About Teen Quest
Teen Quest is a youth mission reaching a world of teens. We are located at the Teen Quest Ranch in Somerset PA. The founders, Mark and Debbi Witt have dedicated their lives to youth. It was their vision in 1976 that birthed Teen Quest.
3 Stages of Ministry:
EVANGELISM
Winning teens for Christ
DISCIPLESHIP
Building students in the faith
MISSIONS
Sending them into the world to share the Good News with others
Our History
Today, Teen Quest continues to reach students throughout
the U.S. and beyond.We host camps and
events at the Teen Quest Ranch year-round.We have not strayed from our calling to win students to Christ, equip
them in Christ and send them for Christ through camping, student groups,
ministry teams, and global evangelism.
1976
Teen Quest Founded
It all began in August of 1976, with an immense amount of faith in a big God and a burden to see teens respond to the Gospel. Mark & Debbi Witt were led by God to start a youth mission in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. After sharing with their youth group about where God was leading them, the students quietly, collectively donated $40. Mark and Debbi used this as seed money to begin what today has grown to a worldwide ministry outreach.
Youth rallies, Bible clubs, Bible quizzing, ministry teams, music/drama troupes, special.
1977
Bible Clubs/Rallies
We began city-wide youth rallies in Pittsburgh with 1200 in attendance and 90 students surrendering to Christ at the first one. Top speakers from around the United States challenged students each month to come to Christ, living and serving Him in their everyday lives.
Bible Clubs met in private homes weekly throughout the Pittsburgh Area, offering students a place to grow them in the Word and a place to invite their un-churched friends. Many students who attended the first Teen Quest Bible clubs are now serving the Lord as missionaries, pastors and youth pastors today.
1978
Radio
God led Mark to begin a daily five-minute radio program on a 50,000-watt radio station in Pittsburgh geared to parents and grandparents of youth. Families have been helped with practical advice from a biblical perspective.
1979
Camps
As a result of this radio ministry, in 1979, hundreds of teens began attending Teen Quest camps during the summer months.
We utilized the group campsite in Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset County. Hundreds have attended our camps each year, and many have come to know Christ as Savior and Lord.
1989
Mission Outreach
Realizing the need to reach more students on a regular basis throughout the year, Vizion, our drama/music troupe was born in 1989. Students have traveled throughout the region and into foreign countries presenting the gospel with their talent for God.
1990 was the year we began our mission program. Students are challenged by veteran missionaries. They learn about missions by raising their support, being trained in outreach and evangelism. Countries we’ve traveled to include Germany, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Mexico, Poland, England, and China.
1995
Snow Camp
Year-round camps started when we began Snow Camps. High in the Laurel Highlands, students sled, ski, snowboard, but most importantly, hear the Word of God. Each year Snow Camps begin our year of camping programs at the Teen Quest Ranch.
2001
The Teen Quest Ranch
God directed our steps to purchase a 140-acre Ranch in 2001. It’s a tool to reach thousands of American students and international students from foreign lands. Volunteers have helped to build this great facility these past many years. Today, you can visit our ministry headquarters operating from the Teen Quest Ranch in the beautiful Laurel Mountains of Somerset County Pennsylvania.
Today
Teen Quest
Today, Teen Quest continues to reach students throughout
the U.S. and beyond.We host camps and
events at the Teen Quest Ranch year-round.We have not strayed from our calling to win students to Christ, equip
them in Christ and send them for Christ through camping, student groups,
ministry teams, and global evangelism.
What We Are About
Our Vision
To see students throughout the world come to Christ, built up in the faith, and sent out to reach others for Him.
Our Mission
A youth mission assisting churches, communities, and families in winning, equipping, and empowering students for Christ with God’s Word, through camping, student groups, ministry teams, and global evangelism.
Statement of Faith
1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. We believe that all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are justified on the grounds of His shed blood, and are saved through faith alone apart from human merit and works.
5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ, that is, because of our faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are all part of the Body of Christ as written in I Corinthians 12:13.
Core Values
1. Gospel
First and foremost, Teen Quest’s goal is to challenge every person we meet to make a decision to follow Christ. WIN – BUILD – SEND. We want to Win students to Christ, Build them up in the faith, and Send them out to do ministry.
2. Integrity
In everything we do, we want to surpass the normal standards of honesty and integrity. We will be above reproach in our dealings, transactions, and communications.
3. Servanthood
Teen Quest seeks to serve Christ and His body. We will make all efforts to serve our students, churches, parents, and youth leaders. Servanthood is also giving proper leadership when needed.
4. Acceptance
We will model godly love by accepting and respecting those persons who we may not agree. We will follow Jesus’ example and love others.
