There is a current graduate intern who has commented on the blog recently and in reading his Twitter account and blog, he seems like a really genuinely nice guy who loves the Lord. Unfortunately, he has been sucked deep into the bowels of Teen Mania’s Honor Academy and it honestly breaks my heart to read […]
Inside the Mind of an Intern Read More »
I was put on probation at one point during the year for not having enough money. My honor ring was taken away, which was an important outward sign; not to be allowed to wear the honor ring was something to be ashamed of. The part that seemed most unjust to me was that I was
Katie’s Story: Part 3 Read More »
I was assigned to the International Operations department, (moderator note: this dept. is now Global Expeditions) as a recruiter for Team Leaders. Apparently this was one of the higher level work assignments, in the informal ranking system of jobs, where grounds and kitchen are on the bottom, Acquire the Fire calling somewhere in the middle,
Katie’s Story: Part 2 Read More »
(Moderator’s Note: Katie (yes, her real name!) recently sent me the letter that she sent to the Board of Directors. If you are just now joining us, the Board of Directors is looking into the allegations of spiritual abuse made on this blog. They are looking for former interns to tell their story so they
Katie’s Story: Part 1 Read More »
(2021 Update: The videos embedded in this post have since been taken down. If anyone happens to have the training videos described here, please email recoveringalumni@recoveringalumni.blog) So, what did the Honor Council decide in our mock case? In the training videos linked below, you can see their deliberation process. (Thanks to my readers for sending
Honor Council, pt. 2 Read More »
The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector from Luke 18 (in present day terms). To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the auditorium to pray, one an Honor Academy intern and the other a namby-pamby Christian who didn’t
This Ethics and Leadership class gives a great glimpse of the true nature of the Honor Academy. You will see just how the interns are primed to accept the absolute control of the HA leadership. The main thrust of this video is Dave’s teaching on the nature authority and submission. Especially the “common problem a
Submission to Authority, pt 1 Read More »
Mind control is not just the domain of far-out cult leaders like David Koresh or Jim Jones. It is not magical or mystical and it is not always obvious at first glance. It is a real and psychologically demonstrable and it happens routinely at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy. Mind control and brainwashing are very serious
The Truth About Mind Control: Part 1 Read More »
The Breakdown My early days with Teen Mania Missions weren’t all flowers and sunshine, but the sum total of my experiences were largely positive. I’d seen a few interesting leaders get confused about their authority and role in the universe, I’d seen a few missionaries get a little crazy with interpreting an odd scripture here
Caleb’s Story: Part 2 Read More »
I just watched some of the Honor Academy recruiting videos on YouTube. They are really quite convincing. I was watching the first one and started thinking, “Wow, this looks awesome! I would totally do this if I was a teen.” I AM NOT KIDDING. Those were my actual thoughts. If I felt that way and
Hard to See Through the Hype Read More »
I want to start this by saying that I don’t hold any unforgiveness or bitterness towards any of my friends or staff members at Teen Mania. I just want to share the story of what happened to me during my undergrad year starting August 07. A lot of the people involved in the situation, I
The final installment in Erin’s story – her GI year. I did this new program called the G.I.I.E.T. (You’ve heard of I.E.T.? Intensive elective training? That was another thing started my year. This was the G.I. version.) MORE intense. Requires MORE dedication. It was totally promoted that if you could make it through the G.I.I.E.T.
Erin’s Story, Part 4 Read More »
The article below, found here, discusses an individual’s experience in the aftermath of leaving a cult. Though I do not consider the Honor Academy a full blown cult, (updated June 2011 – I do now!) I think that many of these characteristics apply to interns as well. I reprint it here in its entirety: After
Life in the Aftermath of Teen Mania Read More »
In this talk, Dave Hasz spends the first 15 minutes counseling interns to be like the Bereans by studying the Word to find out if what he is teaching is truth. He encourages them to be critical thinkers instead of just trusting whatever he says with regards to theology. He also takes the time to
Freedom to Disagree or Just a Smokescreen? Read More »
One of the great things about the Honor Academy, according to Dave Hasz, is that you will be much more mature before you go to college and you will have direction for your life. Because of this, you won’t have to change majors all the time and waste your time in college. I find this
God Can Speak Without the HA (Gasp!) Read More »
I once heard Dave Hasz say something along the lines of, “I’m not Calvinist, I’m not Arminian, I just believe the Bible.” As if neither of those camps believe, study and follow the Word of God as they interpret it. Unfortunately, a lot of Christians like to simplify their faith by saying “God said it,
God Said It, I Believe It, That Settles It Read More »
I’d like to finish responding to the excellent question on this post: As I view your above processing and how you are granting others permission to go through the grief process, anger and bitterness are allowed. However, I do not find bitterness the standard process of recovery. Could you post any biblical backing that allows
Overcoming Sin the Gospel Way Read More »
A commenter posed an excellent question which I think deserves its own post. On this post, they asked: As I view your above processing and how you are granting others permission to go through the grief process, anger and bitterness are allowed. However, I do not find bitterness the standard process of recovery. Could you post
Ladder on the Wrong Wall Read More »
Andrew (not his real name) sent in this amazing story. It really outlines the double standard within the leadership at Teen Mania. They teach that your word is your bond and that you should always be honorable, yet they routinely lie and break their word. And they will continue to do so with total impunity
Fulfilling Biblical “requirements” does not make you extra Christian (just ask the Pharisees). You can’t be a “better” Christian than someone else. You might acknowledge your own poverty more and allow the Lord in your life more – but even that is a result of God’s mercy and grace and grants you no license to
Being Extra Christian Read More »
I’m slowly going through the book, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I hope the author won’t mind me excerpting a page here that really speaks to the idea that sometimes things are not always as they appear. I know many people, myself included, wonder how something that looks
Things Are Not Always What They Seem Read More »
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 »
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 »
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
