Last week, members of the Cherry Creek 2024 Uganda short-term mission trip came over to my house to help with sorting and bagging gear to take with them to Uganda. The team, leaving on July 3, will spend time in the capital city of Kampala and work with long-time partner, Mirembe House. The team will host some Vacation Bible School as well as play soccer and host a sports camp. To track the team, click this link.
CCPC Uganda 2024 Team Members hold a sampling of items bagged and packed for their upcoming trip.
Below is a list of items that the team will take with them to give to the children that they work with and spend time with:
2 pairs of soccer cleats
5 ball pumps
2 balls (size 4)
28 jackets
2 GK sets (jersey, shorts, socks)
2 soccer nets
38 training and compression pants
112 compression shorts
27 soccer shorts
81 t-shirts
20 scarves
The total weight came out to around 125 pounds of gear that the team will take with them to Uganda!
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/2018/07/ugandan-flag-graphic-(1).png300450Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2024-06-27 00:00:002024-07-19 11:12:152024 Uganda Community Project Fulfillment
Every other year, Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church sends a team of high school juniors and seniors and adult leaders to Uganda to participate in Youth for Christ’s ministry in Kampala. The church has been working with Youth for Christ Uganda since 2007 with the hope and belief that the trips are making huge changes in the lives of the student team and in the communities they are serving. The 2024 trip will be the 5th trip that Soccer Chaplains United partners to send soccer gear and equipment with this local church partner. You can see summaries from 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 by clicking on the appropriate link.
Despite some of the negatives that can accompany short term missions, Cherry Creek and its team members are working to overcome those. Primarily, by continuing to serve and foster long-term relationships. As well as making sure group members are there for the right reasons — it’s not some exotic vacation and the primary focus is not to share wealth, but is to take part in the amazing things God is already doing in country with the ministry.
The 2015 trip with CCPC, saw the team hand out uniforms from the Colorado Rapids
Student trip participant, Alex Cevaal shared,
I personally will love to go on this trip because Jesus calls us to love one another just as he loves us, and that is exactly what I want to do. I want to serve people who might seem different than me, but are my brothers and sisters in Christ. I’m hoping that on this trip God is able to open my eyes to his beauty, because sometimes it’s hard for me to see it in my busy life. We know that the best thing you can do for anyone is just to love them, and our goal on this trip is to show God’s love to as many different people as we can. Whether that’s playing soccer with some school kids or having a hard conversation with a pregnant teen who’s been kicked out of her home, loving others is what Jesus wants us to do and that is what we want to do in Uganda.
Alex, on his reasons for going on the trip this year
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/2017/07/K09A5637.jpg12801920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2024-05-16 00:00:002024-07-08 23:46:47Creek Heads Back To Uganda
Today’s Community Project Update features a Thank You from Musana Community (Kampala, Uganda). You might remember that Musana had made request which we filled in August of 2020. Months of delays in shipping items to the African nation which was shut-down effectively because of COVID-19, the gear arrived in 2021; however, many schools and government agencies were still closed down due to the pandemic and Musana wasn’t able to distribute and start using the gear until last year (2022).
We’re excited to share a video thank you update (also viewable here on our YouTube channel and on our front web page). Originally, Soccer Chaplains United sent Musana the nearly 900 lbs of soccer gear in converted shipping containers which were built out to function as school and medical rooms to the community center in rural Uganda (outside of Kampala).
Team MusanaPre-match photo with the opponentCelebrating a goal!
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!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2022-03-0F5A4925-scaled.jpg12811920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-03-16 00:00:002024-07-08 23:50:03Update: Musana Community Thank You
Partner church Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church made their way to Uganda this past summer. The team made a request for soccer gear from Soccer Chaplains United’s Community Project program. You can see what gear we were able to provide by clicking here. They share a final update on the trip and how it went below.
Uganda
This year our church was able to take a team of high school students to Uganda to partner with Youth for Christ (YFC) Uganda in serving schools in the town of Matugga. One of things that always helps our team connect with the Ugandan people is the game of soccer. In bringing different types of gear and uniforms we connect relationally with the YFC team as well as empower them to connect with their community.
