According to the Random Number Generator, the contest winners are: WandererMouseSavedbyGraceCarolTommyWilson Please send me your mailing address at recoveringalumni at recoveringalumni dot blog. If you’d prefer one book over the others, let me know, otherwise you’ll get a surprise!
I’m clearing off my bookshelves and I have 5 books to giveaway. At midnight, I will randomly select five commenters (so pick a name – don’t be anonymous!) to win! The books are: 1) The Misunderstood God2) 12 Christian Beliefs that Can Drive You Crazy3) Emotionally Healthy Spirituality4) Twisted Scriptures5) The Ragamuffin Gospel Based on
Contest: The Honor Academy in One Word Read More »
I attended the Honor Academy a few years ago and I was sexually involved with a male staff member. I honestly don’t remember exactly how the relationship started, I try to block that out and not think about it. I do remember that he would message me late at night, making small talk, I would
This is the last post in our series looking at comments made by Teen Mania’s Former Head of Marketing. Jeremy: I hesitate because everything I say is potential fodder for you RA people. But I will say something here that I feel is okay to share. My issue is with Ron (Luce) specifically. Everyone is
Former Director of Marketing: Environment for Staff Members is Toxic Read More »
Continuing our look at the conversation between Teen Mania’s Former Director of Marketing and Honor Academy alumni… Jeremy: after what I witnessed and was privy to as a staff member at the director level directly under Ron…TMM leadership has some massive issues…Ron specifically. The arrogance, the judgement, the spiritual manipulation, the utter lack of compassion
Former Director of Marketing: Ron Luce is Arrogant, Judgmental & Manipulative Read More »
Today we continue the bombshell revelations from Teen Mania’s former head of Marketing. This comes from a Facebook conversation on a public wall just after the Mind Over Mania documentary aired in November 2011. The entire conversation was over 60 comments and I’ve edited it down to what is most relevant and newsworthy. (As you
Former Director of Marketing: Teen Mania Investigation Was a Sham Read More »
After the Mind Over Mania Documentary in November, several readers directed me to a Facebook conversation between Teen Mania’s former head of PR/Marketing and several other alumni. Since the page was public, I screen-capped everything. After securing all the data, I reached out to the former employee to see if he would be willing to
Former Director of Marketing Drops Bombshell: Dave & Ron Privately Scorn Hurt Interns Read More »
Image by Naked Pastor.
Are You the Priest or the Good Samaritan? Read More »
As we discussed in the last post, first year Honor Academy interns are required to raise $8,400 to complete their program. If an intern fails to stay on the required financial “donation” schedule, they are sent on a fundraising trip. If they are still unable to come up with the funds, they are sent home.
Where Does an Intern’s Tuition Money Go? Read More »
In order to be an intern at the Honor Academy, all participants are required to fundraise for Teen Mania. To complete their year, first year interns must raise a total of $8,400. According to Teen Mania, this required “donation” is 100% non-refundable and non-transferable since you are actually giving the money to the Teen Mania
The Ethics of Required Fundraising Read More »
I stumbled across your blog a month or 2 ago and have been unable to stop reading it since. I was never an intern, I was asked to be on staff of the internship but declined because I witnessed the burnout and dysfunction that was rampant (even after several different times I heard TM was
Nancy’s Story: I was a Global Expeditions Team Leader & Project Director Read More »
The Honor Academy website recently posted an article about SOPA titled, “Piracy is a Sin…Are You Involved?” It states: Piracy is considered stealing…As Christians, are we sensitive to the extent of piracy? Do we justify piracy by not labeling our habits as piracy? Most Christians consider selling burned movies and CDs as piracy. However, when it comes
More Hypocrisy from Teen Mania Read More »
In last week’s post, “Be Beautiful…but Don’t Caust Lust,” we discussed Teen Mania’s teachings that women should put on makeup and wear their hair in specific ways because as Dave Hasz said, “we have to look at you.” A couple of nights ago, Fitz added such an outstanding comment that it deserves its own post. Thank
