That's what TEC is all about.
There is so much awesomeness wrapped up in 3 days, that it would definitely ruin it if I even explained one of the amazing surprises. But what I will tell you is what I felt.
Now, Pentecostal Christians (me) tend to be extremely emotional (If you don't feel it's right, it's not God (Not true)) But, this isn't the sappy, OOHHH, ohhhhhh, OOOHHHH Holy HOly.
No disrespect, I don't function that way.
But, before i got to TEC I was feeling alone. Like,
"Locked in a closet, no light, all darkness-but that darkness wasn't outside, it was inside."
I've struggles with things, ya'll know that here, and it was just the finality of the fact that, I am alone. Girls don't have pornography issues, something is wrong with me. I'm alone in this addiction, sure-maybe I have overcome, but the fact was, it still hurt. A lot. I felt as though I couldn't tell my friends, "Who struggles with this stuff anyways-not them!"
I was so alone, and hurt.....and wrong.
I had thought about, maybe telling someone-maybe sharing my deepest heart thoughts-but then that makes me attached, right? Then they know to much-that's how it always felt. That and gross, eewww-you have issues of looking at naked people? what are you, a perv? Honestly-Perverts are those that need the most of our prayers.
We turn them away because we don't like how their mind works. It's a deep and disgusting place-one only God can penetrate.
Sorry-off topic!
So, TEC-I went in, all alone and quiet and people, love and friendship deprived (not fun, not fun a'tall) and over the next three days, I was:
Challenged, encouraged and reached out to.
There was a Talk ( a time when a former Candidate (new person) comes and talks about struggle they had or opens up to the Candidates about where God can take them, or about everything else in this world, anyways!) and a guy, now a man, admitted to his suffering and living with the exact same addiction as mine. Talk about a discovery! He admitted the things I had always wanted to, he said he kept telling himelf things like, "This is the last time, or, it doesn't matter." but he wasn't the only one! then a guy in my group came forward about his own problems in our break out time! Then at the end of the retreat, one last man came forward about his addiction as well, and encouraged those young men in the room to STOP.
I admit, I have never felt so supported! To know, that people have struggled and overcome-to know that there are ladder Christians (Christians who don't bible thump (beat people with Cliche Christian biblical sayings, gets annoying ) but rather, take a ladder and crawl into your hole with you, and suffer alongside you) I felt like these people almost wouldn't let me leave TEC-until i felt their unity.
They stood together, and practically refused to let anyone fall through the cracks. They wanted me, and they wanted me to know God more than anything.
Background on TEC (roughly) : TEC started as a Catholic thing, and it still roughly is-however the TEC i attended, MAD TEC (Madison area) welcomes all denominations, you would need to check one out by you-but honestly, it's for everybody ;) It covers tons of different things that take place in many different denominations. and most importantly-IT IS NOT BORING! The student workers (Workers) work together to form games, surprises and have you guessing every minute, also-no minutes! time is measured in the space between the thumb and forefinger-just like if you were 'crushing' somebody's head, that's the time measurement! TEC is full of incredible surprises and at the end-you'll be glad that you weren't told everything, otherwise-it would have been like a spoiled movie.
To learn more about TEC and how awesome it is click below
TEC- Teens Encountering Christ
God bless, and I hope to see you at the next one!
MAD TEC (Madison area, Wisconsin, USA)
LizB p.s. This is only in the U.S to the best of my knowledge!
p.p.s Next TEC is coming in October sometime-info more when the time arrives!