YFC Uganda is involved with local schools helping combat early dropouts and teen pregnancies. One of the ways they connect with the students in the community is by holding soccer tournaments. The gear that is provided helps facilitate these tournaments by providing new teams uniforms and prizes to attract new teams. These tournaments give the members of the organization credibility when they present their messages in schools.
The uniforms that are donated help foster team pride and bonding. When a team receives their new kits you can sense an increase in their morale. They often remark that they look ‘smart’ and must play as well as they look. The gear also helps our team connect with the YFC team. Our team joins up with YFC team to compete in the tournament. Putting on the same kit and supporting each other adds a layer of relational connection that makes ministry more fruitful.
Finally, the gear provided helps facilitate YFC’s provide a place of connection for the students in the area. Their soccer facilities and gear help draw students away from the street and gangs and gives them a safe place to connect with adults and other students their age. The donations are a big part of YFC’s mission to be a beacon of hope in their region.
Thank you so much for partnering with our trip. It was an amazing trip. The gear you provided helped so much in connecting our team with the YFC team and allowed us to bless the students in Matugga.
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/2022/10/K09A9211.jpg12801920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-10-27 00:00:002024-07-08 23:56:43CCPC Uganda 2022 Team Blesses Matuggan Students
Late last week, two teams from partner church Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church made their way to Ethiopia and Uganda. Both teams made requests for soccer gear from Soccer Chaplains United’s Community Project request program. You can follow the teams progress and blog updates below.
Ethiopia
This family trip runs from July 9—24. Serving alongside Hope for the Fatherless, an orphan ministry in the capital city of Addis Ababa that seeks to meet the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children and place them in loving families through domestic adoption and reunification, as well as develop a culture of adoption and orphan care in Ethiopia and around the world.
Student ministry trip runs from July 10-26. The team serves once again with Uganda Youth for Christ, who have been CCPC partners in the gospel since the church’s first visit in 2007. This team of Ugandan young people is on the ground every day, serving Christ, sharing the gospel in schools, caring for and equipping teen moms, and being lights in very dark places.
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/2018/08/oneworldballethiopia2018.jpg899899Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-07-14 00:00:002024-07-08 23:59:44CCPC Teams Out to Africa
Soccer Chaplains United church partner Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church (CCPC), next month, returns to Kampala, Uganda to serve alongside Youth for Christ Uganda. The church has been sending teams to work alongside YFC-Uganda since 2007. This year will be especially impactful as the team looks to support and encourage the staff and volunteers, especially after all the hardship of these past few years due to COVID.
YFC-Uganda Staff share about the love of Jesus after a soccer game
While the team is in Uganda, they will serve at the Mirembe House, a home for single pregnant teens to live and find care. Additionally, they will help to support school outreaches, put on a sports ministry camp, and help with other work projects as needed. The team will take some time at the end of the trip to see and experience the beauty of Africa with a short safari in Murchison Falls National Park.
I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for this amazing trip! I have been challenged spiritually while deciding to go on this trip for multiple reasons. I have learned to fully trust in His plans for my summer. I learned that sometimes there isn’t a right or wrong decision, sometimes there is just faith – faith that the Lord is doing BIG things and He cares and provides for us so well.
Olivia Schwarz, 2022 CCPC Team Member, on looking forward to this year’s trip
Soccer Chaplains United has supported multiple CCPC trips to Uganda. This year (2022) marks the 4th such trip and includes trips dating back to 2015, 2017, and 2019. You can see other reports and mentions of our partnership work in Uganda by clicking here.
Uganda is one of the poorest nations in the world with over 87% of the population living on $5.50 USD a day or less. For team member, Olivia Schwarz, she has seen the providence of God in many ways, even before the trip has begun. She shared,
As I prepare, I am excited to immerse myself in the culture and learn all I can from this experience. To have the opportunity to see what the Lord is doing 8,516 miles away and to be His hands and feet is very special. I have personally seen the Lord’s hand throughout preparing for this trip, through financial support, learning what faith is and how to trust Him more, and Godly counsel. I am excited to see what the Lord has for me and the team on this trip. I feel very blessed to see God’s provision through the opportunity to donate items of need, from baby clothes to soccer gear in order to further bless the people of Uganda.
