June 25, 2010
The Story of TEC
TEC experience brings about a response to the Lord’s call
By ZOE CANNON (Sacred Heart Church, Vincennes)
Second in a series
“The future of the world and the Church belongs to the younger generation . . . Christ expects great things from young people.”
— Pope John Paul II
Challenging young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church is an important mission. In fact, if we value the potential for our Catholic
Church this focus must be a priority. In our diocese this center of attention begins with the office of Youth and Young Ad-ults and the director, Steve Dabrowski. Great things flourish from the energy placed into organizing this special ministry. Among them is the Teens Encounter Christ Movement.
God sometimes challenges us to share his love in unexpected places. If we follow, we just might find a spiritual treasure. I attended my first TEC weekend in June, 2008, as an adult observer. It was TEC 67 and I met a young friend named Jade Uebelhor. I remember thinking that this young person must have incredible parents. I was correct. Rhonda and Greg Ue-belhor and their eight children are a great example of God’s plan for family, the place where love and the formation of children begins.
Jade and I worked another TEC together as cooks. While preparing meals three times a day, for three days, for over 70 people, you get to know one another pretty well. This intergenerational connection has been a pleasure, and it also inspired me to highlight her story in this second in a series of TEC articles.
Jade decided to spend her first year out of high school, before she enters college, with an organization called NET. The National Evangelization Team’s mission is to invite young people to proclaim the gospel of Christ through a personal witness of faith. Evan-gelization is something we Catholics are sometimes not very comfortable with. Form-ing Christian character through study and practice of our Catholic faith at such a young age is exactly why Jade can truly say, “I will show you my faith by what I do.” I asked Jade to write some thoughts about what has most influenced her life and desire to be a leader of the faith. Her experience with the Teens Encounter Christ Movement is testimony to the importance of supporting this particular ministry, which is evident in Jade’s own words shared below:
. . . Growing up comes with a lot of decisions and questions. Trying to figure out your vocation isn’t always an easy task. I went back to a simple question that my dad asked me when I was little. “Why did God make me?” God made me to know him, love him, and to serve him. My parents are the ones who brought me to know Christ, and they taught me all about our Catholic faith. Once you really know Christ, you can’t help but love him with your whole heart. Now comes the hardest part, serving him. How am I going to serve my Lord?
The summer before I was a junior in high school, I made my first TEC weekend. The Teens Encoun-ter Christ weekend was very influential to my faith journey and in discerning my vocation. I knew after that weekend that it doesn’t matter what career path I choose as long as I live a Christ-centered life and share my faith with others. The next year I focused hard on school and praying intensely about my vocation. The next fall I applied and got accepted to serve with an organization called NET Ministries. The National Evan-gelization Teams select fewer than 100 people from all over the country to serve on nine teams leading re-treats for teens. Their mission is to challenge Catholic youth to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church, and that now has become my mission too.
In August, I will travel to St. Paul, home of NET Ministries, to undergo a five-week faith training program before I depart with nine other dedicated volunteers to travel in a 12-passenger van and begin our mission. Each team member is required to raise $4,000 to support their work. The amount can be daunting, but I am up for the challenge. People ask me all the time why do I want to do this? I want to do this to grow even more in my faith, but also to encourage young people to grow closer to Jesus and embrace his love and forgiveness. I am also excited to be with my team for nine months as we grow deeper in our faith together through service and sacrifice. God wants me to serve him this year by volunteering with NET Minis-tries and I trust his plan.
- Jade Uebelhor
How does such a young person become so keenly aware of the need for God in her life? God of course is responsible for calling her to seek his guidance, but I also believe the parents of this young lady are deserving of a heartfelt thank you for a job well done in giving Jade this groundwork in their home.
Just as important, something or someone has inspired and nurtured this family unit as well, their church. The strength of our Catholic Church depends on the family for growth. In return families depend on those who minister to make us strong. We live in a culture which challenges the idea of a spiritual connection in our daily lives. More than likely a priest, deacon or youth minister has influenced this young person and her family. Do we realize the significance of the role these ministers play in our lives? Do we acknowledge the gift of those who serve?
The Teens Encounter Christ Movement is the perfect example of an opportunity to bring people of all ages together to share, evangelize and strengthen all that we hold dear as people of Catholic Faith.
Prayers are our most important resource; supporting the young people with faith formation in our homes, our Church, through Youth Ministry, TEC or NET is precisely what keeps the faith alive.
To offer support through prayer or help with her daunting task of raising funds, Jade may be reached at onfire4jesus@gmail.com . . . no surprise! . . . or at 6382 E. 700 S, Ferdinand, IN 47532.
To learn more about TEC you may access www.switec.org and to see what Jade will be experiencing with NET, check out www.netusa.org. The Evansville Diocese is very proud to offer support for our youth through TEC. Our prayers are with you Jade, as you walk in faith to share the Word. Christ expects great things from you! We know you will find a spiritual treasure on this journey!