posted 10/21/2025
This story is a part of a series of missionary contributions where you’ll hear more about their “why” for defending and celebrating life with Biking for Babies.
Patrick was a first-year rider missionary on the North Carolina team, riding from Raleigh to Philadelphia this past summer.
Give me a quick biography: who is Patrick Nelson?
PN: I’m currently a junior at Oklahoma State University studying Animal Science, but I grew up in southeastern Virginia. I’m a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist in Stillwater, currently home to four Biking for Babies missionaries. I wasn’t a biker before this, but I’ve always enjoyed running, so I figured it was something I could branch out into. I love cheering on the OSU Cowboys, playing cards and board games, and traveling to new places. I’ve been involved in my campus ministry since I was a freshman and I love getting to serve as an altar server and Bible study leader.
What initially drew you to Biking for Babies, and what were reasons you stuck it out anytime things got tough this year?
PN: Like I hinted at before, I’ve always lived an active lifestyle, especially focused on cardio. A friend and missionary invited me to consider Biking for Babies last November. She thought it was something appealing to my interests and she couldn’t have been more right. Community, service, and exercise were the big draws for me. It took a couple weeks to really commit to Biking for Babies, even after my interview, but once I started training, understanding the mission, and growing closer with my team, everything just clicked. Even when I was getting chased by dogs during my ride or burning up in the heat, the beauty of the mission kept me faithful. I have always considered myself pro-life, but I don’t think it was until college where I started to experience the totality of what it means to live it out. I remember tough conversations I had with friends who were not pro-life that helped to bolster my conviction of the dignity of life at every stage. And concurrently with my faith journey, I have come to understand that the dignity of all human life is not dictated by a set of legislation but written on every human soul. A person does not have dignity because a law says so, rather, it is because we are created in God’s image. Our human laws must be in accord with the natural law God has bestowed upon us.
Was there a specific moment or event that made you passionate about the pro-life movement? How has your understanding of the dignity of human life developed through your Christian faith journey?
PN: I can’t pinpoint any moments which really set me on fire for the pro-life movement, it’s just always been an issue I’ve really cared about. The closest I could come to picking a date would be when I started volunteering with the Students For Life club on campus. This was the first time I really put into action my beliefs. The more I live the incarnation of Christ and the more I understand the universality of the Gospel, the more I understand the dignity of all human life. A big key to this understanding is prayer, as well as fasting/sacrificing for others. It makes the mission so much more personal.
What qualities or personal missions/charisms within yourself are enhanced or grown because of your formation with Biking for
Babies?
PN: The virtues I grew in most were joy and courage. I grew in joy by seeing my teammates radiate joy during the ride and with all the people they met along the way. It showed me just how much joy I lacked during formation and when I was sharing the mission with others. After the ride, I became more eager and ready to share about the ride. Secondly, I grew in courage when I was asked to fundraise for my pregnancy resource center, Hope 4 Life in Chesapeake, Virginia. At first I played it safe by only asking friends and family, but I knew I had to start branching out even if it meant awkward conversations or rejections. In the end, a large portion of my donations came from people I never planned on asking.
What was your favorite memory or experience from the formation program this year? What was your favorite thing about being a rider missionary?
PN: My favorite memory from the year came after Day five of the National Ride. We had just covered 106 miles from Arlington, Virginia to Havre de Grace, Maryland and I was feeling pretty tired from all the hills. But as we rolled into the church, we were greeted by a parade of bikes, a DJ, and popsicles. The fact that so many people came out to support us on a Friday evening really moved me. The priest even pushed Mass back another 30 minutes because of how late we were running. In the evening we had a dinner with the parish where I shared my “why” with another missionary. Our hosts at all the stops were so welcoming, but I have a special thank you for St. Patrick Parish in Havre de Grace for all their generosity and love they shared with us. Seeing the generosity of our hosts was one of my favorite parts of being a missionary. They were just normal people who were excited to share their gifts to support our mission.
How did the Lord work through your time with Biking for Babies this year, and what was the impact of this experience on how you live out your faith now?
PN: As the year went on, the Lord led me to find Him in more places. From needing to ask for help on rides, meeting other pro-life people, relying on the support crew for an entire week, He came through to provide for and strengthen me. Since the ride, I try to look for God in the face of every person I meet and really try to value the “sacrament of the present moment” instead of always looking at my schedule for the next event.
What advice would you share with someone who is also a college student about joining Biking for Babies, especially if they are on the fence due to the time commitment and integration of formation into your current state in life?
PN: If you’re on the fence about Biking for Babies, you already know the importance of the mission, but I doubt you know just how beautiful the formation is and how much joy you’ll find in meeting the other missionaries. Finding time has been- and will always be- a struggle, but when something as important as this mission comes along, you’ll make the time.
If you were to build your team next year, what kind of people would you want on alongside you?
PN: This is a tough question because I wouldn’t have chosen the team I was on this past year, but I couldn’t have been more happy with my fellow missionaries. The most important trait for future missionaries is boldness. We need boldness during formation, fundraising, and sharing testimonies. Everyone brings different strengths to the team and it’s the uniqueness of each team member which makes the experience special. One person’s weakness is an opportunity to rely on another teammate.
Rapid fire: 1) what was your favorite National Ride snack? 2) what was your favorite stop for this year?, and 3) what’s the best music to listen while training?
PN: The best snack was whatever the guy next to me had. It was usually Oreos. On the last day we stopped at a park outside of Philadelphia and played some frisbee and around the playground. It was a good way to cap off the week with just the North Carolina team. Surprisingly, I ended up on indie pop/rock during my training, even though I’m usually more of a country music person.
Patrick’s willingness to branch out and try something new and his ability to recognize the joy of others around him should make us all want to do the same. We hope that you, reader, are inspired to try something new and find the joy of the Lord!
We are proud that Patrick is a Biking for Babies missionary, for life!
You can find similar impact stories throughout our blog.
