Teen Quest

TRAVIS RUSKO AND JASON WITT ORDAINED AS MISSIONARIES

On Sunday January 3^rd Jason Witt and Travis Rusko were ordained as missionaries at the West Mifflin Community Baptist Church in Pittsburgh. Several pastors, elders of the church and the Teen Quest Board of Directors have recomended these young men for ordination.

Jason has been on the full time mission staff for Teen Quest for seven years after graduating from Bible College.  He, along with Chelsea, are directors of student ministries working with teens who are on our ministry team. He also runs the games and activities at the Teen Quest Ranch.

Travis has been with Teen Quest full time for four years and just recently graduated from Bible College. (He grew up in our ministry.) He along with his wife Brittany have been in charge of church marketing and rallies at the Teen Quest Ranch.

SIX STEPS TO A HAPPY HOME

1. HUGS- Just as little babies need to be cuddled, children of all ages need physical expression. Even teens need frequent hugs from parents and grandparents. (not in front of their friends)
2. SPEND TIME TOGETHER – Family time together is so very important. The average father spends three minutes or less a day communicating to his child. Take a day off work, go on vacations, and make it a point to block off at least an hour a day for your kids.
3. HAVE FUN TIMES TOGETHER- When our sons were younger I would turn off the lights in our homeand we would play hide and seek in the dark. As your kids become older you can play more sophisticated games. Learn to laugh together and enjoy each other.
4. LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN- Many children never talk to mom or dad because they just know their ideas and opinions really do not matter. Make them count and help your children be a part of decision making.
5. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN-Children learn their basic self-image from our reactions to them. Believe in your children and encourage them.
6. BE COURTEOUS TO YOUR CHILDREN- I know so many parents who are rude and impolite to their children. For instance, knock before you enter their bedroom, say please and thank you, and be respectful to them.

“SNOW CAMP” IS CHANGING LIVES

Every winter from January through March hundreds of students from the Eastern Seaboard attend one of 9 weekends of Snow Camp at the Teen Quest Ranch.  Students enjoy all the winter activities like snow tubing, the” Tube of Doom” (riding on the back of snowmobiles on inner tubes), ice skating, paintball, horse back riding and indoor activities from climbing walls to archery to an indoor skate park.  Most importantly students will hear four dynamic messages, participate in awesome worship and be trained in practical Biblical principles.

We are expecting scores of students to invite Christ into their lives each weekend as we share with them the Word of God.

We covet your prayers for these students as we minister to them during our Snow Camp season.

HOW DO YOU COPE WITH A SELF CENTERED CHILD?

Teens are naturally self-centered.  Girls and guys are experiencing so many changes in their bodies and emotions that they become pre-occupied with themselves.  Divorce, media, peer pressure, and school pressures also play a part in self-centeredness. Let’s face, it we live in a self-centered world.

Parents need to realize that this is a somewhat temporary happening in your teen’s life. As he goes through these changes you also have the responsibility of teaching him compassion for others.

The number one point that you need to convey to your teen is that God loves him, and you love him just the way his is. Remind him that the physical and emotional changes taking place in his life will one day dwindle away.

Reinforce the fact that you and God love him for who he is.

WHAT CRITERIA SHOULD WE USE TO SUPPORT MISSIONARIES AT HOME AND ABROAD?

Every one of us receives scores of financial appeals from Christian organizations and missionaries from around the country and world on a regular basis. What criteria should we use to support missionaries around the world?  Here is a prayerful guideline.

1. Does the mission you support believe and follow God’s Word? Are they involved in liberal causes that are not Biblically based?  Are they afraid to take a stand against sin? (2 Tim 3:5 – “…having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”)
2. Does the mission win souls for Christ or are they into the social gospel?  The passion of the mission organization must be to reach the lost, build them up in the faith and send them out to do the work of the Lord.
3. Is the mission organization financially accountable to its supporters? Do they send out receipts and tell how the money is being used?  Are their finances audited yearly? Do they have godly men and women on their board of directors?
4. Does the staff live by faith and prayer or do they depend on man’s wisdom to sustain them?

