Teens Encounter Christ — a three-day retreat for high schoolers.
The Experience
TEC is more than just a church retreat. TEC is about relationships. As a Weekender (first time attendee), from the moment you arrive at the host church on Friday morning, you are greeted by a combined team of youth and adults who are there to serve you. It's an entire weekend to relax, not stress about your life, and to have some time for self-reflection.
TEC is a place where high schoolers lead nearly everything. Throughout the weekend there are teenagers that give talks about their lives and how God has affected them. These talks include topics like "Who am I in relation to God?", "Responding to God's Love", and "What would Jesus Do?" After these talks you get time to reflect on your own life. Not many places do you get to grow in your faith learning from peers the same age and place in life as you are.
Between the talks, you get to eat an endless amount of all sorts of food and talk with all kinds of new friends. There's lots of singing and other fun activities like going to a pool and having a talent share. By the end of the weekend, your table has become part of your family and you have the support of the entire TEC community. Every friendship built is through Christ and that makes it so much more powerful.
After you go back home these connections don't go away. You will always have these people to talk to anytime, and anywhere. It is not like any typical retreat, and is a chance to grow in your personal faith and have lots of fun throughout the journey! So why not go through TEC? The worst that could happen is you have a great 3 day break from your life and you feel refreshed.
Register for TECOur Foundation
Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is an ecumenical Christian retreat organization serving high school youth through weekend retreat experiences. Our retreats are grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are designed to provide a structured, supportive environment where young people are invited to explore faith, listen for God's voice, and experience Christian community.
TEC affirms the foundational shared beliefs of Christianity, which center on the life and message of Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He entered into human life, taught and revealed God's love, willingly suffered and died for our sins, and was raised to new life through the power of God. We affirm that salvation is a gift of God's grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and that this relationship with Christ is the heart of Christian life and discipleship.
Because TEC is ecumenical by design, we intentionally welcome volunteers, leaders, and participants from many Christian denominations and traditions. This diversity enriches our community and reflects the broader body of Christ.
TEC does not exist to promote, resolve, or debate theological differences. Rather, our mission is to focus on what unites us as Christians and to create a retreat environment centered on Christ, scripture, prayer, and Christian love. TEC seeks to model Christian unity by focusing on what we hold in common, fostering an atmosphere of respect, grace, humility, and compassion.
Our hope is that through the TEC retreat experience, young people will be encouraged to respond to God's love, reflect more deeply on their faith, and carry what they have encountered into their everyday lives, relationships, and communities.
Mission
Southern Minnesota TEC strives to enrich the faith lives of teenagers and encourage them to dig deeper into their faith through being active in their faith communities at home. TEC encourages teens to enrich their faith through relationships, Bible studies, and being a leader in their church.
Testimonials
"When my daughter first asked about going through a TEC weekend I was excited because my sister used to work a similar program for adults. As I watched my daughter after she worked her first TEC, she came home with a spark and talked about how much the weekend meant to her and how interesting other kids are. The more she attended TEC, the more I would see that spark ignite and grow.
"After seeing how much my daughter enjoyed TEC, I also decided to work a weekend with her. It was very humbling to watch and listen to struggles and the strength of the TEC group of kids — the TEC Community — as they uplifted each other, accepted each other as equals and showed great respect for all who attended. TEC is a very powerful ministry that I hope more kids will take advantage of."
"I've been a part of the TEC ministry for many years. I've seen God work in the lives of high school students over and over again. This is truly an amazing organization. I'm always impressed at how strangers can show up at a church on a Friday morning and immediately recognize that it's a safe and welcoming environment.
"My son is now old enough to attend TEC weekends, and it's been such a blessing to see him grow in his faith. Before he attended TEC, he didn't really like church much. But since being involved in TEC, his faith has grown so strong, and he's taken that back to our own church to become very active in our youth ministry programs. I can't say enough good things about TEC."
Ready?
Registration is open. Come see what a TEC weekend is all about.