Jubal McDaniel serves as the Volunteer Chaplain to the Tacoma Defiance (USL-Championship) in Tacoma, WA. With a late-2020 placement and that coming in the middle of a pandemic, his first steps to serve the Defiance were put on hold as the team ended the 2020 campaign. The door was opened; however, for Jubal to get a brief introduction to the team via Zoom with two weeks remaining in the season. But, as is the case in USL, there is frequently a lot of change. The head manager moved on to a new opportunity, several athletes moved to other teams around the country and, in many ways, 2021 would be a bit of a re-start. With the 2021 season quickly approaching,

I am pleased to announce the newest member of Soccer Chaplains United — Jubal McDaniel. Jubal will serve as volunteer chaplain for the Tacoma Defiance, of the United Soccer League—Championship. Jubal is the Founder and Executive Director of NW Football Ministries, a non-profit organization created to help poor and immigrant families be able to enjoy the game of soccer and to also receive encouragement and hear about the Good News of the Gospel through the examples and witness of the coaches. Jubal also serves as Elementary Athletic Director for Cascade Christian Schools where he coaches the girls Junior High and High School teams. You can learn more on his bio page here. Jubal McDaniel will serve as the volunteer chaplain for

I am excited to announce that with the United Soccer League—Championship kicking off this past weekend, Erick Jiménez, has moved through the candidacy process with Soccer Chaplains United and will now be appointed to serve as volunteer chaplain to El Paso Locomotive FC. Erick is the Pastoral Director of Young Marrieds and Family at Coronado Baptist Church and is currently working on his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. You can read more about him on his bio page here. Erick Jimenez will become El Paso Locomotive's first volunteer chaplain During the time of COVID-19, chaplaincy placement conversations have been extremely difficult as different teams and organizations bide their time to see how the global pandemic will

Defend Memphis, the motto of United Soccer League - Championship team, Memphis 901 FC, has an interesting history behind it. That motto not only helps characterize the city of Memphis, it can give inspiration to others, as well. In today's From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad hosts special guest Rev Greg Aydt, chaplain for Memphis 901 FC. Rev Brad and Rev Greg talk about Greg's experience for the first year working with Memphis 901 FC, life in the USL- Championship, and how chaplains can offer support for athletes, coaches, and staff when they go through the ups and downs of the game. Resources referenced in today's podcast include: How Champions Think: In Sports and in Life, Dr. Bob Rotella From

This week, I've had the special privilege of spending time with Greg Aydt, serving as chaplain with Memphis 901FC, an expansion team with USL-Championship, the second division of professional soccer in the US. Greg has been serving the club since the beginning of the year. It's not just a new team to Memphis, but a new opportunity for Greg who serves as a pastor at Advent Presbyterian and today passed his examination for ordination in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Greg and I pose outside Autozone Park, home stadium of Memphis 901 FC. Memphis 901 FC has captured the hearts of many in the city of Memphis. As a professional soccer team, coming to this city has meant a lot, especially