Since beginning Teen Quest 34 years ago we have committed our mission to be Biblically clear, evangelistic in nature, and financially accountable. Our staff raises their own support and lives on faith through prayer.  God is the source of the stability of this mission and he moves godly people to pray and give to our work as He sees fit.

COME AND VISIT US AT THE TEEN QUEST RANCH IN SOMERSET COUNTY

Since 2001 Teen Quest has been building the Teen Quest Ranch in beautiful Somerset County.  We have been remodeling, repairing, and building the Ranch so many teenagers may come and hear about Jesus.

We would love to give you a grand tour of what God has been doing at the Teen Quest Ranch.

Why not give us a call and we will give you a tour of the Ranch along with a great time of fellowship.  Call 814-444-9500 and tell us when you can come.

TEEN QUEST MINISTRY NEEDS

Lots of folks cannot send financial support or volunteer time during these tough economic times.  One may donate items they do not need anymore or volunteer to help us with several projects.   Items considered “Gifts in Kind” can be tax-deductible and even your travel expenses can be deducted from your taxes.

ITEMS NEEDED

• Shovels, pitch fork and small tools
• Table saw , jig saw, band saw, planer
• Tractor with front loader
• Wheelbarrow
• Large inner tubes
• Computers (Xp)
• Golf balls

VOLUNTEERS TO HELP

• Paint the barn
• Trim work on cabins
• Inside building projects for barn
• Inside painting walls and ceiling
• Weekend cooks and helpers
• Folks to help in the office

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On Sunday morning January 3, 2010  Jason Witt and Travis Rusko will be ordained as Teen Quest missionaries at the West Mifflin Community Baptist Church in Pittsburgh. The service will be held at 9:30 am with worship, special music and the public recognition of the calling of Jason and Travis into full time pastoral missionary ministry.

Jason and Chelsea Witt were married in 2003 in Chelsea’s hometown of Connecticut.  They were called into ministry after graduating from Bible College and have been serving Teen Quest as missionaries for the past seven years.  Jason and Chelsea are serving Teen Quest as directors of student ministries and have the responsibility to oversee student missionaries who train on our team.  They also lead our music drama troupe called the Teen Quest Players and oversee the physical operation of the 140 acre Teen Quest Ranch in Somerset County.  Jason and Chelsea live with their two daughters  Alexa (5) and Briana (2) in Somerset, PA.

Travis and Brittany Rusko were married in 2008 in Brittany hometown of Somerset.  Travis was called into ministry in 2006 as our marketing and youth rally director.  Travis and Brittany work as a team ministering to hundreds of youth pastors all over the Eastern Seaboard.  They also lead our youth rallies at the Ranch during the summer and weekends throughout the year.  Travis and Brittany live in Somerset, PA.

The ordination service will be a very special service of , preaching, special music, great worship and a short message from our pastoral candidates.   Food will be served following the service in the church fellowship hall.  If you would like to be a part of this historic event please call and let us know you are coming ASAP.  (814-444-9500)

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In January we begin our seventh year of full time ministry with Teen Quest.  We know God cares about us in spite of personal and financial difficulties during family tragedies and tough economic times.

August of 2008, my cousin, Dan was hit by a train and killed in Arizona. On the day of Dan’s funeral, his older brother, Clark found out that he had terminal cancer.    He passed away the end of May 2009.  My grandfather had a series of strokes and went home to be with the Lord on November 2nd.  Granddad was one of our supporters and prayed for Chelsea, the girls, and me every day.  These unexpected deaths have hit our family very hard.

In addition to family tragedy, our car broke down several weeks ago costing us $1800 to fix.   Our youngest daughter Briana had to have dental surgery costing us $1000.  With all of this happening, we have found that much of our personal Teen Quest support has been not coming in.

