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Pro Soccer Player Shares Faith Through Career
By Craig Pinley
CHARLOTTE, NC (October 11, 2001) - Chris Allen grew up with thoughts of becoming a professional soccer player and he hoped to share his Christian faith throughout his career.
During the past two years, Allen has done exactly that as a player for the Charlotte Eagles A-League affiliate of the United Soccer League (USL). Allen, whose father, Paul, is co-pastor at the Evangelical Covenant Church of Hinsdale, Illinois, has been playing for Charlotte as part of
Missionary Athletes International (MAI). MAI is an organization headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with branch ministries in Charlotte, Chicago, Los Angeles, England, the Czech Republic and Russia. Missionary Athletes International is a tool to use soccer as an
outreach through clinics, camps, teams and tours.
The Charlotte Eagles competes in what is considered the second tier of professional soccer in the United States. The USL is a step below the Major League Soccer League (MLS). Last year, the Eagles played in the United Soccer League's D3 national division, the third tier of the professional circuit. By virtue of winning the D3 title, the Eagles moved up to the A-League.
Charlotte went 14-10-2 in the regular season and earned the seventh seed in playoffs before losing to Portland in the first round.
Besides playing in the USL, the Charlotte Eagles run international tours - Chris was in Ethiopia and Rwanda for a soccer tour during the spring, and the Eagles were able to share Christ while preparing for their league season. With wife, Jamie, teaching school in Charlotte, Chris seems
to have found a home in North Carolina. Dad thinks Chris has found a perfect match of sports and servant hood.
"Since he's been six years old, soccer has been his year-round love," said pastor Allen of his son. "It was really the coming together of his passions - his faith and his sport."
Allen raises support for his work with MAI and the Eagles, although some players get paid for their soccer. Currently, five Eagles are serving on MAI staff and being supported by individual and group donors. During the winter months, Allen works in church-based ministries and does a lot of public speaking at churches. He is also helping creating church-based ministry curriculum for sports, showing congregations how soccer can be used for outreach. During the summer, MAI runs various camps around Charlotte and elsewhere.
"I have a passion for church-based ministry," he said. "I think people are typically looking for something with more outreach capabilities than your average Vacation Bible School. The popularity of soccer or any sport can bring tremendous outreach opportunities. A kid who would never walk through the door of a church would gladly come to a soccer camp."
Allen grew up in Naperville, Illinois, where his father served as an associate pastor at Naperville Covenant Church. Allen played soccer at Naperville North High School and his team earned a state berth during his senior year. However, an injury forced Allen to rethink his priorities about what he should do with his life.
"I realized I can't afford to base my life on this game called soccer," Allen said. "I went to Indiana University (for a recruiting trip) and I felt God was saying I should play at a Christian school. We had a lot of Christian player from the area going to Wheaton and I knew it was going to be a quality soccer program as well. But at Wheaton College I thought my track in life was youth ministry."
Allen's college soccer experience was a dream come true. He graduated from Wheaton College in 2000 after earning All-Midwest honors as a defender. While at Wheaton, his team captured the 1997 NCAA Division III national championship and set a national record with an unbeaten streak of 65 straight matches. Allen played with Athletes in Action in Vancouver, British Columbia, for two years and experienced first-hand mission-oriented sports ministry. After his junior year, he played on a Chicago Soccer team that captured a Professional Development League title in 1999.
Allen got connected with MAI through the chaplain for his college soccer team and applied for an opportunity to serve with MAI in March 2000. He left for Charlotte six weeks before graduating from college. Last year he started 17 of 18 regular season games as the Eagles recovered from a
slow start to take the D3 title. He says professional soccer isn't as glamorous as one might think, but he has enjoyed using his skills for the glory of God.
"I always thought I could be a Christian playing pro soccer," Allen said. "I never thought I could be in Christian ministry playing pro soccer. The thrill of playing soccer is using your abilities to the fullest for the glory of Christ. As a Christian athlete, that's what I think we're called to."
For more information on MAI, call the Colorado Springs office at 719-528-1636 or check out the MAI web site at www.maisoccer.com. The Charlotte Eagles web site is www.charlotteeagles.com.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