Olivia Schwarz
Project Request
The CCPC Team is requesting 1 indestructible (One World Play) soccer ball and Rapids jerseys or shirts for 25-50 children.
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/2022/06/Uganda17-330.jpg11201680Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2022-06-09 06:00:002024-07-09 00:00:19CCPC Returns to Uganda After Missing Last Year
Today, I will be taking a long drive to deliver the soccer gear and equipment for the Musana Community Project Request. Musana, currently, is the only project that has been able to try and get off the ground in a year stifled by COVID-19. With many countries and non-profit and NGO’s hampered by the global pandemic, Musana continues to try and move forward with their plan to send converted shipping containers (doubling as school and medical rooms) to rural Uganda (outside of Kampala).
Originally, Soccer Chaplains United was able to fill about 10 bins with about 425 lbs. of soccer gear and equipment; but when Valor canceled their trip to Costa Rica and with many churches and groups canceling the typical summer mission trips, the opportunity came to provide Musana with more. Last month, a packing day with some local Christian high school student volunteers helped get Musana double what was originally planned.
20 bins for Musana, carefully and tightly loaded!
Today, nearly 8 months since receiving the request and after numerous revisions to manifests and such, I will load up and deliver 20 bins weighing over 850 lbs. for the Musana fulfillment. In the time that we have been tracking the total weight of different projects, Musana is a record breaker, coming at 863.5 lbs! A much larger project given that items can be shipped via containers. The hope is that in the next month, localized inspections and sealing up the containers for shipping will see all the items finally on their way.
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!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_1186-Edit-scaled.jpeg12301920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2020-08-06 08:00:002020-08-05 13:44:05Musana Double Down
Musana Community Development is the first Community Project request for Soccer Chaplains United for 2020. Musana is a non-profit located in Uganda, which started 11 years ago, when Colorado natives Andrea and Leah Pauline traveled to Uganda for a summer internship. Witnessing extreme poverty and corruption at a local orphanage, they knew they had to help.
Shortly after starting Musana, the girls began partnering with local Ugandans to empower them to BE THE CHANGE in their own community. That is when their vision shifted and they realized a new way to tackle poverty. Led and envisioned by local Ugandans, Musana is not a charity, but a sustainable solution. Bringing economic and social development together, Musana uses social enterprises as a catalyst for change.
Musana is breaking the cycle of poverty through an integrated, holistic approach that is restoring hope and dignity by pointing to the local people, in helping them realize their own capacity to not only survive, but to thrive.
About Musana
WE BELIEVE IN… LOCAL OWNERSHIP: Our projects are envisioned and implemented by a team of local men and women who empower and drive the community to take a leadership role in “being the change.” SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: We promote an innovative social business mentality by creating enterprises focused on health, education, and skill development. SUSTAINABILITY: We aim to generate 100% of our operating budget through locally generated funds from our social enterprises. ACCOUNTABILITY: We fight corruption through strict checks and balances, and internal controls to ensure that every Ugandan shilling is spent with integrity and efficiently supports the development of the community. THE CYCLE: Our social enterprises (Education, Health Care and Skills Development) work independently but in support of each other, cycling the profits back into the community through education scholarships, rural workshops, medical assistance, microloans, and skills training.
The Project
Musana is teaming up with Homes of Living Hope to donate much needed supplies to Musana’s replication site, where a new school will be opening February 2020. The purchased land and start of construction will result in a third campus of the Musana Nursery and Primary School to provide a unique, quality education to 1,000 Ugandan children living in Kaliro.
The organization will have 2-3 containers located in North and South Denver for three months (February – April) — building out these shipping containers to be used as vocational classrooms at the new site in Uganda. The containers will also be filled with medical equipment, school supplies and sports equipment. Uniform donations from Soccer Chaplains United will fulfill a huge need for the students.
