Nathan Teel, a former professional motocross rider from Estacada, Ore., now represents Fellowship of Christian Athletes, sharing Jesus with motocross riders and fans throughout the Northwest, including this week at the Washougal MX National

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

Nathan Teel said he has probably raced at Washougal MX Park hundreds of times in his life.

He always loved the track, but now he has an even deeper appreciation for everything associated with the sport, and his faith.

“The trees. The mountains. The track is built in such a beautiful place,” Teel said Friday afternoon at the park, in preparation for Saturday’s FLY Racing Washougal MX National.

“What a beautiful image of what God created, and we have a motocross track in the middle of what God has created. To me, that’s super awesome.”

Teel is a former professional rider from Estacada, Ore. He stopped racing in 2012.

Married and with three children, these days he leads other motocross riders, families, and friends to Jesus.

“I gave my life to the Lord about four years ago. I felt like the Lord was putting it on my heart to come back to the motocross track and tell kids about Jesus,” he said.

On his own, he set up a spot at a track in Albany, Ore., to talk about Jesus to the motocross community. He met a guy with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“They were looking for someone to do trackside ministry for the motocross. We made it happen within 10 months,” Teel said.

Now, his station is set up with FCA Motocross logos. This week’s Washougal MX National is his third event as an official representative of FCA.

“We’ve had encounters that we’ve had that have led to someone reading the bible or helping a young racer to better understand the bible and understand that personal relationship with the Lord,” Teel said. “I feel it has been a real blessing for us and for them.”

Bringing the message to the track works so well because the sport is, for the most part, a weekend thing.

“I just feel like there is a gap. With motocross racers, most events are on weekends. If you’re passionate about motocross, you’re not going to church (on the weekends),” he said. “If I can bring Jesus and the bible to the track and be that in-between for the kids, that’s my goal.”

Teel also appreciates the Huffman family, the owners of Washougal MX Park, who are also believers.

“The relationship with FCA and the Huffmans is growing, with Jesus in the middle of that,” Teel said. “You can’t beat that.”