Minnesota Metro Lutheran Teens Encounter Christ has served for 25 years as a Metro wide ministry. Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is a three-day, peer led retreat aimed at bringing youth together to explore their faith, experience God’s Love and develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. TEC weekends follow the Lenten calendar beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter Sunday. There are nine talks given on the weekend, seven by youth team members and two by clergy serving on the weekend. Throughout the weekend a music team leads in upbeat worship and camp style music.

Saturday is our “Rise Day”. We wake to an Easter Vigil and then it is Easter. The mood changes as we celebrate the empty tomb in worship. We are now “Easter People”. What does it mean for our lives to be forgiven, have new life and live in God’s grace? These are the topics of the day. We begin by talking about the Bible and the lessons and comfort that can be found there. Then we examine the importance of belonging to a community of faith, our churches. The last talk of the day is about how we communicate with each other and especially with God. Saturday afternoon is “break time”. The youth go to a local community center for swimming and showers. There is an “Agape Meal” when students return from the pool. The rest of the evening is free time to hang out with new friends and talk, sing songs or spend time in prayer in the Wheat Chapel.

Sunday is “Go Forth Day”. We focus on how we can take what we have learned over the weekend and incorporate it in our homes, churches and school. How can we live each day as “Easter People”?