Distinctives
1. Local Church Oriented
2. Front Door Approach to Evangelism
– Boldly proclaiming Christ
3. Mission Minded
4. Non-Denominational
Meet The Team
Mark & Debbi Witt - Founders & Directors
Founders & Directors
E-mail: markwitt@teenquest.org
—> Donate To Mark & Debbi
We are mark & debbi witt, founders and directors of teen quest. we would like to challenge you to join our missionary team with your prayers and your financial support as we minister through Teen Quest.
Our goal is to meet with as many teens as possible~winning them to christ, building them in their faith, sending them to do ministry.
Who are we?
Our story begins before 1976. Both of us answered the call of full-time ministry when we were younger. We met at Liberty University in the youth major program. Mark previously had graduated from Otterbein College and was pursuing more training while also teaching at LU.
He was called to a church outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the senior high youth pastor. We married a year later and have dedicated our lives to a commitment of seeing teens reached for Christ and discipled.
Realizing God was calling us to reach further than just our youth group, we founded Teen Quest in August 1976 with an immense amount of faith in a big God and a burden to see many more teens respond to the Gospel.
Teen Quest is a youth mission.
The fall of 1976 we held a large youth rally in Pittsburgh with over 1200 in attendance and 90 students surrendered their lives to Christ that night.
Youth rallies, school Bible Clubs, Bible Quizzing, Ministry teams, Music Drama troupes, Special events and year-round Camping have been part of Teen Quest since the beginning.
In the fall of 2001 God led us to acquire a 140-acre Ranch to have a permanent home for year-round camping. Volunteers have helped to build this great facility these past many years.
Today, the ministry headquarters operates from the Teen Quest Ranch in the beautiful Laurel Mountains of Somerset County Pennsylvania.
WHAT IS TEEN QUEST?
Teen Quest is a non-profit youth mission and is not endorsed or funded by any particular denomination. We seek to minister to the entire body of Christ; choosing to value and teach the essentials of salvation.
We are a youth ministry engaging and reaching a world of teenagers through providing: weekend retreats, summer camps, mission opportunities, spiritual guidance, discipleship, and much more.
Our ministry through Teen Quest also seeks to strengthen student ministries within the local church by providing: coaching, encouragement, resourcing, and more to hundreds of youth leaders.
Last, but not least, Teen Quest seeks to encourage and strengthen families & communities represented by those individuals we reach through our ministry.
Teen Quest’s goal is to challenge every person we meet to make a decision to follow Christ.
WIN – BUILD – SEND
WHY SHOULD YOU INVEST YOUR TIME IN PRAYER AND YOUR FINANCES IN THIS MISSION ?
We can’t do it alone. We are looking for friends who will become financial partners and prayer partners investing in us as we challenge every person we meet to make a decision to follow Christ.
Prayer is key to winning the fight against the Enemy. We covet your regular prayer support. We know that when folks are upholding us in prayer, we are strengthened for battle.
When you invest by giving to our missionary account, you are standing with us, investing in the spiritual lives of teens.
We are reaching out to you for the purpose of asking you to partner with us as we make a difference in the lives of teenagers & youth leaders across the Northeast.
We want to win students to Christ, build them up in the faith, and send them out to do ministry.
We are serving as “missionaries” within the Teen Quest organization and dependent on gifts just like missionaries overseas.
Your financial gift will allow us to minister to thousands of teens coming to Teen Quest every year.
Your generous giving toward our mission account and your prayers will impact our family as well as others that Teen Quest reaches and will make all the difference in the world.
SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR MINISTRY:
You will be making eternal investment into the lives of every student that walks through Teen Quest’s doors.
God will be using you greatly for His purposes at Teen Quest.
You will be giving students the hope of Christ to empower them to overcome potentially life-shattering obstacles.
You’ll receive our newsletter (also available via email), as well as a receipt of your giving since it is tax exempt.
Jason & Chelsea Witt - Associate Directors
Full-Time Missionaries
E-mail: jmclwitt@yahoo.com
—> Donate To Jason & Chelsea
Hi!
We are Jason, Chelsea, Alexa, Briana, and Jaxon and we have been blessed as we serve as full time missionaries with Teen Quest since 2003.
We, as a part of Teen Quest are on a mission to see every student who comes through our doors experience the hope, salvation, and overwhelming love of Jesus Christ. Only the hope of Christ empowers young people to overcome potentially life-shattering obstacles. Our family accepted this calling to win students to Christ, build them in the faith and send them out to do ministry in 2003.
As Teen Quest is a mission organization, our position functions at Teen Quest much like a missionary position overseas. We raise our support and financial partners, as well as prayer partners, join us in ministry.
