Dear Friends,

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones doing well in this Easter season. Looking back over the last month and ahead to what will soon be summer there are several significant things happening for our ministry. I'd love to tell you that after 24 years of serving in this space that it's gotten easier, but that just isn't true. We need you and your support (prayer-wise and financial) more than ever before. Thanks for taking time to read on.

Chaplaincy Placements Stall Out

It's been a tough start to the year...while we've excitably placed two chaplains (Martin Lewis with Huntsville City FC and Rev Justin Noseworthy with Monterey Bay FC) earlier this year, we've stalled out on a couple of teams where we've been trying to replace chaplains:

Additionally, a couple of new teams where we had verbal agreements to discover and develop chaplains have severely stalled out. It's been super discouraging as myself and our team have done loads of work to find quality people and ready them to take on the chaplaincy, only to have these teams go silent. We don't know all the reasons, but our candidates are now considering moving on which is a double-heartbreak, in many ways.

Would you join us in praying for breakthroughs with these teams? And if we're not the right group or we don't have the right people, then the Lord's will be done and let Him keep the door 🚪closed!

We are still actively working on a number of teams, including offering up a couple of chaplain candidates for consideration for the NWSL Denver team. Supporters, we need your prayers!

Trading Spaces

For the past three years, Highline Community Church has partnered with Soccer Chaplains United to provide office space for me (Brad). Last month, the church received an offer for their building which is strategically placed in the I-25 corridor. Currently, the church is engaged in the selling process and they've informed me that a move out this summer is very likely.  

I have already reached out to a few nearby churches in my denomination (EPC) but each one has their own space/staffing issues.  If you know of a potential space along the E-470, I-25, or I-225 corridors (perferrably near the Denver Tech Center), please send me an email. Simply click here.

Board Member Openings

Soccer Chaplains United has two board member positions open. If you or someone you know may be interested in serving on the Soccer Chaplains United Board of Directors, please send us an email. Simply click here.

Our Board Members commit to:

• stewarding the work and ministry of Soccer Chaplains United
• prioritize attending 4 quarterly meetings (zoom or in-person, if local)
• contributing to the financial needs of the ministry
• praying and utilizing their network to grow the ministry
• usually serve a 3-year term that is renewable

Financial Update

We are super thankful for the church gathered at 1st Christian Reformed Church, Sioux Center, IA! Because of the work and relationship of Board Member Jan van Vliet, the church has awarded Soccer Chaplains United a grant for 2025 and our work to develop chaplains. The funds will be used to train and raise up new chaplains. Thank you 1st CRC!

We continue to make small strides in reducing our monthly deficit. Currently, we're running $800/month short.

As we get into the 2nd quarter, we'd like to ask our supporters and partners to consider "topping up" your gift, if you are able — if someone is donating at $20 can you go to $25 or $50? If you're at $225, can you move to $250? 

As we get further along into the new year, we're working hard to not fall too far behind. Your continued support is vital, and we invite you to consider a donation or amending a current donation via PushPay or mailing your gift to Soccer Chaplains United, PO Box 102081, Denver, CO 80250.

Community Project Request

We've got a few firsts when it comes to our Community Project Program. Our FIRST request of 2025 has come from Greg Aydt and a team headed to Peru this summer from Saint Patrick's Presbyterian Church in Collierville, TN. It's the church's FIRST trip to Peru and teaming up with PeruMission. And it's Soccer Chaplains United's FIRST time to support a team/trip that is headed to Peru! Learn more about this neat story!

If your church or non-profit would like to request soccer gear, please go to our community project page by clicking here.

We have some updates coming soon from some of last year's projects.

From The Touchline Podcast Milestone

From The Touchline had a podcast milestone a few weeks ago. We hit 300 podcasts! We took time during podcast #303 to look back on the last seven years of podcasting and some of my favorite memories and moments. We've also taken the opportunity to redesign our podcast artwork (featured below, thank you Caley Kenney!) and record an new podcast opener!

Subscribe to the podcast here.

Game Plans and Gospel @ 4th Global GCSC

I am excited to be presenting this summer at the 4th Global Congress on Sport and Christianity at Baylor University's Truett Seminary. The topic that I have been praying about and preparing to speak on is the translation work that chaplains in sport often have to do. The secular teams and environments that we work in often have many people who don't know the Bible and have never heard the Gospel story. 

This creates a unique opportunity to share, but often time and space and the subcultures of sport mean that we have to do quite a bit or translating and paraphrasing as we share. The idea for this came as a result of publishing The Soccer Psalms. I am looking forward to sharing later this summer.

Well, that's it for now! A lot of updates and thanks for spending some of your time to scroll through and read the various stories. God's greatest blessings on you and your family.

With gratitude,

Brad Kenney and the Soccer Chaplains United Team