When he isn’t looking to attack the ball carrier on the football field, Florida A&M linebacker Nay’Ron Jenkins serves a bigger purpose.

The junior is raising money to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for mission work under the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Founded in 1954, the FCA is an interdenominational Christian sports ministry that sees the world impacted by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes, its website says. The FCA headquarters is based in Kansas City, Missouri, and has offices across the United States and abroad.

With a goal of raising $2,500, Jenkins began the campaign in early April and hopes to reach the threshold by the end of the month. The money will be used for flights, food, and lodging.

Jenkins and FCA’s Argentina trip is scheduled for May 4-11. Jenkins’ teammate, junior FAMU defensive back Lamar Clark, also plans to attend and is actively raising money.

“I’ve been working with FCA since high school, and I met a guy named Ryan Sprague (FCA College Director and former Florida State football player), who has allowed me to teach them football and get them closer to Christ,” Jenkins told the Tallahassee Democrat.

“Lamar and I are trying to go over there and raise the money so we can be as beneficial as possible to help them.”

A well-versed student-athlete, Jenkins, a Broadcast Journalism scholar from Alachua, is a Southwestern Athletic Conference Honor Roll Student and represented the league in last weekend’s NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.

He’s excited to share his faith and introduce American Football to Argentinian children while he spends a week in Buenos Aires.

“We’re doing mostly camps for the kids,” Jenkins said. “We’re going to set up football drills because the FCA leader over there said that the sport they haven’t learned much about is American Football. We want to be able to teach them that and help them gain a relationship with Christ.”

On the football field, Jenkins enjoyed the success of his FAMU football team winning the SWAC and Black College Football National Championships during the 2023 season.

Jenkins said part of that triumph has been because of the giving nature of Rattler Nation and all who love FAMU.

Jenkins hopes the FAMU faithful financially supports him and Clark as they travel to Argentina for a bigger purpose in two weeks.

“Rattler Nation, I love you guys and know you will go above and beyond. I want to thank you in advance for all the support that’s already been given,” Jenkins said.

“I will do my best to represent us well when I go to Argentina and ensure the Rattler joy is not only through the US but also around the world.”

Support FAMU football player Nay'Ron Jenkins on his mission trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Support FAMU football player Lamar Clark on his mission trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Rattler defensive duo raising money for a bigger purpose