William Payne - Campus Director 

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,”  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.

“Through FCA, my family and I are working faithfully to serve the coaches, athletes, and athletic community at the great institution of Syracuse University. We believe God has called our family to help build champions! Not just champions on a field or on a court – but champions in life! Champions who will not use their gifts for personal gain, but will instead use them to serve others and have a positive impact on their team and the world. FCA has grown into the largest sports ministry in the world and it is through a shared passion for athletics and faith that lives are being impacted and changed.  

Today, William enjoys attempting to golf and spending quality time with his wife and four 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.