On Being Beautiful Read More »
Note from RA: Before the current CA system, each intern “core group” was led by a staff member whose title was “Intern Advisor.” The CA’s reported directly to the IA and each intern had regular meetings with the staff member as well. From my very first one-on-one meeting with Nikki Bradshaw, (my assigned Intern Adviser
While I am not an Honor Academy Alumni, I feel that my experiences as a Global Expeditions missionary in ‘04 and ‘05 have majorly effected the way I see Christianity. I was twelve when I first went on a junior trip to Costa Rica, and having earned the two thousand dollars required to go all
Sophie’s Story: A Global Expeditions Review Read More »
(Moderator’s Note: This story briefly mentions rape.) I was an intern at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy over ten years ago. To this day, I know I have blocked out many of the situations that occurred there. I loved and hated that year and still do. I find it so sad that for each beautiful memory
A few weeks ago, a kerfuffle erupted in the now defunct HA/RA Discussion Group on Facebook. A former intern asserted that the Honor Academy teaches the dangerous and victim blaming idea that women are responsible for men’s inability to control their lustful thoughts. In response, Dave Hasz stated unequivocally that the Honor Academy does NOT
A Man’s Lust: Whose Fault Is It? Read More »
Today’s post is written by Mandy, a Global Expeditions alumnus. As you read, please keep in mind Teen Mania’s definition of a lie: “the intent to deceive.” (2021 Update: The blog has since been privatized.) My name is Mandy, and I went on two mission trips with Teen Mania Ministries sixteen and seventeen years ago.
Teen Mania Communication’s Consultant Caught in a Lie Read More »
I have to insert here that my core, brother core, and sister core were wonderful. I love them to pieces and wouldn’t trade them for anything. I wouldn’t trade my time at the HA for anything because of some of the so precious relationships I still have. We loved on each other, had some wonderful
Elizabeth’s Story: Part 2 Read More »
My Honor Academy experience wasn’t nearly as overtly abusive as other people’s was. Sometimes I feel silly for even wanting to write down my story because I didn’t have any of those nutso experiences. I feel like my experiences don’t really matter because the hurts were all “little.” Even now while I’m writing this all
Elizabeth’s Story: Part 1 Read More »
Thank you for this blog. I feel like a lot of the things I felt for years after being involved with Teen Mania in the mid 90’s are now validated. I remember my first Acquire the Fire. It was actually held in our church (it used to be that small!). I was a new Christian
Jessica’s Story: A Global Expeditions Review Read More »
We can all be deceived and fall into error, and we can do that though we have good character and the best of intentions. So writes Cindy at the blog Under Much Grace. She is addressing a common misconception that an abusive environment = malicious leadership. In fact, that is not the case at all. Its
When Good Ministries Go Bad Read More »
The first paragraph from the latest Honor Academy newsletter actually makes me want to barf. Regarding the Men’s and Women’s Life Transforming Event, it said: It was an encouraging weekend with men doing manly activities (like rescuing their sister core) and women doing womenly activities (like being rescued by their brother core) as well as
Gender Roles at Teen Mania Read More »
As usual, Teen Mania continues its doublespeak. On one hand, they insist that ESOAL/PEARL is optional and you can quit at any time without condemnation. On the other hand, they say that anyone who rings out is a quitter (remember Ron’s comment in the MSNBC documentary?) In 2011, they also posted signs on the ESOAL/PEARL
The Pressure of ESOAL/PEARL Read More »
Frequent commenter Eric P. has written a devastating critique of Teen Mania’s foundational theology in his article, “Ashamed of the Gospel? A Case Study of Works Based Doctrine.” It is quite extensive and shows how Teen Mania turns the true meaning of the Scripture on its head in order to promote a works-based Christian lifestyle instead of
Honor Academy: Legalistic by Design Read More »
