STUDENT-ATHLETE IS BACK HOME AT HOWARD PAYNE By Abram Choate ’98, assistant director of athletics for athletic communications Xavier Haines attended, left and then returned to Howard Payne University – all the time knowing that HPU was the place where he wanted to be. Now a junior, he is a native of Belton with a dual major in Christian education and secondary education with a minor in history. As a member of the HPU baseball team, he has also been a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) leadership team and Delta Epsilon Omega. In 2017, Haines was a major contributor as a freshman, pitching in 15 games for the Yellow Jackets and recording 18 strikeouts. After one season at Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas, he is once again a contributor on the HPU pitching staff and in student organizations on campus. What brought you to HPU? XH: Halfway through my
senior year of high school, I really felt led to pursue a life in ministry. I wasn’t sure exactly what that calling was, but I knew I wanted to get an education that would prepare me, and I also wanted to continue to play baseball. Howard Payne gave me that opportunity to do both. During your first year at HPU, what was your experience with playing baseball? XH: I had actually
broken my leg the summer before my freshman year, so I came into the fall semester injured. I didn’t really do very well in the fall. I had to learn how to come back from an injury and learn how to perform at the college level. That adversity really helped prepare me for the spring. What about your experience with your teammates and coaching staff? XH: Here, especially Coach [Robert]
What about your experiences away from the diamond with activities around campus? XH: My freshman year I
was very involved with BSM [Baptist Student Ministry] and 38
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If it was all going well, why did you leave? XH: Both
my parents had gotten jobs in the Kansas area, and we moved up there to be closer to family. With that and other financing and expense concerns, we decided that a year of community college would save us money and get me situated up there with family. Was the plan always to come back to HPU? XH:
When I left, I kind of had it in the back of my mind to come back to HPU. I was looking at it but it wasn’t a foregone conclusion, because I was also trying to see if I could get a scholarship to somewhere in Kansas to go and play. But I kept feeling drawn to come back to HPU because it felt like home. It worked out financially and academically, so it all just added up, working out perfectly to come back. Are you having the same experience here at HPU as you did the first time? How has it changed? XH: It
was one of those weird things where it’s the same but also different because I’m an upperclassman now. So instead of always looking for someone to pour into me, I am now able to pour into other people. I have been able to be a part of the leadership team for Delta Epsilon Omega, which I was involved with founding when I was at HPU before. I am also on Howard Payne’s FCA leadership team. It’s really cool because I get to be a part of an organization that’s looking to work with athletes but I also get to impact the rest of student body with my involvement in Delta Epsilon Omega. What is your plan after graduation? XH: I feel like God
is leading me to teach at a high school, then work as a youth pastor at a church. I feel that God is calling me to bring my teaching skills to a startup church in a bi-vocational manner to take the burden off the church. That would free me up to pour my love into the students in and outside of the church. Are there any final thoughts you would like to share? XH: I love Howard Payne and I have really enjoyed my time
here. I’m just so happy I’ve gotten to come back. Howard Payne has been a second home to me and welcomed me the first time and the second time again with open arms. It is an amazing atmosphere here and I really appreciate it. H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y
PHOTO BY JARVIS GREEN
Anders and Coach [Stephen] Lynn, they really strive to make this a Christian program. Even though not everyone on the team might live by that, it is still preached and they really encourage people to go to church. It is really cool to see people actually live out their faith on the team and have coaches who push players to grow. A few players on the team have actually accepted Christ, which is a great experience to witness.
going to the Hub [the BSM facility]. That’s where I met a lot of my friends. I got to see the life of a freshman outside of baseball. Howard Payne provides an atmosphere where there are a lot of people who want to live lives that honor God.