We are asking you to join Chelsea and me for special prayer over these matters.  We definitely know that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”   Romans 8:28

Please also pray as we follow up students from two big events this fall. We are just finishing three great Power Charge weekend camps proceeded by a month of outreach ministry. In the last seven weeks we have ministered to approximately 1300 people.  We thank God that our ministry with many teenagers from the region is growing and many are getting involved and many turning to Christ.

Chelsea and I have been mentoring a group of students we call Missionaries in Training or M.I.T. s.  These students train at the Ranch on weekends and occasionally travel (as the Teen Quest Players) presenting drama in churches and schools throughout the Pittsburgh Area.  We are preparing these students to do mission work this summer and will be training them during our all winter long Snow Camp program.  It is exciting to see students hunger for the Word of God and eager to learn how to do ministry!

I have been working with a young man for almost ten years now.  He has been an M.I.T. this fall and it is amazing to see how Teen Quest has impacted his life.  He is also on fire for the Lord and is thinking of attending the Teen Quest Institute next fall!   He used to be so shy and it is awesome to see him have so much confidence in sharing his faith with other teens his own age.  He even had a huge acting role in our recent evangelistic event this past October!

The most  important part of  our ministry is our family.    Our oldest daughter Alexa is now attending kindergarten and is doing well.  Briana is enjoying her special time with mommy, but loves it when Alexa comes home from school.     Alexa and Briana love going to church on Wednesday nights to spend time with their Christian friends.

On January 3, 2008 I and my co-missionary Travis Rusko will be ordained as a pastoral missionaries for Teen Quest at West Mifflin Community Baptist Church in Pittsburgh during their morning service.  This is a special honor for us as Chelsea and I continue to serve the Lord as missionaries.

January, February, and March promise to be an opportunity to reach out to the masses through Snow Camp.  We are expecting over 1000 students this winter. They will be coming from all over the region to attend one of nine weekends at the Teen Quest Ranch. We have never been more excited about reaching students for Christ as we are today.

As you may know, Teen Quest is a youth missionary organization depending on God’s people to pray and give to sustain our mission.  Since 1976 God has raised up men and women who believe in this ministry to pray, give, and get involved.  Every ministry team staff member is asked to raise their own personal support from friends and family members.   Gifts are written to Teen Quest (for tax purposes) and are placed into a Teen Quest account earmarked for Jason and Chelsea.  Every week our paycheck comes out of that account if we have funds still available.  Unfortunately during these tough economic times our account is in the hole which makes it very difficult for us.

We believe God will raise up friends who will by faith, partner with us in reaching teenagers for Christ.

Chelsea and I would like to challenge you to join our support team. Our support team prays for our ministry on a regular basis and gives monthly.  When you join our team we will send you our monthly newsletter with updated information on how God is reaching students for Christ.  Your partnership is very important to us as we continue reaching students with the message of Christ.

Merry Christmas from Jason, Chelsea, Alexa, and Briana Witt

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During the past 14 months Debbi and I have lost two nephews, an aunt, an uncle and just a few weeks ago, my father. It has been hard to lose family members…especially Dad.   Dad was my cheerleader, my mentor, and my godly example.  He was a faithful prayer warrior and faithful supporter of this ministry for the past 35 years.

Since Debbi and I began Teen Quest back in 1976, Dad has always been an encouragement to us.   In 2001 when we were taking a big step of faith purchasing the Teen Quest Ranch in Somerset County, he would talk to me every day and ask, “Well … did you get the keys to the property yet?”   He was constantly encouraging me to think beyond myself and rely totally on God, especially during these tough economical times.

As a child I can remember being taught how to work hard on any project or task.   Dad taught me how to step out on faith, dream big and turn those dreams into reality.   Building the Teen Quest Ranch from scratch has been the biggest step of faith of my life.  With Dad’s encouragement and his faithful prayers we have been able to continue our strong outreach through this ministry for the last 35 years.

