I’ve got 2 new stories set to publish over the next week or so. Just a reminder that if you’d like to share your story, you can contact me at recoveringalumni at hotmail dot com. Your name will not be used and you do not have to give any identifying details (unless you want to). […]
In response to my posts this week critiquing Dave Hasz’s leadership and Ron Luce’s teaching, Teen Mania decided to take down all their videos. That seems like a really odd response to me. If Teen Mania stands behind their teachings and has nothing to hide, why did they take down the videos? They had several options: 1) They
Why Are the Videos Gone? Read More »
Another one of the greatest objections I hear from people about this blog is that I am allowing or encouraging people to be bitter and angry. Well, guess what? I am. Only through acknowledging what has happened to us can we truly heal. And acknowledging that should make you bitter and angry. You were lied
Why It’s Ok to Be Angry Read More »
UPDATE: Teen Mania took down this video within hours of this post. Commenter Ben helped me get it back up via YouTube. Thanks, Ben! In this ESOAL facilitation training video, there is a very revealing exchange during the Q & A time. Because I have no doubt they will take this video down as soon
ESOAL, Judgement and the Sin of Personal Boundaries Read More »
It has become popular over the past several years to equate the modern western word “vision” with the Biblical term “vision.” Our modern word implies a picture of the future that you pursue with passion and we are told it is quite necessary in our Christian walk and leadership roles. In Honor Academy speak, “vision”
Ron Luce and the Myth of Vision Read More »
There are some folks out there who would like to claim that this blog is slanderous. I take that claim seriously and would like to examine it here. The definition of slander is “a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report.” If you disagree with me, you might interpret this blog has spiteful, vicious or
Does Criticism = Slander? Read More »
One of the greatest objections to this blog is that I am not following the Bible’s prescription for confrontation as laid out in Matthew 18:5. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone…” To address this important issue, I’d like to quote an extended passage from
The Myth of Matthew 18 Confrontation Read More »
Yesterday, I gave you links to some free books I’ve found helpful in my journey. Today, I’d like to whet your appetite by highlighting one of them. As I was reading it last week, I pulled some quotes that I thought fellow TM alumni might enjoy. – “That’s the worst part of religious thinking. It
So You Don’t Wanna Go to Church Anymore Read More »
Churches That Abuse by Ronald Enroth is a great book that I’ve referenced here before. It gives a rundown of abusive practices and characteristics to help you understand what you have experienced. He has also written Recovering From Churches That Abuse. Both of these titles are out of print but you can buy used copies
All These Books Are Free Read More »
Humiliation and shaming are two of the most popular tools for “growth” at the Honor Academy. In his talk “Aura of a Statesmen” (available on iTunes) Dave Hasz recounts this story. I’ve never used the word F-A-R-T in front of my wife or my daughter. Ladies, I don’t ever want to hear that word come
Humiliation at the Honor Academy Read More »
Seriously, those of you who know – what is this? (2021 Update: Video has since been taken down. The comments below explain that this is from the Unreached People Group Life Transforming Event [UPG LTE]. The YouTube user who originally uploaded this video has other videos of other interns who attended the HA some time between
For your weekend reading pleasure, here are some words of truth I’ve enjoyed this week: 1) “Our fundamental lack, is the lack of seeing the love of God” 2) “How could God love me when I doing nothing for Him?” If you don’t sense God’s love and acceptance when you do nothing . . .
As I’ve mentioned here before, I like to believe that Dave Hasz and the rest of the Honor Academy staff have good intentions. Unfortunately, their sincerity does not negate the damage they have done. The book Soul Repair has this to say about spiritual abusers: Spiritual abusers usually are not conscious of what they
Grace for Spiritual Abusers Read More »
I was an August intern, from the class of 2000. I was K-Crew, Breakfast Crew – and I LOVED Teen Mania. Don’t get me wrong – I still believe God brought me there. I had a deep peace that it was where I was supposed to be. And there were many good things He
I read your website last night about recovering from the Honor Academy and it was life changing for me. I have been on 4 trips with TM and have been graduated from the HA for 5 years. Everything made so much sense to me, the more articles I read on your site the more everything
Spiritual abuse can happen in a variety of ways, but I’d like to highlight a great description of what I think is the most common way it occurs at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy. I’m returning to the excellent book, Soul Repair, that gives this description of how spiritual abuse happens: For some of us, our
How Spiritual Abuse Happens Read More »
Spiritual abuse can occur in many contexts and in many ways but the same threads run through it all. In the first chapter of the book, Soul Repair, spiritual abuse is described this way: Whenever we give others the message that their relationship with God depends on something other than God’s love and grace –
Elements of Spiritual Abuse Read More »
Some of you might be wondering if I am over-reacting in my diagnosis of what is wrong with the Honor Academy. Sure, no ministry is perfect – so am I just being overly critical? In his book, Recovering from Churches that Abuse, Ronald Enroth tells you how to recognize if you have been spiritually
Is it Really Spiritual Abuse? Read More »
If you need help leaving the Honor Academy, please get in contact with me. It doesn’t matter if you are quitting or being dismissed. If you need a place to stay, someone to pick you up, or just a couch to crash on for the weekend while you think things through – I have sympathetic
Leaving the Honor Academy Read More »
I recently came across this great interview with Jeff VanVonderen, author of “The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse.” Towards the end of the interview, he discusses the recovery process. I’ve found this example to be very true in my life. This especially applies to those who have experienced rejection or disapproval from the HA staff
Why Recovery is So Hard Read More »
A bruised reed he will not break put on probation, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out kick out. Isaiah 42:3a 11 comments: Anonymous says: November 13, 2009 at 11:19 AM My best friend during the internship was “kicked out” in your words. He didn’t see it that way. He had not met
the Bible According to Teen Mania #6 Read More »
We did this new L.T.E. (Life Transforming Event) called “World Awareness.” They didn’t tell us what was going on and it wasn’t optional. It was said to be called “The Movie LTE” we were going to watch movies about persecution and talk about it. We went in for our first movie then all the
Erin’s Story, Part 2 Read More »
This is part 1 of Erin’s story. Check back tomorrow for part 2. I was a January intern in 2007. I think that says SO MUCH right there.(Many of us lovingly referred to the common miss- treatment of the January intern as the ‘Jan-Shaft’) I was welcomed to my new room on day one with
Erin’s Story, Part 1 Read More »
I received this email from an intern recently. She told me her story, which was heartbreaking, yet all too familiar. Though she wanted to keep specific details under wraps, I’m able to share her summary which articulates so well the common experience of life after Teen Mania. It’s important to note that during the internship
The Damage is Real Read More »
Just came across this great article by Darrin Hufford about grace called “A License to Sin.” The number one complaint I get about the grace message from people is that they feel it’s giving us a license to sin. I am certain I’ve heard this accusation no less than a million times in the last
