From The Touchline | Soccer Chaplains United

During the MLS preseason, a lot of physical, mental, and emotional preparations go on. But what about our spiritual preparations? What about preparing for some of the challenges that we face in life — whether we are at home or on a month-long trip for preseason on the road? Today, on the podcast, I begin a series on temptation. Looking at the nature of it and way to combat it we get into the first stage of temptation, the assaultive thoughts that attack our minds. Are these attacks dramatic and loud? Is it a sin to be tempted? What’s God’s part in all of this? We dive into some of these questions and more. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Three King’s Day was yesterday, January 6. It is the time that marks the end of the Christmas season and the visit of the Magi to the Christ child. Many speak of the three kings — in song, story (some fable), and poem — but what we know is that there were three gifts that are mentioned in Matthew 2: gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. These three gifts hold multiple meanings — symbolic on different levels, but they also might be a point of introspection for us as we move into the new year. Today, on the podcast, what gifts of wealth (gold), worship (incense), and weakness (myrrh) do you and I bring into 2026? Whether as an athlete, coach, staffer, or chaplain — and whether it is into our work spaces or into our homes or church communities each of us brings these gifts (given by God) and they are a beautiful part of who we are. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Some of you know that I love my Scottish/English/Irish heritage (maybe a little too much). I have found much within Celtic Christianity, that I connect with and today on the podcast, I share about a Scottish tradition of ‘first-footing.’ Essentially, the first guest into someone’s home for the New Year carries symbolic and representative gifts that are to be a boon and blessing for the year to come. My encouragement today is that we need to let Jesus Christ ‘first-foot’ into our hearts, homes, and lives. Whether as a professional footballer or coach, as a chaplain, or simply as a fan. We need to let Jesus be first in the door and to bring us the gift of himself to fulfill all our hopes and desires. Praying that you and your loved ones have a blessed and wonderful 2026 as you let Jesus ‘first-foot’! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Hey friends, sometimes it can be hard to find that gift for that special person who enjoys soccer. I just wanted to quickly share a couple of resources that might be great gift ideas during this Christmas season. I recently had a couple of conversations with some friends and suggested a couple of devotionals to fit the need. The Light is Coming, The Five Women You Meet In Faith and Football, and more recently, The Soccer Psalms, are all faith and football/soccer related devotionals. It could be a great tool or resource for helping to encourage a child or grandchild in their faith and in seeing the way that their faith can relate to soccer. The Light is Coming is also written in Spanish and Portuguese as part of our 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup outreach. The Soccer Psalms is written in British english as The Football Psalms and in Spanish as Los Salmos del Fútbol and hopefully next year will be released in French and Portuguese — you can find each of these on Amazon, pretty much anywhere in the world! If you have a team that you’d like to get the devotionals for or want to order in a large quantity to give away as gifts, please feel free to reach to me at brad@soccerchaplainsunited.org and we’d love to help you gift these to your team. Have a wonderful Christmas! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Hey friends, this time of year, I love to feature some of the talents and skills of our chaplains. Today, on the podcast, Justin Noseworthy, our chaplain for Monterey Bay FC plays and sings O Come, O Come Emmanuel for our podcast episode today.  Enjoy the musical gifts and talents of Justin Noseworthy and have a wonderful Christmas! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Christmas is just a few days away — during this time of year, waiting seems more pronounced. Whether waiting in a line at the store, waiting for that gift or package to arrive, waiting for a family member to come home, and more. In soccer, this time of year is filled with other kinds of waiting — for a new contract, a new team; waiting for the results of a scan or working through the rehab and recovery from an injury; waiting for the next season to start and a new chance to prove one’s self. But in all the waiting moments of life, how do we learn how to wait? Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I share from Luke’s Gospel, chapters 1 and 2, briefly referencing different people who are in ‘waiting’ mode and deriving some lessons from the waiting that they went through as perhaps examples and models for ourselves, today. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Last Friday, the world watched as the participants for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were drawn into their groups for what may be the most epic soccer tournament of our lives to date. Spread across three countries — US, Mexico, and Canada — a historic 48 teams will take part in this next World Cup. It promises to be an amazing time. Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I share some thoughts on the world’s biggest stage for the Beautiful Game. Listen at your own risk to my poor opinions and commentary and make up your own mind! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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 is Colorado GivesDay, a day when Colorado non-profits are highlighted and donations are incentivized through coloradogives.org. Find our non-profit at this link: https://mtyc.co/99o7ff. If you want to join the work and support Soccer Chaplains United year-round simply text “soccerchaplains” to 77977 and you can make a secure, online donation there. See you all tomorrow for a full episode of From the Touchline! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