During the last twenty years I watched Dad continue exemplifying his love and devotion to our Lord. I knew not to call him certain times at night because he was in his bedroom spending time with God.  His time with our Lord was more important than talking to me or doing anyone else in this world. I know he prayed for every family member every day and oh, how I am already missing his prayers.

Dad also taught us how to be concerned for others and how to give to their needs.  I can remember as a child visiting our neighbors at Christmas, a poor elderly couple we called Uncle Elmer and Aunt Violet. They lived in a little shack down the road from our house and they were so poor they could not afford electricity.  We brought them Christmas gifts and spent lots of time singing Christmas carols and reading from the Bible. The love Dad had for people made a positive impression on me that I will never forget for the rest of my life.

I have been very fortunate to grow up in a strong godly family. Many young people today are not so fortunate and do not have the strong Christian foundation that I have experienced.

We know we are in a spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of teenagers.  The pull of the world is so strong that a large percentage of Christian students are falling by the wayside.  This is why we run weekend camps and events for students from all over the region during all four seasons of the year. We must win this battle through the power of God and His Word.

During Power Charge, our second November weekend camp, we witnessed a large number of students surrendering their lives to Christ in prayer sitting throughout the Ranch auditorium. All of our camp speakers have been preaching powerful spiritual messages that God is using to transform lives.

Dad understood that this is the crux of our ministry of Teen Quest.  He really believed in our ministry to teens and he had a real passion in the building of the Teen Quest Ranch and prayed faithfully for our success.    We need prayer warriors like Dad, weekend volunteers, counselors, chaperones, handymen and financial supporters.

Would you consider partnering with us on a monthly basis in 2010 by joining our Teen Quest Priority Club?  Priority Club members give $30 or more each month for the next 12 months to help us reach teenagers who have never experienced God’s love and forgiveness.

In addition to the Priority Club we have begun the Ralph C Witt Jr. Memorial Fund.  The Ralph C Witt Jr. Memorial Fund is a way you can give a one time year-end gift in my Dad’s honor.

We are in the midst of our annual phone-a-thon asking folks to join the Priority Club or give a one-time gift to my dad’s, Ralph C Witt Jr. Memorial Fund on the phone.

I would like to challenge you to join the Priority Club or give a one-time gift in memory of my dad by filling out the coupon below and mailing it in the envelope provided. (. . . saving us a phone call.)  Your partnership will be an investment in the future and will make the difference in the lives of teenagers that will count for eternity.

Merry Christmas !

~ Mark

Rev. Mark S. Witt | Teen Quest Executive Director

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As another dynamic year comes to a close we want to write to you with very thankful hearts.  Knowing people are reading our letters and remaining engaged in our lives is such a blessing.  We also want to give God the praise He deserves for those that support us financially and prayerfully.  Without these gifts of prayers and finances, it would be impossible for us to carry on our work for the Lord.  This is why we come to you this month with an urgent request.  December tends to be a very slow financial month for Brittany and me at Teen Quest.  Churches are busy preparing for Christmas and our supporters have so many things going on in their own lives.  For this reason we need to prepare for a very lean financial month.  We are asking that those people who have given in the past and that those people who have never given would consider submitting a year end gift to our support account.  We know that without these gifts, this month will be difficult, but we are already praising God for the support He will send our way.

God has been so good to us this year.  A huge blessing we were able to experience as 2009 drew to a close was the birth of our nephew.  Brittany’s sister Meghan and her husband Jason welcomed their baby boy into the world on November 12.

As you can see from this picture, Ferdinand is an adorable bundle of joy!  We had such a great time seeing him on our trip to Canada and we ask that you pray for his health, growth and salvation in the years to come.  Please lift Meghan and Jason up in your prayers as they adjust to being new parents.  Ferdinand was God’s biggest gift to us this year.  He brings our entire family so much joy!  But we would be crazy to not recap the multiple blessings the Lord given us in 2009.  Please take a few minutes to read about it.

