From the Touchline

October is pastoral and chaplain appreciation month and it’s our last podcast of the month where we focus in on Soccer Chaplains United people and their service and pastoral care in the soccer space.

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I am joined by Gavin Brand. Gavin is the volunteer chaplain for Ballard FC, a team that plays in the United Soccer League Two. Gavin shares about his journey as a army chaplain and the work that he does with the team as well as Trinity Church in Seattle. We wrap up the podcast with a fun game of Crosses with Rev.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

October is pastoral and chaplain appreciation month and for the remainder of the month, I’d like to interview several of Soccer Chaplains United’s very own chaplains. In the course of the next couple of weeks we can listen to and hear the work that they are doing with their teams and some of their origin story of how they came to be part of Soccer Chaplains United.

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I am joined by Justin Noseworthy. Justin is the volunteer chaplain for Monterey Bay FC, a team that plays in the United Soccer League Championship. Justin talks about his journey as young person coming to know Jesus, his work with Monterey Bay FC which began a couple years before becoming chaplain and a little bit about his church, All Things New Church. We wrap up the podcast with a fun game of Crosses with Rev.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

October is pastoral and chaplain appreciation month and for the remainder of the month, I’d like to interview several of Soccer Chaplains United’s very own chaplains. In the course of the next few weeks we can listen to and hear the work that they are doing with their teams and some of their origin story of how they came to be part of Soccer Chaplains United.

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I am joined by Mike Richards. Mike is the volunteer chaplain for El Paso Locomotive FC, a team that plays in the United Soccer League Championship. Mike talks about his background of his grandparents as missionaries to Mexico, his work with El Paso Locomotive FC and the Jamaican National Team, as well as his church, Vino Nuevo. We wrap up the podcast with a fun game of Crosses with Rev and Mike unseats Ben Dudley from the Crosses with Rev leaderboard throne!

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

October is pastoral and chaplain appreciation month and for the remainder of the month, I’d like to interview several of Soccer Chaplains United’s very own chaplains. In the course of the next few weeks we can listen to and hear the work that they are doing with their teams and some of their origin story of how they came to be part of Soccer Chaplains United.

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I am joined by Russell Branham. Russ is the volunteer chaplain for the Spokane Velocity, a team that had its inaugural season in the United Soccer League 1 and nearly won the championship. Russ shares about how he and his wife came to faith, some of the work he does as volunteer team chaplain, and we play a fun game of Crosses with Rev.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

Often times we can look at professional athletes and think that their life is glamorous and desirable, but we may not know how hard it is to get there and the many sacrifices made to play the Beautiful Game. Last week, Clint Irwin began with his origin story and gave us a look at the difficulty and determination needed to get to the top level of soccer in the US — Major League Soccer.

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, part 2 as Clint shares more about his time in MLS and his many memories and moments, high and low, of his long career. Clint also plays a game of Crosses with Rev and starts strong but in the end has a bit of a fumble. It’s all good fun. Thanks for listening!

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

There are countless stories of soccer players who couch surf and go wherever the game may take them in an attempt to live out their dream to play professional soccer. Some make, most don’t. There are fewer opportunities to make it to the top leagues these days without hard-work and a gritty determination. And there many, sadly, whose dreams fall short of the ultimate goal.

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I am joined by special guest Clint Irwin, former goalkeeper in Major League Soccer. Here, in part 1, Clint shares his origin story and his journey to becoming a long-tenured (12 seasons) MLS goalkeeper and the hard-work, dedication, and determination that was needed to see that dream of becoming a pro come to fruition.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

The past few weeks have been troubling in the US, to say the least — stabbings, shootings, marches and more in a country that has been typically a peace-filled one. What can we do in such times? How do we respond in such moments? Can we experience true peace? How do we pray for true peace during such times?

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I reflect on the life of David and his writing of Psalm 51 and also share Paul’s words to the Christians in Philippi and his instructions to them to pray and petition God (with thanksgiving) for God’s peace. I share the Christian practice of Lectio Divina and encourage some reflection and practice for people everywhere.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

Today, and today only, for From the Touchline podcast listeners The Soccer Psalms ebook is free on Amazon. All you need to do is go to Amazon, search up The Soccer Psalms and download the Kindle version. Don’t have Kindle? It’s okay, you only need the free Kindle app in order to get your free copy. I share a brief except today on the podcast and I would love it if you would write a review of the book for me.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I share from my experience this past weekend as I was invited out to be present in an athlete retirement ceremony and celebration. Clint Irwin, former Colorado Rapids goalkeeper, who also played for Toronto FC and Minnesota United FC, had a moment for friends and family to gather. I’d shared with Clint the idea of having some sort of ceremony or ritual to mark the occasion. Often, athletes play their last professional game without really knowing that it was that — their last game. We need closure. We need ceremony. We need to celebrate, commemorate, and commission athletes into a new chapter of life and living. I talk a bit more about that on today’s podcast.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I offer some final thoughts on the 4th Global Congress on Sport and Christianity in Waco, Texas which happened at the beginning of August. It was my fourth congress and I share some of my favorite highlights, a view toward where sports and soccer chaplaincy may be headed for the future, and my takeaway which has me circling the calendar for the next congress, being planned for October 2028 in Vancouver, BC.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.