The Bakers' Dozen and then Some

Publisher Marketing: Navajoland... It's a place of beauty where flat deserts are interrupted with rugged rock formations and forested mountains. Its home to the Navajo, the largest nation of Native Americans in America. It also became home to Jim and Kay Baker in 1975 when they responded to God's call to become houseparents to Navajo boys and girls. Caring for nearly three dozen youngsters over fifteen years, there were times when they really were a "Bakers' Dozen!" As you read their story you will soon realize that this is God's story lived out in their lives. Through their adventures you will also discover the beauty and the strong character of the Navajo people. You will get a front row seat of what life as a houseparent is like and how God can use anyone to do His work if they are willing to respond to His calling in their lives. The Baker's story could just as easily be your story. As you follow their journey of faith you most likely will discover that God has an adventure for you to experience, too! Jim and Kay Baker met in Lancaster, Pennsylvania when they were youngsters. In 1969 they were married and in 1975 God called them to Navajo Missions (now Navajo Ministries). As houseparents they became "Mom and Dad" to children needing a home. In 1987 Jim succeeded Jack Drake, the founder, as President. Kay served as Director of Children's Services for many years. Today, Jim and Kay serve as Co-Directors of the Partnership Ministry at Navajo Ministries. The Bakers have two married children living in the Farmington area. Lisa and Jami Chavez have a daughter, Breann, who lived just three years before returning to her home in heaven. David and Heather Baker have two daughters, Seattle and Samantha. Contributor Bio:  Baker, Jim Jim Baker is a sports columnist who covered the Buffalo Bills and the national and regional television-radio beat at The Buffalo Courier-Express for 20 years, following graduation from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1963. He remained until the newspaper closed in 1983 and then became the Boston Herald's TV-radio columnist from 1983 until his retirement in 2004. He has written five books on sports subjects: "O. J. Simpson," 1974, Grosset & Dunlap. "The Buffalo Bills: O. J. Simpson, Rushing Champion," 1974, Prentice-Hall; "Billie Jean King," 1975, Grosset & Dunlap; "O. J. Simpson's Most Memorable Games," 1978, G. P. Putnam's Sons; and "A View From the Booth: Gil Santos and Gino Cappelletti-25 Years of Broadcasting the New England Patriots," 2008, Rounder Books.