TEC

TEC is not only a retreat but it is a family of teens and adults, and everyone in between, that have had the experience of growing together in their faith. The start is a 3 day retreat where team members tell of personal experiences in the Spirit and share times when their beliefs have helped them or changed their lives. The candidates are able to spend time in discussion, prayer, meditation, and song to confirm and deepen their faith. For the next retreat the candidates of the previous retreat have the chance to follow Jesus' example and serve. This time they are the support staff, know as the "Wheat Team", who make the food, clean, and make sure candy bowls are always full. They also have the chance to be on the team that shares with and guides the present candidates. TEC also provides the opportunity for teenagers to go from children to adults in their faith. Many times it inspires young people to get more involved in their own parishes and really make this Christian faith their own. TEC encourages all participants to take experiences from the weekend and share them with anyone and everyone. To learn more about the history of TEC, the TEC program, and other TEC's around the world please visit the National TEC Conference website: www.tecconference.org

"Amen, amen, I say to you, unles a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat, but if it dies, it produces much fruit." John 12:24. In TEC we use "wheat" as the term for all that goes on behind the scenes that the candidates do not see. Our attempts to help others encounter Jesus Christ through TEC begin by making sacrifices, denying ourselves, and putting Christ and others first. "Wheaties" are the people that do whatever needs to be done over the weekend so that the candidates can have a wonderful experience. Wheaties cook, clean, make favors, write letters, pray, and make personal sacrifices throughout the weekend. It is in this that we learn to "die" and continue to produce much fruit. It is also through Wheat that we discover the rewards of serving others.

During TEC music is an integral part used throughout the whole weekend. We have a special song called the "travel" song. It is one song that everyone knows within a couple hours because you have to sing it everytime you move from place to place. Music is used to make the group become more of a family by creating an open atmosphere where the song really is a prayer no matter how you sing it. By the end of the weekend you have teenagers jumping, clapping, and singing, and always asking for more. In TEC every song is truly a heart felt prayer.