Last month was Pastor/Chaplain Appreciation Month and we took time to feature some of our new chaplains with Soccer Chaplains United this year. Well, we’ve added so many new people that we thought we’d carry on that we couldn’t contain into just one month and we love our volunteer chaplains because they serve so willingly and so well without renumeration or much glory.
Today, on the podcast, it’s part two of my interview with Jason Rollins. Jason is volunteer chaplain to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC since February of this year. He’s replaced long-time chaplain Kurt Trempert who had to resign last year to take a new church leadership role. In part two, Jason and I discuss more of his work in following on from friend Kurt and we also get into some girl-dad talk and play a game of Crosses with Rev. It’s a fun bit for the next 30 minutes that we hope you’ll enjoy.
From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) 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/2019/11/From-the-Touchline-Cover-Art.jpg15001500Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2024-11-06 00:00:002024-10-22 12:44:04Chaplain Appreciation: Meet Chaplain Jason Rollins – Part 2
October is Pastor/Chaplain Appreciation Month. All month long we’re featuring some of our new chaplains on the podcast because we really appreciate our volunteer people who serve without renumeration or much glory.
Today, on the podcast, it’s part one of my interview with Jason Rollins. Jason has been serving as volunteer chaplain to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC since February. And here, in part one, Jason shares a bit about growing up in Quito, Ecuador and how he got connected into doing the work with the Switchbacks. If you’ve got 30 minutes you’ll enjoy hearing the beginning of Jason’s story.
From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) 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/2019/11/From-the-Touchline-Cover-Art.jpg15001500Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2024-10-30 00:00:002024-10-22 12:36:30Chaplain Appreciation: Meet Chaplain Jason Rollins – Part 1
When Jason Rollins heard that Kurt Trempert was stepping down from serving as the volunteer chaplain to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, he politely asked, “Who is filling your spot?” But, to be honest, he didn’t give it much more thought — he wasn’t ordained, isn’t a pastor, and has never been a “chaplain” before.
But as the search continued for a volunteer chaplain to serve the team, there were a number of barriers present for several of the other candidates, namely the issue of being able to commit to the time involved in serving as a team chaplain. As several candidates dropped off due to busyness, we re-opened the search and after consulting former chaplain, Kurt Trempert, Jason is one of the people that we encouraged to consider applying.
I love working with athletes and building relationships through the vehicle of sports. The position of chaplain for Switchbacks FC began to grow on me because of the combination of soccer and that opportunity for building relationships…
Jason, on his growing interest in the role of chaplain
Despite Jason not having served as a chaplain before, his work and service for some 20 years in education and his current role as Athletic Director for Colorado Springs Christian Schools came across to the interview team as a tremendous preparation point for serving as volunteer chaplain. In addition, Jason’s willingness to pursue a licensing and commission pathway with the Christian Missionary Alliance (CMA) and potential explore an institutional chaplaincy training program helped open the door of possibility for serving in this capacity.
Jason was also previously known to myself (Brad) and others at Soccer Chaplains United as he has led several mission teams to Quito, Ecuador. Born and raised in Quito with missionary parents, Jason has returned several times ,taking soccer gear through our Community Project programs in 2017, 2019, and 2022. Jason also has participated in the Soccer Chaplains United 2021 MLS Cup Watch Party and is a good friend of former chaplain Kurt Trempert.
Jason recently completed a Mental Performance Mastery Coach Certification. It’s part of his passion and gifting to help individuals in sport to achieve the best out of themselves. This, in addition, to several coaching certificates in soccer and certification as an Athletic Director, have positioned him to serve young people in sport for a long time.
My wife knows I love working with athletes, while mental performance coaching is different from chaplaincy, I imagine there is some overlap with helping athletes find and discover resources from within themselves, their faith history and backgrounds (if they have one), and from family and community to help them play, perform, and be well-rounded people.
Jason, on possible applications and translations of his mental performance coaching into chaplaincy
Jason has a professional proficiency in speaking Spanish that will help to serve his time with the athletes. In addition, as Jason serves as a volunteer chaplain there remains more opportunity to build the chaplain team serving the Switchbacks organization for the future.
We are excited to see the chaplaincy transition to Jason prior to the season start. We want to ask our supporters to pray for his work with the Switchbacks organization.
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 chaplains and our work. Click the link below to make a gift or check out our Donate page for different giving options.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/rollins-head-shot--e1707782624553.jpeg537862Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2024-02-19 00:00:002024-07-08 23:45:19Rollins Getting Rolling, Set to Serve Switchbacks FC As Chaplain
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
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!
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