United See Three Graduate Seminary This Spring

I can’t recall a time in our history when we had so many of our chaplains finishing up a seminary degree. The past few weeks have seen three Soccer Chaplains United chaplains competing their course work and graduating from their respective institutions. Ben Pflederer (Denver Seminary — MDiv), Malcom Brown (Vanderbilt Divinity— MDiv Chaplaincy), and Russell Branham (Westminster Theological Seminary — MA Counseling) have all made massive strides in their training and education all while also serving in a volunteer chaplain capacity with their teams (along with all the other things in life!).

For Soccer Chaplains United, a high value is for our volunteer chaplains to have a high level of training. While not every person enters into a chaplain role having completed a Master’s Degree, it’s something that we look for amongst our chaplain candidates when we hold interviews or go to make a placement. All three of these men were already in their seminary programs when they began with Soccer Chaplains United, and we are proud to see them complete their training!

Of all the noteworthy elements from my time at Vanderbilt Divinity School, I am most grateful that I depart with greater confidence in my ability to serve as chaplain. Whatever doors God may lead me through, I look forward to continuing in the work to which I have been called.

— Malcolm, on finishing at Vandy

Russell Branham is also graduating (but not pictured as he’s not able to make it to the graduation ceremony to walk). Russ shared with me that as he graduates with a Master’s in Biblical Counseling that he will continue his work with the Koinonia Ministry at Christ the Redeemer Church in Spokane, WA. This is a biblically centered ministry of counseling and caring for those in the church. His hope is to eventually transition from his vocation in the medical device industry space into full-time ministry as a Biblical Counselor.

For Ben Pflederer, he plans to continue working for Denver Presbyterian as the Youth Ministry Director and continue my chaplain work with the Rapids Academy. Longer term he hopes to be ordained and possibly pursue either a Master of Theology in Old Testament or a PhD.

Denver Seminary was an incredible place for learning and growth alongside amazing peers and outstanding faculty. It equipped and trained me, above all, to love the Savior and His words more and continually be formed to be like Him, along with all the essential tools to study and lead in advancing the kingdom and the Gospel as a part of God’s great redemptive work. I truly see God and His work and His church with wider vision and more wonder and imagination for all the He does and can do, Denver Seminary was a special place in cultivating that by challenging and stretching me–academically, spiritually, emotionally.

— Ben, speaking on his experience with Denver Seminary

Please keep these three chaplains in your prayers as they continue to live out their faith in practice and come alongside of people, not only in soccer, but elsewhere in the different vocational roles and responsibilities that they carry.

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