HeightstoDepths

One of the things I think I’ll try to do with this blog is just describe some of the things I’m involved with over here in Belfast.  TEC (Together Encounter Christ) is a university outreach similar to UCO (University Christian Outreach), the group back home I’ve worked with for the last five or six years.

One of my responsibilities this year is working on staff for TEC.  This looks a lot like my service back home in some ways but in others is quite different.  Fundamentally it’s the same mission: build a fervent discipleship environment where students can meet the Lord, set out on a road to lifelong radical discipleship, and share the good news they’ve found with those around them (modest goal, no). 

Perhaps that’s the most striking thing to me so far in being around TEC.  Here there is a completely different set of young people, completely different, and yet so much the same.  At root none of the differences are as important as the common relationship with Christ that UCO and TEC share.  The same Holy Spirit is calling young people to give their lives fully to God, and that looks very much the same here in Belfast and back home in Michigan.

Like back home TEC is ecumenical (made up of folks from different Christian traditions) and charismatic.  It is sponsored by Charis, a Sword of the Spirit community of families and singles here in Belfast. 

TEC has never really had much in the way of “staff”.  In the past one of the Servants of the Word here has had 10-15 hours a week to do a few things, coordinate with a volunteer or two, and lean on some of the students to do whatever needs doing.  Q (Dave Quintana) has been the brother doing that the last couple years.  He’ll continue in the same way, but now I’ve got a similar amount of time along with some other folks.  That means there is some more resource for TEC and an opportunity to do some things and grow that just haven’t been possible before.

The names here are different.  In TEC we have amongst the sisters a Maeve, Fiona, Maighread (pronounced ma-readt w/the slightest hint of g thrown in there somewhere), and Joelle (actually a Lebanese girl); on the guys side there is Patty, Georges (also Lebanese), and my favorite, Kieran (goes by Kier-so much of the time).  It’s great to finally meet someone who goes about using my middle name.  Speaking of names, TEC leads me to a bit of a quandary, specifically what to call a member of said organization.  I suppose the most common (boring) is TECer, but other possibilities include TECster, TECan (reminiscent a of an 80s video game), TECanian, TECiputian, and TECigander.  Let me know if you come up with others.

I’ll be doing a mix of things with TEC.  John and Fiona are two all stars heading up TECs outreach team and I’ll work with them closely.  I’ll be leading a small group of four guys and working with most of them one on one - encouraging them to take tangible steps in their relationship with Christ.  I’ll also be giving assorted talks and such.  I gave a talk at the TEC retreat a couple weekends ago on being committed and dedicated to each other.  I also gave a sharing about some of my own experience of coming into UCO and some of the obstacles we face in outreach.  Both seemed to go well.  Whatever chance you have to remember TEC in your prayers is really appreciated.

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