About Us

VISION
Our desire is to help women understand who they are in Christ and what they are capable of so they will be able to become the woman God has always intended them to be.

MISSION STATEMENT
WILD Quest is an outdoor retreat experience that places women in an environment which pulls them into authentic relationships with other women, challenges them physically and introduces them to biblical truths about who God believes them to be.   Through yoking physical achievements with spiritual and emotion growth and biblical truths we awaken the hearts of women to discover what and who they are capable of being. 

VALUES
We value each woman’s unique gifts and qualities as she uses them to bring fame to God.
We value authenticity in relationships.
We value risk taking faith for the kingdom.
We value everyone woman’s stage in the process of knowing God and developing Christ-like character.
We value life-giving attitudes which offer grace, mercy and patience with members of the body of Christ.

STATEMEMT OF FAITH

• We believe the Bible to be inspired and infallible, and as such, the supreme authority in faith and life.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three persons ~ Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.
• We believe that Jesus Christ, by offering Himself on the cross, paid the penalty of man's sin, and all who receive Him by faith are born of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost ~ those that are saved to the resurrection of eternal life and those that are lost to the resurrection of condemnation and eternal separation from God.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, as He is understood from the Bible alone, regardless of denomination affiliation.
• We believe that baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality demonstrating that a person has a new life in Jesus Christ and the recognition of the living presence of the Holy Spirit.
• We believe that our purpose for living is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.

Stacy Madden:  WILD Quest founder and Director
Stacy has over 15 years working with women’s ministry programs.  During which time she worked as a nurse and received a master’s degree in nursing becoming a Nurse Practitioner.   Currently she is the Head of Women’s Ministry at South Mountain Community Church in Utah.  She also serves on the board of directors for Big Canyon Adventures and Retreats. 
A Message from Stacy:
I grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ at a young age. Yet as a young adult I found myself full of self doubt, fear and a belief that I didn’t measure up.  God has taken me on a quest to rebuild my belief systems about who I am in Him, what He thinks of me and what I am capable of.  I now  believe I am God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advanced for me to do.   I believe that he is calling me to glorify him and spread his fame.  I am passionate about encouraging women to believe that they also are a workmanship of God and He has good work planned for them as well.   God has made each of us unique with a special mix of gifts and talents so we can be who he intended us to be in the way that he has planned for us.  I don’t believe God intended for women to sit on the side lines of the kingdom.  I believe we are called to participate in spreading His fame and fight for His kingdom. 
The mountains are a place where I feel very close to God. I love being outdoors in nature surrounded by God’s handiwork and creativity.  I also enjoy action and adventure, and I like to push the “feminine envelope”.
WILD Quest was born from merging my personal life’s journey and my love for the outdoors with the lessons that God has taught me through my own quest.  I believe God is now calling me to use my gifts and share my journey with other women.  I am passionate about encouraging women to start their own quest and seeing them become the woman God intended them to be.

ADVISORY BOARD
Members of the advisory board are volunteers that offer advice, guidance and input to the development and functions of WILD Quest.  The advisory board also contributes to WILD Quest retreats through various roles such as registration, planning, group leading, and activity leaders.

Sheri Jones
I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior at age 16 but I didn’t fully understand what that meant until I was 32. I had a lot of regrets in my life that left me feeling guilty, worthless and ashamed. Through a series of experiences, I discovered the true meaning of God’s grace and forgiveness that has brought genuine freedom in my life. I have never been able to fit in “the box” that I thought I was supposed to fit in. I understand now what it means to be ME without feeling like I should be someone else. God made me the way I am ON PURPOSE and it is good. That is true freedom in Christ!
I had the privilege of being a part of the first WILD Quest and my experience there further deepened my understanding of God’s love and plan for my life. The symbolism in the outdoor activities with our life’s journey was, again, life changing for me! I am honored to be part of this amazing ministry and I am so excited to see what God will do through it for other women who have struggled with the same issues I have claimed victory over.

Karen Minchow
In the summer of my junior year of high school I was invited to attend Young Life Camp in Saranac, NY.   It was there that I first met Christ in a personal and saving way.  He showed me His great love and forgiveness.  Over the years, the passion in my walk with Him diminished as I strayed and began believing the lies that surrounded me daily-- I was different, unaccepted, judged, ugly, and had nothing of value to contribute.  These destroyers of self-esteem robbed me of the joy and acceptance that only Christ has to offer.
My entire adult life has been filled with many and varied physical/mental challenges.   I am a Captain/Firefighter/Paramedic with the largest fire department in Utah.  I have completed 13 marathons, a 208 mile bike race, a 206 mile relay race and am currently training for an Ironman Triathalon.  Although all of these activities provide physical victories it is the journey back to Christ through these challenges that has given me the greatest joy.  He has shown me how I am wonderfully and fearfully made in His image to reveal his fame.  To Him I am a woman of great beauty, passion, and purpose.
Attending WILD Quest not only renewed my passion for the outdoors and adventure (where I first found Christ) but also brought new life to my spirit.  I was challenged to again open up and let God reveal Himself to me.  Being reminded that God made me who I am for a purpose and being able to share my struggles and strengths with other women who are/have been struggling in these same ways is a joy.  I am still journeying with Christ and I am passionate about the opportunity to be a part of this ministry and help other women discover God’s overwhelming love and purpose for each one of them.

Tracy Hanssen
I was 24, single, independent, ready to take on the world and blindsided by my mother being diagnosed with cancer and it made me start to think and wonder what life was all about.  There I met Christ, in a time when my works, strength and independence did nothing for me.   I grew up without much of a father figure in my life.  I never knew what it felt like to be cherished or adored.
When I began to serve with my husband in college ministry we found that through adventure (mostly outdoors) people began to let their guard down, become more vulnerable and open their hearts to the possibility of (1) knowing and trusting in a God of adventure and (2) stepping out in faith in areas they have been afraid to journey.  It was amazing to see how stepping out of your comfort zone opens your eyes to the greatness of God!   Recently the Lord has sent me on a different kind of adventure….one where he is showing me what it is to be cherished, adored and beautiful in God’s eyes. 
I am thrilled to be part of this amazing ministry as I have seen first hand how the Lord works through average, ordinary women in extraordinary ways!  It is great to see women WILD for God!  Being outdoors in God’s beauty adds a piece to the picture that is unique.  Each of us was created to do something great in our circle of influence, but sometimes we have to get away from it all to find what it is! 
I was an exercise physiologist for 10 years.  During the last few years God has used my passion for women to lead women’s ministry and bible studies. Currently I am involved in and leading a mom’s group at a local church.  I love traveling, boating and skiing, snow skiing, cooking, date nights with my husband and spending time with my two year old.