WHAT WILL YOU LEAVE BEHIND?

by Mark Witt

Most of us think about what we will leave behind. We work, save, and provide for our families and we hope to leave something for our children and grandchildren. Scripture even says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” (Proverbs 13:22) But there is something even greater than an inheritance. An inheritance may help the next generation live. A legacy can help them live for Christ and continue influencing the next generation.

As I look back over 50 years of Teen Quest, I realize the things that mattered most were not things at all. They were people who prayed, gave, served, encouraged, and believed reaching young people for Christ was worth investing their lives in.

My own grandfather, Clark Witt, invested himself in young people and helped begin Boy Scout Troop 1 in Fayette County Pennsylvania back in 1916. Years later, under his influence, God called me into youth ministry and in 1976 Teen Quest began. Today, our son Jason and his wife Chelsea serve at the Ranch, and now our granddaughter Alexa serves with Teen Quest as well. “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4

A Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball faithfully shared Christ with a young D. L. Moody. Through a remarkable chain of Christian influence came Wilbur Chapman, Billy Sunday, Mordecai Ham, and eventually Billy Graham, who trusted Christ after hearing Ham preach. Kimball never lived to see the full impact of what he started. That is the power of legacy. We plant; God determines how far the influence will reach.

Teen Quest began in 1976 with a rally at Soldiers & Sailors Hall in Pittsburgh. About 1,200 attended, and 99 young people trusted Christ. Since then, God has used camps, retreats, missions, radio, churches, volunteers, and faithful supporters to touch thousands of young lives. Buildings and programs are important, but they are not our legacy. Changed lives are.

As we celebrate 50 years, we are looking toward the next 50 years of ministry.

We are building a Legacy Trail along the main road of the Teen Quest Ranch planting 50 evergreen trees representing 50 years of God’s faithfulness. The trees will remind us that what we plant today can continue growing long after we are gone.

We will dedicate each of the 50 trees in honor or memory of a friend or loved one. A Legacy Builder leaves a legacy by investing in $1,200 or $100 a month for 12 months or more. As you drive to the Ranch you will see your tree. A Legacy Sower invest $300 to help continue the legacy by building the Legacy trail.