Welcome to “Making a Difference!” Step into the inspiring world of business owners who are making a tangible difference in their communities. Join us as we spotlight passionate entrepreneurs who go beyond profit, dedicating their time, resources, and innovative ideas to create positive social impact. Today our hosts, Greg Chapman and James Fenimore, spoke with Andrew Baker.
Andrew Baker
Area Director at Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Website Address: nassaucountyfca.org
Short company description:
Leading coaches and athletes from an identity in sport to and identity in Christ.
What is a tip for success that you would provide someone in your same industry?
Be present and consistent in your presence
What’s one cause you’re passionate about?
Seeing coaches and athletes come to know the LORD
How do you encourage your team to make a difference?
Find a way to serve someone else every day, so you focus less on yourself and more on others.
Transcript:
James:
Hi, and welcome to Making a Difference, where we highlight somebody making a real impact in the community. I’m James Fenimore, and joining me always is my co-host, Greg Chapman. Greg, how are you?
Greg:
I’m well, James. Glad to be here. It’s my privilege and honor to introduce a friend of mine, someone who I have ministered with alongside for several years now. His name is Andrew Baker, and I’m going to stop there and let him tell more about himself. Andrew, tell us about yourself.
Andrew:
Yeah, we had the pleasure of working together for your whole tenure. I’ve been on staff with FCA for 14 years now. Originally from the East Tennessee area, and moved down here in 2012 and started working for FCA. I’ve done a little bit of everything for FCA, but excited to serve in the Nassau County and Baker County areas now as the area director.
Greg:
That’s awesome. Here with our Making a Difference show, we’re all about highlighting and talking about coaching. Billy Graham once said a coach will impact more lives in one year than a normal person will their entire lifetime. From your experience and currently, what are some things you’re doing up in Nassau County to minister to coaches?
Andrew:
Relationship building. Coaches are asked all the time for things. They get asked a lot of their time and energy. We want to build relationships with them and let them know we’re not here to ask anything of them, but we want to support them.
Going to schools and spending intentional time with them is a big thing. We’ve started some coaches Bible studies that help support them in the things they face on an everyday basis and let them know how Christ and God have set things out for them to live a God-honoring life as coaches.
Greg:
From what you’ve seen in the coaches Bible studies, what are some challenges coaches are facing? It’s not always the glitz and glamour of the lights.
Andrew:
Three things stick out. Coaches don’t get out of coaching because they lose the love of the sport or the love of kids. They get out of coaching because of the challenges administrations cause them and the challenges parents cause them.
How do they navigate those worlds? They just want to coach the sport they love and coach these kids.
The other thing is the transfer portal. Recently, I’ve heard stories of coaches having kids show up in week four or week seven of a football season from another school. They’re good players, but how do you navigate honoring the work other players have put in? Who’s even going to be on my roster week to week? They have to integrate them into the team while honoring God and maintaining relationships with their players.
Greg:
As a coach, one of the hardest places to navigate can be at home. What would you say about marriages of coaches?
Andrew:
Marriage is hard as it is because we’re all sinful, selfish human beings. I love the FCA philosophy: coaches have game plans to win on the field; let’s help them get a game plan to win at home.
It’s awesome to see coaches open up and share wins and successes at home, and also share struggles. God intended for us to live life in community. These coaches studies allow them to realize they’re not the only ones going through hardships at home and dealing with the time demands coaching takes away from family.
Greg:
How has your experience with the coaches Bible study positioned you to best serve coaches in Nassau County?
Andrew:
To serve, you first have to know how to serve and what to serve. Spending time with them, listening and asking questions opens up opportunities to understand their needs and desires and how FCA can come alongside them.
Life is about relationships. When you’re in relationship and asking good questions, you’re positioned to serve not only the coach but their players. FCA is positioned to serve a coach and through that coach to serve their team. If you capture the heart of the coach, you capture the heart of the team and can start making an impact on the campus and community.
Greg:
If you’ve heard this and are interested in starting a huddle at your campus or for your kids’ teams, my contact information will be listed below. We’d love to empower you to do these things.
James:
Thank you so much for joining us, Andrew, and for the support you give coaches and teams. By default, that’s what you’re doing — leading people to Christ. Thank you for your hard work and leading people to the kingdom.
Andrew:
Absolutely. It’s a joy.
James:
This has been Making a Difference. I’m James Fenimore, he’s Greg Chapman, and we’ll see you next time.
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