Mike Hahn | Soccer Chaplains United

Last week we shared about CrossTraining’s gift to His Little Feet international choir when they were on tour this past summer. Now, in the Timothy Project: His Little Feet 2016 – Part 2 we share the rest of the story. Driving away after giving brand new jerseys to the boys int eh choir, CrossTraining’s Executive Director, Rev. Brad Kenney, had his two older girls ask, “Dad, what about the girls?” The international choir featured 10 boys and nearly as many girls – all from different walks and backgrounds. “Well, I asked their tour director about it and he didn’t think that the girls would want soccer jerseys.” “But dad, they looked like they would have liked to receive something, too.” was the earnest plea from Rev. Kenney’s 12 and 11 year-old girls. “I know girls, I saw it, too. I tell you what, I will try to call him back and see if we can do something.”

The phone call was made. “Hi, Mike? Hello, it’s Brad, again. Mike, my girls really want to do something for the girls, too.”

With the choir about to perform, arrangements were made to revisit the choir and this time to give something to the girls. Rev. Kenney shared how the rest of the evening went,

When I called Mike back, I told him that we had women’s jerseys, too, and that we wanted to make sure that the girls felt just as loved. As I was driving back, I was reflecting on how often in our world our default or bias excludes women and girls in certain things. I think having four daughters has made me think differently about that.

When Rev. Kenney returned, this time he brought all four of his daughters to deliver the women’s jerseys.

It was a precious time as my girls got to hand out the women’s jerseys which had a totally different look and feel. These girls could feel valued just as much as the boys. In fact, Mike shared with me that some of the boys had been flaunting their new jerseys and had upset some of the girls, so when the girls received their own jersey they were beaming and had huge smiles.

Not all Timothy Projects are about going overseas. Sometimes its about those who come to the U.S. Timothy Project: His Little Feet 2016 – Part 1 is one of those stories. This past summer the international choir, His Little Feet, came to Denver, Colorado on tour. When CrossTraining Executive Director, Rev. Brad Kenney, heard their music and listened to their stories he felt touched – that maybe for these children many of whom were orphans and hoping for adoption might enjoy a special gift.

Many of the children in the choir have had significant losses – their parents, their homes, their families. They live with virtually nothing compared to those of us in the U.S.

And so, after hearing them in concert, Rev. Kenney reached to the tour director, Mike Hahn.

I asked Mike if we could bring some soccer jerseys for the kids. I shared about my own work and our Timothy Project. Although it was a little bit different than our typical Timothy Project kinds of work, I felt that it would be a nice gesture.

Rev. Kenney and two of his daughters went to where the choir was going to be performing next and delivered about 20 jerseys to the boys who were on the tour.

To be honest, while they were very respectful, I don’t think the boys knew exactly what we were doing [in giving them the jerseys] or why we were there. But soon, smiles spread on their faces and there were hugs all around. It was really a neat time to see their realization that these things were a gift.

The boys were very excited upon receiving the brand new Colorado Rapids soccer jerseys. As Rev. Kenney drove away with his daughters, they asked a powerful question, “Dad, what about the girls?”

Read next week for Part 2 of the Timothy Project: His Little Feet 2016.