William Payne is passionate about gathering athletes together and living out the transformative love of God. “I’ve always seen the connection between sports and salvation, and reaching young athletes for Christ has been a lifelong goal of mine,” says Payne. As the FCA Campus Director of Syracuse University, he and his family are enthusiastic about ministering to the students in their community.

Payne started playing baseball at an early age and continued throughout his youth in Maryland. After graduating from Liberty University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 1996, he went on to graduate from Baptist Bible Seminary in Pennsylvania in 2004. With a fire in his heart for outreach and a love for sharing the Gospel with communities, Payne then moved to Flint, Michigan where he served as an outreach pastor within a church from 2004-2009. He then served as a pastor-in-training in Kalamazoo, Michigan until 2012. While ministering in both roles, Payne provided guidance and wisdom to young athletes as a chaplain for football and basketball teams.

“I loved inviting athletes into our home and sharing a family dinner or big breakfast together,” says Payne. “It was fulfilling to do ministry as a family with my children, and we were able to build relationships and do life with these young men. It was exciting to watch their hearts change and grow as they headed their different ways in the world.”

Today, William enjoys attempting to golf and spending quality time with his wife and three kids in Syracuse, New York. He believes that his role in FCA is an answered prayer for his family, and is excited for the opportunity to influence the next generation of athletes and coaches for Jesus Christ.