Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabe Baker.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Gabe. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My Built Foundation: Born October 29th, 1991 in Dallas, TX, the youngest of three (older brother Micah and eldest sister Thuli) to two fired up, loving, committed Christian evangelist parents. Just prior to my birth, my parents spent around five years in the Apartheid stricken Johannesburg, South Africa where they planted and led a prosperous multi-racial Christian Church. My siblings were both born in Joburg, and without expounding too much on the experience, my parent’s extremely devout time concluded and they moved back to the states, Dallas, Texas where I was born. While they had to press the reset button on their lives in some major ways, life did not stop. After a few short years, my parents packed us up and we moved to San Antonio where I grew up and consider home. I consider my adolescent through teen years as a divine blessing of sheltering. Being in such a nurturing environment had nothing to do with what I did but had everything to do with how many parents sacrificed on a daily basis for me and my siblings. What I saw was their support at and the time they spent taking me to my many sports practices, tournaments, and games, cello private lessons, orchestra concerts, school trips, school award ceremonies, church events, summer camps, and a host of other activities that I got myself in. My understanding of their constant and unwavering outpouring of love was pivotal in the decisions and life I chose to live.
My response to the sacrifices that my parents have made for me is what set me up to do the things that I have done. Upon graduating high school in 2010, I accepted a full athletic scholarship from Rice University among several other Division 1 programs. I spent 4 1/2 abundant years at Rice University, where I gratefully completed a degree in environmental engineering, was captain of the football team, led an on campus Christian ministry, and found additional leadership roles to galvanize my beautiful undergraduate experience. Upon graduation up to present day, my life continued to expand and flourish in ways that I could not foresee.
Opportunities Lead to Opportunities: Once transitioning out of my undergrad, I spent the better of three months training for my pro day (NFL tryout) at Rice and worked for the then Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. It was in this part-time policy/affairs role, that I got connected to my first job as a roadway engineer with HNTB; which I then shifted to after my NFL prospects came to an end. The other opportunity that came through this shift was a new realm of competing! I trained for American Ninja Warrior with a close friend and competed on season eight of the NBC show. Competing there, then opened the door to be a member athlete on team USA on season two of the Netflix competition show “The Ultimate Beastmaster” that same year.
Career-wise, after several years as a civil engineer, I made my shift to the civic service/public policy space. Continued mentorship with Judge Emmett opened up a door for him to offer me position to be his flood control policy advisor, focusing on policy and community efforts in the Harris County recovery work post-Hurricane Harvey. I have continued to work in the County Judge’s Office since then, currently under Judge Lina Hidalgo as her Community Engagement Specialist focused on a variety of issues with the community like early childhood education, flood control, and the current response to COVID-19.
Giving Leads to Growth All the while with my career shifting and ventures has been my foundation in faith as a Christian. I have served in a number of roles at my home church: The Greater Houston Church; including currently as a song worship and singles/young professional ministry leader. During my engineering job, I enrolled in a Christian Seminary program at the Houston Graduate School of Theology and received a master’s in theology in 2018 to further my ability to give in ministry. My heart to give and serve extends into my roles as a community organizing for disaster relief corps and international trips in Joburg focused on early childhood development with HOPE worldwide which have been deeply transformative.
Upside Down: In the midst of there being growth and achievement, life challenges have been just as present. The last three years have been the toughest and most redefining years of my life. My older brother has been battling debilitating mental health challenges while my mom had also been battling liver and pancreatic cancer. Last August (2019) my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and my brother distancing himself more – feeling like a burden, tough being around my mom. Unfortunately, her conditioned worsened and she was put on life support day before Thanksgiving. At the time, my brother completely disconnected himself from us. Soon after, mom passed away on Dec 2nd and my brother has been out of touch and missing since then. In the face of the heavy grief and struggle, I am grateful to discover progressive growth.
Currently, as I have explored a unique experience being featured on the Bachelor’s new music spin-off show “Listen to Your Heart” and am diving into a music career, life continues to prove itself to be absolutely unpredictable. Year to year I’ve continually have come to learn what it means to put first things first: Live for God, for others, and in purpose. I am grateful for it all: the ups and the downs, for they are making me more and more into who God has purposed me to be.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The largest challenges have been facing some painful injuries during my athletic career, and as of late, with the passing of my mother in December 2019 and my older brother being missing since her passing.
Please tell us about your work.
I am here to share about my personal brand. My life story as a Christian faith leader, athlete, musician, and community servant, has been versatile and focused on giving back to and inspiring others. A major part of my brand is a growing initiative called the “RYFT Initiative.” RYFT stands for “Redefine Your Future/Faith/Fitness Today,” and is a developing, on-going series of thought provoking and informative write-ups in each mentioned topic area with the goal of inspiring readers that they have the ability to “live redefined” every day. The eventual goal is to create an at-risk youth, mentor-ship program and author a book. I am most known for my ability to be a creative and talented leader in the spaces I have invested myself. With my brand and life, am the proudest of the unique amount of growth and reach I have been able to have. It is this same uniqueness of ability and achievement that sets me apart.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The characteristics that I feel is the most important to my success is my openness to learn new things and my heart to give to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: gabebaker.com
- Email: contact@gabebaker.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegabebaker/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegabebaker
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegabebaker
Image Credit:
Amy Smith, Marshall Moon, Syed Abbas, NBCUniversal, Jay Metzger / HMS
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