For many years, I simply introduced myself as “Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids.” That is until someone asked me how much my typical position paid. Whoops! I explained that I am a volunteer and I raise support (like a missionary) to do the work I do and am in no way funded by the team or ownership. The same is true for all of our chaplains with Soccer Chaplains United and about 99.9% of all chaplains in sport. Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I make a case for financial support and why it’s an important ask that we make of individuals and churches. Taking some cues from the apostle Paul as he writes to the church at Philippi, I share a biblical foundation and precedent as well as get into a little nitty-gritty about how we structure our finances and oversight and where someone can view our budgets and work. Finally, I end with sharing some ways for people to support if they never have and a prayer that I often must pray to express faith in God — that He will provide and see us through another year of ministry. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Here in the United States, we observe the holiday of Thanksgiving. It’s a time when family and friends come together and give thanks and share a table. More and more these days, though, we can lose sight of the time and preparation that it can take for a good meal to be prepared, cooked, and then shared. We live in a microwave society where we want things with the convenience and quickness that comes as simply as pressing a few buttons and waiting just moments for food. Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I share from Philippians 1:3-6, the words of the apostle Paul as he encourages the believers in Philippi that God would be faithful to complete the good work that he started in their lives. It’s a message that needs to be heard for the one who is coach, for the one who is the athlete, for the one who is on the staff — really for all of us, whether we are in football or not. God will be faithful to complete the good work. It takes time to cook! 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.

Getting away is a hard but necessary thing, especially when you’re in a caregiving kind of role. Jesus knew that he needed to get away and to get rest and he knew that his followers and friends needed to get rest and a bit of retreat. And even though Jesus never really gets the rest he needs, he still gives us this invitation that we find in Mark 6:31, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I share a few brief lessons that I’ve had to learn in my own times and attempts to get away and to rest and retreat. I don’t always hit the mark, but I think there are some valuable lessons to pass along. 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.

Every year, around the middle of November, I usually highlight some aspect of the life and work of Saint Martin of Tours. Saint Martin’s story is where the origins of our English words, chapel and chaplain come from. His most poignent moment, perhaps, is when he robes a distressed man in the cold of winter. A part of my own practice and study has been to look at tother robing moments in scripture to learn from what it might mean for continued ministry of chaplaincy. Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I read and reflect on Jesus’ parable of The Lost Son found in Luke 15:11-32. My reflections center around the posture and attitude of the elder brother and his response to the father and to his younger brother. What makes him so angry? What makes him refuse to enter into the celebration of his younger brother’s safe return? 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.

November 1 in the church calendar is All Saints Day. It is a time to acknowledge all known and unknown saints throughout all moments in time. Often times, church communities will take some time on the Sunday closest to November 1 to honor, recognize, and commemorate those who have “gone before,” the “communion of saints,” the community of those who believe in God. Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I take some time to honor and memorialize people who have been part of the Colorado Rapids Community and have since died. From Kelvin Norman in 2005 to a couple of youth players who died just a month and a half ago, I share a list of some 16 names of people that have been connected to the club and my time there. Where appropriate I share a short story or memory of them. The hope and encouragement is that we need to take time to remember and honor people who have been part of our lives and we part of theirs. 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 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.