QUEST

"Quest opened my eyes to the adventure that life can be."

Adventure. That’s what you’re signing up for when you apply to Quest. Adventure — as in incredible outdoor expeditions in God’s stunning Creation. The adventure of community — the kind where you go deep and become like family. Adventures in learning — lectures, small-group discussions, exams, one-on-one mentoring, practical experiences. Adventures in actively serving the people who need it most. The biggest adventure of all: exploring what it means to follow Jesus with every part of who you are.

This is adventure with the potential to change your life.

You in?

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#1. Adventure

Your Quest year will take you on amazing expeditions. You'll do things like hike breath-taking terrain, climb rock faces, explore caves, and ski incredible trails. Fun? Absolutely. But more than that: you'll learn more about yourself, teamwork, and God than you thought possible.

# 2. Belonging

You'll start off as strangers. Little by little — one conversation, one out-trip, one class at a time — you'll become a tight family, learning together what it means to follow Jesus and to love people the way He does. Every step of the way, you'll have Quest instructors and leaders offering you mentoring, spiritual direction, and encouragement.

#3. Service

Life's about so much more than making ourselves happy and comfortable. This is why a major piece of Quest is learning to serve and put others first. You'll practice this lifestyle in a variety of ways throughout the year through things like an urban mission weekend, your service practicum, and helping to take care of group gear. You also have the opportunity to participate in an optional reading week mission trip to Costa Rica.

#4. Learning

In Quest, you'll engage in multi-dimensional learning. Unlike many discipleship programs, Quest has a strong focus on college-level academics. You'll be sitting in lectures, working through textbooks, and writing papers. Layer in discipleship groups, mentoring, and out-trips, and you'll find yourself being stretched intellectually, emotionally, relationally, physically, and spiritually.  The amazing part? You'll come out with new (or renewed!) faith in Jesus, new confidence in who God created you to be, and a solid foundation for whatever comes next.

Meet the Bedfords

"When our son attended Quest, I had some reservations. Chief among them was the thought that if you are going to spend that much, you might as well get on with your education. I was wrong. What changed my mind was my son. Nothing he said, but who he was when he got home. Yes, they sail, and ski and canoe and hike, but somehow they squeeze in a whole lot of biblical study. More importantly is the obvious amount of effort put into discipleship, facilitated no doubt, by the community developed through the activities. When our daughter went, I had different reservations: how would she fit in, would it be a good experience for a completely different personality? Her experience was profound and life changing. My personal thanks to you at the Quest program for making this a safe, yet challenging program: educational, but deeply rooted in discipleship and Christian community. You change lives. We have another son coming your way: No reservations."

Combining experiential learning with in-class learning is what makes Quest unique. Students complete a full academic load (31 credits) during the course of the year. This allows students who have plans for further college or university the opportunity not to fall behind in their educational pursuits.

Many QUEST grads go on to further education at various universities and colleges across North America. Some QUEST credits may be eligible for credit transfer.

QUEST also transfers seamlessly into the vast majority of Columbia's diploma & degree programs. Options include:

• Diploma in Applied Leadership
• Diploma/BA in Outdoor Leadership
• Diploma/BA in Counselling & Human Services
• Explore More Programs

Jeremy Walker Quest Director
Growing up in the Okanagan fostered a love for the outdoors in Jeremy. As he pursued that passion, it became evident that his love of creation also meant love for the Creator, and a lifetime of discipleship began. With over 15 years of outdoor experience, one of his favourite thing to do is introduce others to the vibrant and vast outdoor world and help them experience what it means to be fully known and loved by others. Jeremy and his wife Christina (Quest '99) live in Abbotsford with their three children.

Mike Richardson Quest Founder & Faculty
Mike loves fun and adventure. Most of these experiences he shares with his wife, Kathy, who also taught in the Quest Program. Mike created the Quest program with his own kids in mind, wanting them to experience a time of discipleship and life transformation. When Mike and Kathy aren't busy gorilla trekking and water skiing in Rwanda, sleeping with the lions on safari in Uganda, or snorkeling with sea turtles in the Caribbean, they can be found being very engaged grandparents!

Matt Kliever, Quest Program Associate
Matt grew up as a prairie farm-boy, but spending a year in the Adirondacks of New York allowed him to experience first-hand the discipleship opportunities made possible by mountains. Since then, he and his wife Koty have moved to Abbotsford to raise a family (two kids so far!) and to help facilitate adventure-filled years of discipleship for others. One of his biggest passions in life is helping people shape their identity as a follower of Christ so they can live lives of freedom and fulfillment.

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