Free & Fit - Building Chaplaincy within a City Environment
- Tim Cheux
- Dec 31
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 21
Free & Fit - Building Chaplaincy within a City Environment
Pastor and Chaplain Timothy J Cheux being Ordained Full Elder within the Free Methodist Church at Fraser Church Montgomery Alabama
In June of this year in 2024 I was ordained as Full Elder within the Free Methodist Church. The FMC has five core values which includes Love Driven Justice and Cross Cultural Collaboration. As an ecclesiastically endorsed Chaplain to the City of Charlotte North Carolina I have had the privilege of serving in various different third spaces including the Charlotte International Airport, Hospice & Home Elderly Care, Charlotte Lady Eagles semi-professional team and Carmel Baptist Varsity School team.
During the full Soccer season with the Varsity High school Soccer players I was able to connect with our two goalkeeps as both their chaplain and specialist goalkeeping coach. This unique role reminded me of my Masters thesis in education which identified that as teachers who work with our students outside of the classroom their performance both in sport and academia improves when they are integrated into a team environment. The benefit of being able to chat, pray and connect with the goalkeepers helped me to overcome the obstacle and barrier of an ordinary classroom teacher and build a deeper mentor and pastoral care role with the students.
Carmel Baptist Goalkeepers before Homecoming Home Game Fall 2024
These all arrived at different times throughout my Clinical Pastoral Education which I completed this part year with 1600 Chaplaincy Residency hours and a four term credit process to complete my CPE training. These experiences have helped me to become a more physically, socially, mentally and spiritually aware pastoral care leader.
Whilst serving as a Chaplain at the airport I have served at Christmas time with my fellow Chaplains where we have recieved over 5,000 men and service women from Fort Jackson who have been completing basic Army training. These soldiers are straight out of High School and are often travelling back home for me their first ever time away from home. As a Chaplain I get to greet them alongside the USO at Charlotte airport and to chat, pray and connect with them around their first experience at training and get to thank them for their service.
The young men and women are extremely greatful for help to the get them to their gate, walk them to the USO to get them a free meal and sometimes even help them find that gift they want to buy for their family member on the way home. It’s a really unique and profound experience for us as Chaplains to help them on their way back home.
Charlotte Airport Chaplain Tim Cheux with Fort Jackson Basic Training Men & Service Women
In Charlotte, we supported the Charlotte Lady Eagles to runners-up in their league and are now approaching the tennis season with the Carmel Christian boys varsity team. We are also excited to announce plans to expand our Ministry at Charlotte airport and elderly care homes with additional services. Please pray for these new opportunities and for our team as we serve in these areas.
The Lady Eagles allow me as Chaplain to lead Chapel
Services and this past summer I got to share a message with all three teams at both home and away games. As Chaplain, I get the unique opportunity of helping players in their rehabilitation, recovery and return to the field after an injury. During these times when players are off the field it’s a great opportunity to pray, chat and connect them to the great healer Jesus Christ. Similar to helping the young men and women on Exodus, when chatting and praying for their injuries and desires to get back playing the young Ladies are extremely greatful, open and receptive to speaking with me and ultimately to Jesus. It’s another privilege and great honor to serve in this capacity.
Charlotte Lady Eagles under twenty three team at Charlotte Christian School end of season.
As 2024 concludes, heartfelt thanks overflow also for an unforgettable Varsity Soccer season at Carmel Christian School! Gratitude abounds for our parents' encouragement, staff's dedication, coaches' leadership, players' passion, and students' spirit. Serving as Chaplain and Goalkeeping Coach was an honor, sharing God's love with the team.
Psalm 107:1 reminds us, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever!" May God bless each player, coach, and staff member with guidance and wisdom into the new year. Thanks also to God for always supporting our sports ministry efforts – God's love shines through sports and third space communities!
Heading into 2025 I hope to build on these experiences including a summer camp at Liberty University, a Tennis High School Varsity season and more opportunities to build new networking and caregiving experiences to support, help and care for all types and backgrounds of people.
“So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.”
Lamentations 3:26 NLT
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