Hearts on Fire – Teens Encounter Christ
HOF TEC is a 3 day retreat that happens twice a year at a camp outside of Cameron, SC.
A brief history…
TEC stands for “Teens Encounter Christ.” It is a name used for a movement of personal Christian renewal within the Church. The instrument of renewal originated in Missouri under the name “Show Me TEC.” TEC has been in the Carolinas since March 1990.
What TEC is…
A TEC retreat is an encounter with Christ in which the participant becomes part of a small community abounding in God’s grace. It enhances and strengthens our personal relationships with Christ, with our Christian brothers and sisters, and with our greater Christian community. The TEC retreat is coming face to face with Christ. During the three days of a TEC retreat, participants live together, study together, and interact closely with one another. Through this they gain a deep and permanent living awareness of their faith. Along with this follows the responsibility that such a deep awareness involves. The retreat starts at 8:45am the 1st day, and ends at 6pm the 3rd day. The TEC movement was started for youth, and its purpose has since been carried out by youth. Presented through the united effort of laypersons and clergy, it is designed to aid in the development of young Christian leaders.
What TEC does…
TEC’s goal is to change the world — to remodel the world in Christ. It is important to view the process of TEC as a movement and not simply as an organization. TEC is an ongoing process that lasts far beyond the retreat weekend. The retreat is an encounter with Christ in which the participant becomes part of a small community abounding in God’s grace. It enhances and strengthens our personal relationships with Christ, with our Christian brothers and sisters, and with our greater Christian community.
The TEC retreat is coming face to face with Christ. TEC does not work directly with the problems of the church or society, but instead works to form a group of young people who are equipped to deal with these problems. In this way, the participants will become more effective leaders in their local congregations as a result of the TEC and Beyond TEC experiences.
How it’s done…
TEC is centered around 15 talks (five given each day), with five given by pastors and ten given by young people who are part of a team. Team members have previously attended a TEC retreat and had weeks of leadership training. The talks deal with living one’s life in God’s grace. After each talk, the guests meet in small groups to discuss the main points that were presented. The atmosphere of the retreat weekend is intended to — and does — resemble the early Christian community. The retreat gains effectiveness by natural means (talking, laughing, worshipping, etc.), in combination with the grace of God. Throughout the entire weekend, team members and former TEC attendees pray for God’s blessing and guidance. TEC recognizes the need for helping and supporting one another in our individual walks with Christ. Such fellowship is vital to the growth of any Christian.
During the three days of a TEC retreat, participants live together, study together, and interact closely with one another. Through this they gain a deep and permanent living awareness of their faith. Along with this follows the responsibility that such a deep awareness involves. The retreat starts at 8:45am the 1st day, and ends at 6pm the 3rd day.
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