MMLTEC
WHO WE ARE, AND WHERE WE COME FROM...
Minnesota Metro Lutheran Teens Encounter Christ is a peer ministry aimed at helping teenagers spend a few days immersed in God's love. During this time, they hear talks, two given by clergy, and seven given by other youth who have previously attended a TEC weekend. These talks are geared towards sharing a personal perspective on how we experience God in our daily lives. Along with these talks, the youth encounter prayer, worship, singing, food, sharing, fellowship, fun, and other activities which promote the idea that God truly does love us!
Where do we come from? Good question. Initially TEC is an outreach result of the Cursillo Community in the Lutheran Church. Now known as Via de Christo, it was the forerunner of the TEC idea. While TEC is somewhat patterned after Cursillo, it is not the same. It couldn't be like Cursillo, and still function for Teens. So, adjustments were made, ideas tried out, and today we have a program that we feel gives the youth a good chance at working on their personal relationship with God.
TEC is not interested in converting anyone from whatever they are, to whatever someone perceives we want them to be. While we are Lutheran in theological basis, we try to get kids to see God from a Christ perspective. What does it mean to have God as our Father? Only Christ gives us the true idea of that, and we hope that through Christ, the youth will realize the depth of God's love for them.
TEC does not keep secrets! Some have tried to imply that TEC has secrets. This is far from the truth. What TEC does have is fun! We have what we prefer to call SURPRISES! These are times on the weekend that we introduce things that are fun and exciting for the "weekenders". They are kept quiet about to increase the level of impact for the weekender. But, they are far from secrets!
CULT! Another unfortunate claim made about TEC. In the comic strip B.C., the slightly skewed dictionary they have gave this definition of a cult: "the church down the road". Funny, yet it isn't far from the way we view each other in this world. TEC tries its best to run the weekend on as even a keel as possible, but still, some see aspects of the weekend as typical of religious groups who try to brainwash kids. "They don't always get enough sleep!" is one claim. Have you ever been on any church retreat weekend? How about an overnight? And have you ever had a kid? Enough sleep is never achieved by most kids, according to them.
JOIN US! If you have concerns or are just curious about us, stop in on any TEC weekend. We'll gladly let you observe, and even participate at times, with what's happening. Please seek out the Spiritual Director, or Adult Advisor, and they will help you catch up to wherever the weekend is at that point.
TEC will always be changing and adapting as youth change. We try to keep TEC exciting and new for each group that attends. We truly believe that each weekend is unique, and we try to help the youth working it realize that, so that they don't try to compare it to their weekend experience.