Bio of Steve Teel

The "short" serious version

Steve Teel is an author, speaker, evangelist, and the founder and president of Very Bold Ministries, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization based in San Antonio , Texas . His most recent book is his first fiction work, The Difference Maker , released in 2006 and aimed at teen guys. He is currently at work on the second book in The Difference Maker series as well as a companion novel for moms.

He is a youth ministry veteran of over fifteen years and the leader of the Pray Before You Play movement. He has written two devotional books, Jesus Christ Movie Star and Jesus Christ All-Star , and is the writer and creator of the daily web comic strip “ Cotton Pauley.” He speaks to youth, churches, schools, men and sports teams, sharing his passion and enthusiasm for Jesus Christ.

He has his Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena , California and his Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa , Oklahoma . He lives in San Antonio , Texas with his wife of 17 years, Kris, and their three kids.

The extended play very un-serious diversion and time-killer

Steve Teel is the president of Very Bold Ministries, an evangelist, speaker, and author. He spoke at the '97 Billy Graham San Antonio crusade (to his buddy Munson, while sitting in the nosebleeds listening to DC Talk), at the Promisekeepers Texas Stadium Rally (to his senior pastor about the Spurs chances of winning the NBA championship that year) and also spoke with great passion at the 2003 National Youthworkers Convention in Phoenix (to his wife Kris, specifically about where they were going for the dinner break. He wanted TGI Friday's, she wanted seafood. He still possesses the Red Lobster bib as a souvenir of the convention).

Teel has also made several recent personal public appearances at Oklahoma Sooner football games: the Orange Bowl crushing loss to USC, a stinging defeat at UCLA, and the blowout debacle to the Texas Longhorns in '05. The Oklahoma University athletic department has since asked him not to attend any more OU games or at the very least, to keep his appearances impersonal and private .

He is a prolific writer, having written countless original emails in the past ten years. His two devotional books Jesus Christ Movie Star and Jesus Christ All Star have not been translated into dozens of languages nor sold throughout the world. He is often mentioned in the same sentence as Billy Graham: “That Steve Teel is sure no Billy Graham.”

He achieved the heights of academic excellence early in his school career. In the first grade at West Point , New York , he earned straight "E's" ("E" meaning excellent, the equivalent of A's, he assures), the only student in his class to do so. Actually, the teacher claimed only one student got all E's, but we're pretty sure she said that so each of the likely 15 or so students who had all E's would feel they were very special. Unfortunately for Steve, this psychology backfired, as he could never live up to the expectations of early academic success. Though his mother vigorously denies it, he never again recorded straight E's or A's. However, he did achieve another academic benchmark when he became the youngest student (3rd grade) in his elementary school to ask the teacher, "Could I take an Incomplete , or at least drop this class without failing?"

His athletic career paralleled his academic success. In baseball young Teel was selected to his California little league all-star team and subsequently put together an impressive six game sitting-streak. Despite his prodigious success as a benchwarmer in which he never made an out or an error, Teel was allowed to take the field for the consolation game in which he proceeded to make an out, commit an error, and throw up on third base, and that was just the first inning. (Editor's note in response to questions raised by smokinggun.com: Teel "Freyed" a few minor details, he actually didn't vomit until the 5th inning, and technically it was the third base line, not third base itself.)

In soccer he scored two goals during his lengthy career, and one goal was an awkwardly kicked ball intended to be a pass to another teammate. "Oops, err yaay!" said Teel.

In his high school basketball career in Northern Virginia , Teel was quickly recognized as a rare dual threat for his lack of talent and natural ability and was labeled as "coachable." Eventually this label led to his freshman Coach Boyer's apology to the team during an early season losing streak, "I'm sorry but Teel keeps doing what I say, so I've got to play him. I'm really sorry guys." Inspired by Coach Boyer's unwavering confidence, Teel proceeded to play down to his talent and natural ability, and still somehow remain a starter on the squad. This groundbreaking coaching strategy helped the Spartans set a new school record and served as a launching pad of momentum for Coach Boyer's highly successful career in life insurance. The West Springfield Spartans' school record for least amount of victories: five, still stands to this day (Editor's note: Okay, we didn't check up on this fact, but come on, five wins? It's got to still be a record.). In all fairness though, Teel claims it would have been a more impressive lower total if they just hadn't played so many games (19).

Having peaked in his athletic career, Teel moved on to show business at the age of 16, becoming an usher at the Springfield Cinemas (aka The Rocking Chairs Theater). A bow-tied, ticket-tearing wonder, he eventually earned the promotion to "head usher" which essentially meant that management recognized his complete lack of social life and realized he was available to work Friday and Saturday nights.

In college, Teel met the woman of his dreams on the first day of freshman orientation. Unfortunately, he would use the line "tell me your life story" in a misguided attempt to strike up conversation and impress the beautiful young woman. These poorly chosen words led to three long years of having the woman of his dreams think of their relationship as "just friends." During their senior year God proved indeed that miracles still happen and the woman of his dreams, Kris, agreed to marry him.

Teel resumed his academic career at Fuller Seminary in California , reaching rarified air by joining a select group of students who completed six years of theological studies without earning the right to be called "doctor."

Two beautiful baby girls later, the young family moved to San Antonio , Texas and he began fulltime ministry as an associate pastor/youth pastor. The Teels later added a player to be named later, their son. His three children are all smarter, better-looking, and more athletic than he is. Teel continues to marvel that his wife ever married him and gives thanks to God every day that she did.

"And Boomer is my dog." ( Teel family Rhapsody by My Report)