While Brittany officially started working at Teen Quest in October of 2008, she spent several months working part time with me and part time at the salon.  As we entered 2009, and ten back to back weekends of Snow Camp, we saw the reasons to have her leave the salon all the more.  While her years working as a beautician were a great time in her life, her heart was set on youth ministry.  After much prayer and consideration, she joined the team on a full time basis and ended her four year career at Modern Perfection Salon.  We knew going into this that we would take a major financial hit, but because of normal people responding to our hearts for teens with extraordinary gifts, that financial crunch is beginning to become less significant.  While we are still not in the financial position we experienced before Brittany left Modern Perfection, we are approaching that place as God works in the hearts of new supporters.

In April we spoke at Horizons Church in Lost Creek, WV.  Brittany and I gave a message entitled “Pure Dating” to over sixty teenagers.  Purity is such a passion for us, and sharing about it with teens is an exciting opportunity as we see so much in their culture that wars against it.  Kids desperately need to hear what it means to have a godly view of their bodies.  If we did not have supporters, this message would not have happened.  You can listen to the message we gave this April by following these four easy steps.

1. Go to http://bgymonline.com/podcast.htm
2. At the top of the page you’ll see the audio player.  Click the button on the player that says “posts”.
3. Scroll through the messages until you see one titled, “4-1-09: ‘Pure Dating’ by Travis & Brittany Rusko”.
4. Click and listen!

In April and May hundreds of kids came to the Teen Quest Ranch for weekend retreats and day trips.  Countless students made decisions for Christ and got excited about serving the Lord!  This wouldn’t have happened without our supporters.  One youth group that spoke to our hearts deeply was from New Day In Christ Fellowship in Hagerstown, MD.  While we love serving youth groups at Teen Quest and seeing them grow spiritually, the youth of this church came to serve the Teen Quest missionaries!  They built us a beautiful prayer tower that stands atop the highest point in our ranch. It gives campers the opportunity to retreat to a quite place and view the beauty of God’s creation while they seek His heart.  They also made us a fort in our paintball arena to add an extra bit of fun and strategy to one of our most popular activities at the ranch!  Seeing their heart and dedication to our ministry drove Brittany and me to tears.  It is such a blessing, and such a humbling experience to see the kids we work with giving back to Teen Quest.

This summer was an all out blast as we spent the majority of June and July at the ranch for our camps and mission trips.  We had a fourteen day mission trip where we and a group of teens ministered to the needs of people in our local community of Somerset, Pennsylvania.  We took another group of teens on a mission trip to Costa Rica at the same time.  Our small team presented the gospel in orphanages, drug rehab centers, and prisons.  Students that went on these mission trips got fired up about sharing their faith with a lost world!

We want to apologize because we’ve run out of room to recap the year and we haven’t even been able to tell you about the rest of the summer and the teens, preteens, and preschoolers that were impacted by our summer camps.  Nor do we really have any more room left to delve into the details of this fall.  What we can tell you in our limited space is that almost 600 students camped with us this autumn between September and October retreats and our brand new fall camp called Power Charge that we just finished up November 22nd.  None of this would have been possible without faithful prayer warriors and financial gifts!

Now that we’ve had the privilege of sharing with you all that Christ has done this year through the faithful gifts of our supporters, we would like to end our letter with the same challenge that opened it.  Teen Quest is a youth missionary organization depending on God’s people to pray and give to sustain our mission.  Since 1976 God has raised up those who believe in this ministry to pray, give and get involved.  Every ministry team staff member is asked to raise their own personal support.  Gifts are written to Teen Quest (for tax purposes) and are placed into an account earmarked for Brittany and me. Every week our pay check comes out of that account if we have funds still available.  Unfortunately during these tough economic times our account is in the hole which makes it very difficult for us. We would like to challenge you to be a part of our support team by filling out the coupon below.  Our support team prays for us on a regular basis and gives monthly.  When you join our team we will send you our monthly newsletter with updated information on how God is reaching students for Christ.  Please consider joining our team today!  Thanks so much for reading the update!

Merry Christmas,

Travis & Brittany Rusko

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