I had a mixed experience at the Honor Academy. I did not leave hating Teen Mania or the HA. In fact, during a time of struggle in my life I went back to volunteer for a month during that summer. I found some clarity while there, but it also showed me that some problems I […]
Stephanie’s Story: Part 1 Read More »
The End is near: So all that happens, and then it comes time to apply for a second year. Notice how I haven’t mentioned anything about my 6 month probation from when I wasn’t given a chance to defend myself against an accusation? That’s because I was given a list of requirements, and no one,
Derek’s Story: Part 2 Read More »
I have, since TM, told my story, in part, to Mr. David Hasz, and received a private apology from him. Am I still hurt, and going through things because of how I was treated? Yes. I hope that my story helps someone who has gone through the same things as me. Am I still in
Derek’s Story: Part 1 Read More »
Several weeks ago, I sent the Board of Directors a list detailing my concerns about the Honor Academy. I will be satisfied when everything on the list is adequately addressed. I’ve reprinted the majority of that list here. Is there anything you would add? Spiritual Abuse How does the Honor Academy stack up to the
Honor Academy Investigation Read More »
Ron Luce often compares being a strong Christian to weight-lifting. You have to work hard over a long period of time to see results, you can’t just lift weights for one day and expect to be ripped. Is this an appropriate analogy for the Christian life? Do you think self-effort leads to spiritual strength? Discuss.
What is the Christian Life? Read More »
The leadership at the Honor Academy talks a lot about living honorably and treating people ethically. But is the Honor Academy honorable? Does it treat interns, vendors, and teenagers ethically? – Teen Mania encourages and/or forces people to participate in dangerous activities like ESOAL that will likely end in injury or possibly even quarantine. When
Dear Ron Luce & Dave Hasz: Is This Honorable? Read More »
This is Campus Preview Weekend at the Honor Academy in Lindale, Texas. If you attended the preview or if you thinking about becoming an intern, I encourage you to read through the ‘true stories’ on this blog. Many alumni have shared how the Honor Academy impacted their lives including specific details about the Life Transforming Events (LTEs),
Honor Academy Campus Preview Weekend Read More »
I was a January intern several years ago, and I’ve always been afraid to talk openly about my experiences at the Honor Academy—in part because I have this underlying fear that Ron Luce will somehow find a way to punish me, and partly because people don’t believe me when I tell them stories about being
Lauren’s Story: Part 1 Read More »
Here is a verse you won’t hear preached at Teen Mania. It doesn’t fit well with the worldchanger rhetoric, and yet it is in the Bible. So what do we do with that? Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as
Ron Luce Wants You To Find Your Vision Read More »
Summer Camps I worked in the Summer Camps department which at the time was a subdivision of the Honor Academy. Erin, my superior, didn’t like me from the beginning, which she made clear by being overtly irritated by my presence. Halfway through the year she openly told me that she didn’t like me. Summer Camps
Jacqueline’s Story: Part 3 Read More »
To understand my Honor Academy Experience best I will share some defining moments in my life before I lived on the Teen Mania campus. My parents divorced when I was 7 years old. During the divorce my mother had temporary custody. At that same time I began to fall in love with Jesus. In those
Jacqueline’s Story: Part 1 Read More »
The OTHER massively diff part of my story is fast-forwarded 12 months later. I’m a Core Advisor. I love my Core to bits. I love leadership. I love it all. I also started to fall in love with a hottie worship leader named Joel. We were both CA’s, related on a ton of different levels,
Jessica’s Story: Part 2 Read More »
My story starts out similar to most. ATF+Zeal+Parental Consent=August 99 Arrival! First year started off rough…my Core Advisor left weeks after Gauntlet…followed by my Intern Advisor…leaving an overwhelming feeling of aimlessness. After the January’s graduated,I became an ACA. I was excited to have a role. I worked in Leader Development recruiting Team Leader’s for mission
Jessica’s Story: Part 1 Read More »
Sunflowers I hadn’t been an intern for maybe 4 days before I was confronted for having a “sunflower” (how juvenile is that term!!) for a fellow intern. The accusation was absurd. We happened to be interested in the same things. We happened to be at the same place at the same time fairly frequently. But
Karah’s Story: Part 2 Read More »
I came across this awesome post last week and its so relevant to what many of us have gone through at Teen Mania. Which of these 7 counterfeit gospels do you most identify with? In one of his books (co-authored with Tim Lane), How People Change, he identifies seven counterfeit gospels—-”religious” ways we try and “justify” or
Idols Inside the Church Read More »
An alumnus recently sent me the above audio. It’s from a marriage talk Heath gave to the women of the Honor Academy. I’m not usually shocked anymore by anything TM does because I feel like I’ve heard it all. But, after listening to this stunningly bizarre teaching, I am absolutely flabbergasted. I honestly don’t think
Honor Academy: WORST Marriage Advice EVER Read More »
I came in contact with Teen Mania Ministries through an ATF when I was in high school. I was “saved” at an ATF. During my first ATF they had a break out session for those that were interested in the Honor Academy. The break out session made the HA sound a lot like the Ministry
Another Shannon’s Story Read More »
(2021 Update: Video has since been taken down. I believe this video was a training on room inspections during Orange Block. If anyone has a copy, please email a link to recoveringalumni at recoveringalumni dot blog.) I’m really at a loss for words after watching this. I showed some friends and they thought it was
Clean Room Standards Read More »
Since my first Acquire the Fire, I knew I wanted to go to the Honor Academy. It took me a few years to make it a reality, but it eventually happened. At first, things were good. They kept us so busy during Gauntlet that I didn’t really have time to think about whether or not
I was an intern with Teen Mania Ministries in 1995 and 1996. It has been a long time since my involvement with Teen Mania, and my memories have faded considerably, I felt compelled to sound my voice, mainly as a part of my healing process, but also out of concern for future potential interns. SHOCK
(To read part 1 of Amber’s story, click here.) Our Gauntlet “week” was more like a month long as leadership scurried to adjust and make plans for the interns based on the new surroundings and resources. We had to run a mile every day – nothing compared to the 3 miles I have read is now
Amber’s Story: Part 2 Read More »
Just to let you know, I have waited for going on 14 years to write my experiences down and have someone hear me and care. At first I wrote a few things down on the alumni website but I was largely ignored or occasionally confronted or my posts were deleted as not conforming to the
Amber’s Story: Part 1 Read More »
When an intern quits or is dismissed from the Honor Academy, there are a few common reactions: 1) Wicked sinner!2) They weren’t “called” to the Honor Academy.3) They weren’t cut out for the Honor Academy because its not for everyone. I’d like to especially take a look at this last response. I hear it alot.
Is Ron Luce’s Honor Academy for Everyone? Read More »
Here is the 2nd part of Ellen’s letter to the board. If you plan to send your story in, but haven’t yet, please consider doing so by the end of the week. The board hasn’t set a deadline, but I know they need enough information to be able to decide how and if they will convene
Ellen’s Story: Part 2 Read More »
Ellen (not her real name) recently sent me a copy of the letter that she sent to the Board of Directors. I’ve left out her remarks addressing the Board specifically, but here is the rest of her story in its entirety:I left the internship feeling completely chewed up and spit out into a cold and
Ellen’s Story: Part 1 Read More »
