FCA Launches Motocross Ministry

FCA Develops Newest Sport-Specific Ministry in Motocross

In an effort to reach a new audience for Christ, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is creating a new sport-specific ministry - Motocross - the sport for motorbikers.

FCA is working to begin its full-time motocross ministry in several ways. FCA hired Jake Ehrlich, the Executive National FCA Motorcross (MX) Director, to oversee outreaches and camps. In addition to Ehrlich, Dale Hop was hired as District Director to head up the Motocross ministry in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.

Together, they will be developing both a "track-side MX ministry" and an "amateur FCA MX team," according to Susie Magill's article on FCA's website, "Putting The Cross in Motocross."

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In its fall 2002 planning for summer camps, FCA wanted to broaden outreach. Dan Britton, Senior Vice President of FCA Ministries, and Mitch Barnes, NCC Board Chairman believed Motocross would be a great camp to run at the FCA National Conference Center.

“The board members were discussing how we could expand the camp at the NCC,” explained Britton, according to the article by Susie Magill on FCA's website. “We knew we needed to start a camp that no one else had. Motocross was a perfect idea,” Britton told Magill.

The camp was only one of two Motocross camps in the nation and due to its popularity, FCA decided to turn the summer camp into a year-round program, and Motocross became FCA’s next sport-specific ministry.

According to the website, a pro-style motocross track was built and 52 campers from ages 7-49 showed up the following summer for the four-day camp. In addition 10 professional riders served as instructors, and parents came to support their children.
“The neat thing about motocross is that it is unlike any other sport. It’s a family sport,” Britton said in Magill's article. “The parents come and set up at the camp, help out with the bikes and even have their own Adult Huddle meetings. This provides us with a great opportunity to minister to adults who otherwise might not hear the gospel.”

“Being involved in FCA’s Motocross Camp has changed my son’s attitude and the way that he races. It has affected his spiritual walk and shown him a different way of life,” Dana Lighter spoke to Magdill about her son, Zachary, a MX camper for two years.

The Motocross camp also features an FCA National Race open to both FCA campers and others who want to compete.

Above all, as a platform to preach the gospel, the Motocross camp saw upwards of 40 people believe in Christ, and the popularity of the Camp forced FCA to build a second track.

“I accepted Christ as my savior my first year at FCA MX Camp. It was an amazing experience. I grew spiritually and made life-long friendships," said Steven Doyen, an MX rider.

Both Barnes and Britton have clear visions for FCA's newest ministry.

“I feel that we are just touching the surface with what God can do through the ministry of motocross. We are using the success of other FCA sport-specific ministries to model how we will grow. Hopefully within the next five years we will look a lot like FCA Golf,” said Barnes.

“God is going to do amazing things through the motocross ministry of FCA,” Britton said. “What started out as a small camp with 50 kids has evolved, over two short years, into a year-round ministry. But that’s what happens when you let ministry occur.”