Heartland Teens Encounter Christ Mission Statement:
To provide opportunities for young people to experience
and receive God’s love leading them into a personal redemptive relationship
with Jesus Christ resulting in changed lives.
T.E.C. is offered as an expression of God’s grace and love extended to all, regardless of race, gender, economic status, or educational achievement.
Heartland T.E.C. Statement of Faith:
Origin of Teens Encounter Christ:
Who can attend?
What it is…
What it does…
What happens during a T.E.C. weekend?
Youth perspectives on T.E.C.
Heartland T.E.C. #1 -- Lincoln Journal article 3/13/99
Applications: (not activated - but consider the possibilities)
Candidate:
Youth team:
Adult team:
Adult volunteer:
Heartland T.E.C. Statement of Faith:
I do hereby adhere without reservation to the following Statements of Faith of Teens Encounter Christ.
Origin of Teens Encounter Christ:
The movement for adults began as "Cursillo" in the late
1940’s in the Spanish Catholic Church. Cursillo is a Spanish word meaning
short course and thus the weekend is a short course in Christianity. A
small group of men in Majorca, Spain had gathered together for some time,
for Bible study and to pray for their church. They felt that there was
a need for new leaders, and brought some new men into their group. However,
they soon realized that these new ones did not have the experience of being
together and sharing their lives, to develop a deep trust of one another.
So they planned and prepared the first Cursillo – a crash course to bring
some chosen people to a new level of fellowship with God and each other.
The first Cursillo in the United States
was held in Texas in 1957, when several Air Force pilots, here for advanced
flight training, put one on for their American friends. It spread throughout
the Catholic Church here over the next decade and gradually into the Protestant
churches. In 1972, the first Lutheran weekends were held in Florida and
Iowa with the assistance of the Catholic and Episcopal communities.
In 1971, the National Lutheran Secretariat
was formed. In 1986 the Lutheran community adopted the name Via De Cristo
(Way of Christ). The Methodists use the term, Walk to Emmaus.
T.E.C. (Teens Encounter Christ) was
formed as a child, so to speak, of Cursillo in the Catholic community in
the late 1950s for the teen age group for the same reasons it had been
formed earlier at the adult level.
T.E.C. expanded from the Catholic
Church to the Protestant churches in the mid 1980s. Three to four weekends
have been held in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area for Protestants since
then. Southern Minnesota put on the first interdenominational T.E.C. in
1989. From there Northwest Iowa developed a T.E.C. Council and began putting
on T.E.C. weekends in the Reformed church communities in April of 1983.
Some Siouxland teens and adults participated in those Northwest Iowa T.E.C.
weekends and struggled with the long waiting lists of teens wanting to
become candidates. Thus, in November of 1994 a Siouxland T.E.C. Council
was formed and the first Siouxland Interdenominational T.E.C. was held
in January of 1995. Three T.E.C. weekends were held that first year and
four every year since.
Since the formation of Siouxland T.E.C.,
there has been a T.E.C. community started in Central Iowa and also in the
Madison, South Dakota area. The first T.E.C. in California was held in
July of 1998 and Lincoln, Nebraska ha its first T.E.C. in February of 1999.
T.E.C. The three day encounter of a lifetime:
T.E.C. is offered as an expression of God’s grace and
love extended to all regardless of race, gender, economic status, or educational
achievement.
What happens during a T.E.C. weekend?
Friendship:
From the moment the 56 weekenders
arrive at the host facility on a Friday morning, they are greeted by a
combined team of 52 young peers and 24 adults, including three pastors,
referred to as "Spiritual Directors" (SD’s). Music, games, good food, and
lots of laughter put everyone at ease before they go into the Conference
Room for the talk and study sessions.
Inspiration;
Over the course of three days, six
of the teens on the team give talks on subjects like: "Who am I?", "Who
Am I in Relationship to God?" or "Christians called to Action". The talks
are personal witnesses of struggles these teenagers have faced and how
God has worked in and through their lives. The SDs each give a talk as
well, spurring conversations around each table and culminating with posters
of skits presented by the tables. The sharing is marked with tears and
laughter and caring hugs, allowing the weekenders to experience the incredible
power, support, and love of the Christian community.
The weekend is a progression of faith,
moving through the darkness of sin (Lent) to the despair of Christ’s crucifixion
(Good Friday), to the triumph of His resurrection (Easter), to the infilling
of His Spirit and the empowered witness of Pentecost. By Sunday everyone
is rejoicing in the new Spirit filled life that Christ brings and is ready
to share it with others.
Surprises:
The only secrets of the weekend are
special surprises bringing excitement and joy to the weekenders planned
by the team and others who love them. The surprises help demonstrate God’s
grace in a way each one will always remember.
We invite any Pastor or youth leader
to come and see what goes on during a T.E.C. weekend.
Who can attend?
All teenagers from grades ten through
twelve are eligible to attend. They should fill out an application form
with a parent's signature. There is a $48.00 fee for each weekender or
worker attending. Many churches cover this cost. There are also scholarship
funds available if the cost would prevent someone from coming.
What it is…
T.E.C. is meant to be an interdenominational,
Christ-centered, relationally styled experience in Christian community
for teenagers. Though the formation of leadership teams, retreat weekends,
and various forms of follow-up, youth are given the opportunity to grow
in personal faith in witness and service to others.
What it does…
T.E.C. is an expression of the desire
of participating congregations to offer a culturally relevant, encouraging
exposure to the journey of faith. Teenagers have the freedom to consider
their commitment to Christ and His church in a loving, attractive way.
Based on Scripture, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and surrounded by prayers,
the T.E.C. community can bring evangelism revitalization and discipleship
into the lives of your, spreading to their families, congregations, and
communities. Many congregations have realized a definite increase in youth
involvement as a result of the T.E.C. program.
"T.E.C helped me grow in myself and
in my relationships with others."
Laura Philipp
"T.E.C. is an incredible gift from
God that makes it possible for people of all ages to experience Gods awesome
love and power and to establish lifelong friendships. Through T.E.C. God
revives the spirits of His servants and gives hope to those who feel alone
and unloved."
Adam Frerichs
"Through T.E.C. I saw God’s love through
others."
Chris New
"At T.E.C. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed
meeting a lot of new people. I can't wait to get back!"
Melissa Smith
"T.E.C. is unlike any other weekend
I've ever been to. Through other teenagers it has helped me become a more
devoted Christian. T.E.C. showed me that there is a lot of other people
that believe in the same things I do."
Tamara Waddell