Ministries : Sr. High : Sr. High Retreats : Teens Encounter Christ : TEC Experience
| Alyssa's TEC Experience | ||
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Imagine yourself driving to a church you’ve never been to before, and eating, sleeping, and living there for three days with a bunch of strange teens you’ve never met. Doesn’t sound like too much fun? That’s what I initially thought when Erin Wilken, Sr. High Youth Director at Lord of Life, sent me information about TEC retreats. TEC stands for Teens Encounter Christ, and is a weekend-long retreat that occurs three times a year in various churches around the twin cities. While I had loved the retreats that we went on in C3, I didn’t think I’d have much fun without my friends- or anything familiar for that matter. But after Pastor Todd also started telling me about how cool TEC was, I grudgingly sent in my application and packed my bags. Little did I know just how much this one retreat would change my life. TEC is difficult to explain, mainly because it gives you a feeling impossible to put into words. TEC is unlike any experience I’ve ever been through, and completely different from any other retreat I’ve been to. Over the course of three days, the retreat follows the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All ‘weekenders’ (teens on the retreat) get an in-depth look at why Christ died, and everything that He went through for us. Weekenders also get to experience first-hand Jesus’ love for us, and how that love comes to us unconditionally. The retreat holds a combination of fun songs and activities with serious discussion and emotional experiences. TEC is almost completely run by teens like myself; teens who have previously attended a TEC and come back to work at another one. My favorite part about TEC was… well, it’s hard to pick just one part. When I look back on that weekend the first thing I recall is the immense and overpowering feeling of unconditional love. Then I remember the amazing friends I met there; friends whom I got to know as well in three days as if I’d known them my entire life. I also remember the time we spent singing and having fun, as well as the meaningful discussion that my small group shared. I remember, not simply wondering, but knowing that God’s presence was there, in that room with us. So, let’s try this again: imagine yourself driving to a church you’ve never been to before, and singing, learning, and praying there with a bunch of teens you haven’t yet met but will grow enormously close to in just three short days. Sound like fun? You might not think so initially, but give TEC a try. You might be surprised how much this one retreat could change your life. |
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