Dear Candidate Applicant,

Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is a non-denominational, 3-day weekend for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors in high school, whether you go to church or not!

TEC offers opportunities for both new participants (“candidates”) and returning youth (“team”) to journey together through the weekend. The atmosphere of the weekend makes it easy to develop new friendships, make connections and experience being a part of a loving and supportive faith community. The 3-days of fun, fellowship, music, food, worship and prayer is led by a team of 50-100 teens and adults.

 

PThe foundation of the TEC experience is a series of talks and small group discussions led by students just like you. These students share their experiences and give insight into how they are incorporating faith into their everyday lives. Talks such as "Who am I," "Need for Community," and "God is love," help lead everyone on a journey through the Easter story. Each weekend is full of new friends and God's unconditional love.

The next TEC will be Friday, April 13th (4:00 PM) through Sunday, April 15th (4:00 PM) at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis.

This online application must be completely filled out, and two forms (medical and photo/media release) must be printed and brought with you to the retreat. Space is available for a maximum of 48 candidates, so please submit all required documentation and fees as soon as you know you are able to commit to the full weekend in your activity schedule. The participant fee is $40. The application deadline is Friday March 23rd, or whenever we receive 48 completed applications. 

An e-mail confirming your participation and providing details like where and when to arrive, what to bring, and time you should arrange to be picked up on Sunday will be e-mailed when your application is processed.

Scholarship help is available by:

1. Request scholarship help from the church you attend.
2. If your request is not able to be granted, please ask for a letter or email stating this.
3. Email MN TEC directly (sarah.b@episcopalmn.org) requesting the scholarship and include a copy of the email/letter from your church stating you were unable to receive a scholarship from them.

Requirement:

• All participants agree to be present for the entire TEC weekend. The TEC weekend runs from 4:00 p.m. Friday, April 13th to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, April 15th. Unfortunately, exceptions cannot be accommodated.
• If you have trouble being dropped off, we can help coordinate carpools from your area (email sarah.b@episcopalmn.org to inquire). 

Policies:

• No non-prescription drugs, alcohol or smoking at any time during the TEC weekend.
• Application fee of $40 is non-refundable two weeks prior to the TEC weekend. There is a $20 cancellation fee at any time.
• Participants will respect the church and its property. Participants will be held financially responsible for damage and/or destruction.
• TEC is not responsible for any lost or stolen personal items.
• No parking is available at TEC. Please arrange to be dropped off and picked up from TEC. 

Register Now! 

Questions?

Sarah Barnett 
The Episcopal Church in Minnesota 
612-870-3327 
sarah.b@episcopalmn.org 

TEC FAQ

Who runs TEC? ECMN’s Youth Commission meets throughout the year as the decision-making body for all TEC plans. Each TEC retreat is run by a team of 40-60 youth who have been through TEC before. Around 20-30 adult volunteers are onsite to assist this inspiring team. The Bishop’s Team of Missioners assists TEC with logistics. 

What is a "Candidate"? Candidates are first-time TEC participants. The youth who are returning to TEC on team have a mantra that “TEC is about the Candidates.” One of the very first welcoming messages Candidates hear is: “This weekend is for you. We hope that you are able to not worry about one thing. Just relax. We are cooking your food, keeping the time, and making sure to have some fun. This weekend you get to focus on yourself, your life, and your questions. This is rare in our society, and it is why so many of us keep coming back to TEC.”

TEC started in the 70s? Yes, TEC was written in the 70s as a youth retreat based on an adult retreat called Cursillo by the Catholic Church. Also in the 70s, the Episcopal Church wrote a very similar retreat called Happenings. Here in ECMN, we have been doing TEC since 1971. There are active TEC & Happenings retreats all over the world. 

Why MN TEC? MN TEC is built to be a statewide program for young people in the Episcopal Church and their friends. Youth who go to TEC say that the TEC community is why they come back. For many it also becomes a foundational reason to go to church beyond high school.  One of our young people recently said it this way: “TEC helped me understand that my whole life is a part of God’s story. God is in every high and every low. Everything I experience matters, and every moment is a chance to share Agape love with others.” 

 What happens at TEC? During your 48 hours at TEC you will journey through Holy Week with personal stories, dramas, delicious meals, music, and a few fantastic, encouraging surprises. Everyone is invited to journey at their own pace, with their own questions, making relevant connections to their daily lives. Each weekend is a new experience with new friends as we all share God’s rich, unconditional Agape love with one another. 

 What does the TEC schedule look like? Friday: Candidate welcome, youth talks, free time, holy week drama. Saturday: Easter celebration, youth talks, free time, service project, off-site adventure. Sunday: Youth talks, TEC debrief, invitation to return on Team, closing service.