Your generous financial gifts and commitment of prayer help support our family which allows us to minister to thousands of teens coming to Teen Quest every year.
Should you choose to make an investment in our ministry, we will keep you updated on all the happenings at the Ranch. And as you give, we will ask you for your prayer concerns so we can pray with you also about your needs. You will receive a tax-deductible receipt for your giving.
Your financial investment makes the difference in countless students’ lives as this generation of students consists of perhaps the most talented, gifted, and passionate group of people on the planet. They have the ability to transform our society. However, we are losing our young people to various addictions, struggles, and mental problems.
Consider this:
More than 90% of people with addiction begin smoking, drinking or using other drugs before age 18.
Suicide is the THIRD leading cause of death for youth ages 12 – 18. Each day, in our nation, there are an average of over 5,400 suicide attempts by young people grades 7 – 12.
Most teens will suffer with depression from more than one episode. 20 to 40% will have more than one episode within two years. 70% will have more than one episode before adulthood. Episodes of teen depression generally last 8 months.
About 20% of teens will experience teen depression before they reach adulthood.
We have the call of God, the direction of God, and the assurance that being at Teen Quest is exactly where God wants us. This assurance is not without challenges, but we know this is where God wants us and we live with trust, confidence, and faith that God provides. Our family is blessed as we are part of what God is doing and how He is using us for His purposes at Teen Quest.
We have seen what God has done when we joined Teen Quest as missionaries and we are excited about the future – its bright potential impact of continuing to exponentially spread the Gospel.
We want to thank you for letting us share our heart with you. We also want to thank you for considering partnering with us—both in prayer and a financial gift/commitment. With God continuing doing the miraculous (what He does best) and with your partnership, our ministry to students will be even more successful.
Please support us https://teenquest.org/#donate
Randy Hatfield Service
Ministry/Service
E-mail: randyhatf@gmail.com
Brief info
Randy began as a counselor at Teen Quest. Kids really relate to Randy. He is our specialist in illusion, with lots of “tricks” up his sleeve that he loves to share at any time.
Randy attended Waynesburg University before joining the Teen Quest team.
Rob Allison Missions
Evangelism/Johnstown Missions
E-mail: rallison824@atlanticbb.net
Brief info
Rob Allison has a heart for missions, pouring his life into any kids he meets. On any given day, you'll hear him sharing Christ with teens he meets along life's way. Rob is our key organizer of Teen Quest's mission trips for the Johnstown Venture each summer.
Amber Hixson Head Wrangler
Horse Wrangler
E-mail: bettamber.hixson123@gmail. com
Brief info
Amber Hixson began coming to the Teen Quest Ranch during our Kids Camp on a sponsorship when she was 8 and has kept coming back each year. Today, Amber is serving the Lord as Head Wrangler at the Ranch and she is performing her duties with excellence.
Jimmy Zinkand Recreation Supervisor
Recreation Supervisor
E-mail: zinkandjim@gmail.com
Brief info
Jimmy Zinkand has been ministering at the Ranch since 2003. He's the guy you'll want to meet at the X-Barn. As our in-house archery expert, Jimmy shares his skills with anyone who wants to be a straight shooter and hit the target.
Lindsay Kocerka Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper
E-mail: lrkocerka@gmail.com
Brief info
Lindsay Kocerka serves the Lord as our expert bookkeeper for Teen Quest. She keeps our numbers in order. She and her husband, Matthew, live in Greensburg along with their two children.
Carl Mampay Website
Data Entry
E-mail: carlmampay@gmail.com
Brief info
Carl Mampay has been with Teen Quest since 2014 and handles all data entry of Teen Quest's CRM and upgrades to our website. He considers it a blessing and a wonderful opportunity to be part of Teen Quest, a great spiritual cause of bringing the new generation closer to Christ. Carl ministers with us from his home country, the Philippines.
Alexa Witt Church Outreach
Alexa Witt - Missionary Intern
Support Alexa Witt as she dedicates this next year to serving the Lord at the Teen Quest Ranch.
Alexa Witt has decided to follow the calling she has from the Lord and serve a one-year internship at the Teen Quest Ranch. During this year she will be involved in our marketing and camps departments.
Alexa will also minister during weekend and week-long camps alongside the Teen Quest team in order to impact the lives of young people.
Alexa is humbled to receive financial and prayerful support from friends and family who share her heart for ministry.
By supporting Alexa, you are making a meaningful investment in the lives of hundreds of young people who will be reached and trained for Christ.
Her ministry fully depends on the generosity of supporters like you. Your gifts will allow her to continue her vital missionary work and make an even greater impact in the lives of teens!