JAY BAKER

AMBASSADOR, GREATER ROCHESTER

Jay Baker was introduced to FCA in 2017 by a friend who connected him to Dave Parks, the FCA NYS Director at the time.  His first glimpse of FCA in action was working alongside Christian coaches and basketball instructors teaching basic skills and then meeting with the campers to study God’s Word. 

This is experience affected him deeply. 

“On day two of the camp, I came into the gymnasium to shoot a little before the camp started and one of the younger girls was practicing alone. The day before, she had been reprimanded for not following instructions. But there she was practicing exactly what she was shown the day before. She was one of the few kids practicing what she had been shown,” Jay remembers.  I was asked to co-lead a huddle. While the attention spans of our young campers varied, we spent time studying God’s Word together. Some of our campers were “engaged” in the study and others were ‘not so engaged.’ You just don’t know what seeds will fall on the fertile ground.  It helps to remember this little girl, she learned simply because an instructor took the time to invest in her.”

Jay’s FCA participation moved into a board role in late 2018 and he has grown significantly in his faith journey. He says, “much of my growth has been directly connected to opportunities and people from FCA. I can connect the dots of how God has used FCA and opened doors and experiences to help me grow in my faith.” 

Jay grew up in a rural setting in Central NY and lived his whole life in the Central and Western NY region. Especially when he travels the rural areas outside of Rochester, Jay thinks about how he could be used to open doors. “I think about introducing FCA to many who are not familiar with the ministry, and I know that Jesus can transform these communities through the influence of coaches and athletes. I have felt God nudging me to be more involved beyond being a board member. That’s why I am here!” 

Jay lives in Fairport, NY with his wife, Kathy.