The Request
Musana is requesting matching uniforms for teen boys (including jerseys & shorts), soccer balls, cleats and shin guards. Any quantity will be welcomed, as they have multiple teams, with over 100 students playing soccer each year.
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 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/2020/01/Soccer-Secondary-School-scaled.jpg12821920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2020-01-09 05:00:492019-12-30 20:37:31Musana First for 2020
The team from partner church, Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, returned from Kampala, Uganda and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in July. The team of 19 students and leaders returned with some great stories and pictures of their time in these two African countries.
While the team was in Uganda, they ministered with Youth for Christ (YFC). Youth for Christ has recently moved from the capital city of Kampala to the city of Matugga. On their new property, they have a soccer field where they hold community soccer games. On one of the days the CCPC team were there, YFC invited kids from the community and nearby schools to come play soccer in their field. Members of the CCPC team went down to the field to meet the kids. After meeting the people who came, they had the opportunity to give their new friends the gift of Rapids jerseys. They continued to grow their relationships with the people who came by playing two soccer games.
The boys of Uganda pose with some new soccer gear from Soccer Chaplains United and the Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church team from this past summer.
After the games were finished, the team gathered and sat on the field. One of the YFC staff members and Chris Piehl, the CCPC youth pastor, shared the Gospel and gave people the opportunity to put their faith in Christ. Slowly, two of the boys raised their hands. Pastor Chris led them in a prayer to accept Christ into their lives. He also gave them each a Bible that the team had brought.
One moment that stood out to the team happened as they were driving back to the guest house. After loading onto the bus, and driving away, the team noticed that one of the boys with a Bible was excitedly reading his Bible as he walked away from the field with a group of boys.
We are grateful for the ways our ministry was expanded by the opportunity to give people Rapids jerseys. Giving away the jerseys was a way for us to show the community in Matugga our love for them, and point them to the love of Christ. As the people who came to play soccer with us continue to wear their jerseys, their jerseys serve as a constant reminder of our enjoyable time with them and the message of Christ’s infinite love for them
Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church Trip Participant
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 CCPC team member contributed the content for this article; it has been edited and formatted for use here by Soccer Chaplains United.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/K09A1139.jpg12801920Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-08-22 17:00:432022-05-09 22:25:11CCPC in Uganda
The youth group at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, one of Soccer Chaplains United’s partner churches, will be taking a trip to Kampala, Uganda and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in July. A team of 19 students and leaders, passionate about serving the Lord and others, will leave for a couple of weeks to travel to Ethiopia and Uganda and work with different groups and organizations in each country.
Our team is excited about this opportunity to participate in how God is working across the world. We are going on this trip to love, bless, and encourage people in Uganda and Ethiopia.
Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church Trip Participant
For the first part of the trip, the team from Cherry Creek will be running a VBS for Hope for the Fatherless. Hope for the Fatherless is an organization that seeks to cultivate a culture of adoption in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a major orphan crisis that has been worsened by the fact that they do not currently allow international adoptions.
The second part of the trip, will feature time in Kampala, Uganda to serve alongside Youth for Christ Uganda. While there, the team will join in school outreaches and sports ministry. School outreaches will include skits, dancing, and different team members sharing their testimonies. Part of the ministry work within the community will include playing soccer with the children, and we want to hand out soccer equipment during those games. This trip will be part of the church’s continued partnership that began in 2007. We will also have the opportunity to put doors and windows on the Mirembe house, a home for single, pregnant teens.
While we are there, we hope to bless and encourage the people we come in contact with…our desire is that God would show the people of Uganda and Ethiopia His incredible love through us and that His love would leave a lasting impact on the people we interact with.
Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church Trip Participant
Specific to the request from Soccer Chaplains United, the team is looking to take about 100 pounds of soccer gear and equipment on their trip: soccer balls, jerseys, and cleats.
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!
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ugandan-flag-graphic-(1).png300450Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2019-06-24 10:14:132022-05-10 06:28:31CCPC Headed to Africa
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