 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 cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

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