(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 »
I was on the Honor Council for 2 terms (once as an intern and once as a GI). I look back now and am extremely saddened when I think about the people I hurt with my harsh punishments. During my first term on the Honor Council, we were all very strict. We did not deliberate
Lauren’s Story: The Honor Council Read More »
I was an intern in January of 1999. I dropped out of college in the middle of my sophomore year, convinced that I was supposed to be a world changer. I was placed as an Administrative Assistant. I had zero office experience, but I was willing to learn. I was also placed in a position
The Way to Grace The Teen Mania Honor Academy is focused on creating leaders for the next generation of the Church in the world. While this seems like a very praiseworthy goal, I believe it misses the mark of how leaders are created, trained, and commissioned into their work in God’s Kingdom. In an effort
Caleb’s Story: Part 3 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 »
The Beginning I was hopeful, as I drove in Garden Valley on the first day of my Internship. I’d just finished another summer in India, my senior high school year, and a long drive to Texas so things seemed to be on a good note. For the past 6 summers, I’d been involved with Teen
Caleb’s Story: Part 1 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 »
I graduated the HA in 2008, and returned to participate in CCM in January 09, because I was so sure I was being called there (to a point where I blatantly disrespected my parents’ wishes and had a friend come and pick me and my stuff up, with $800 to my name that I was
Lindsay’s Story: On Leaving Early Read More »
I was an intern from 07-08. This is but a small glimpse of my experience at Teen Mania. One issue of concern was the stigma of exercise (which I’m fairly certain RA has already touched on). The attitude at the HA is that everybody is capable of the exact same workout regimen, and anybody who
Lindsay’s Story: Corporate Exercise, Injury and Shaming 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
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
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 »
While I’ve discussed specific incidents, I have never given an overview of my own story and why I left. I’ve been asked why I stayed a 2nd year if the Honor Academy was so terrible. Hopefully, this will answer that question. Though raised in a Christian home, I got saved at an ATF at 15
Hi, my name is Danielle (not her real name) and I’ve never been to the Honor Academy, but I went on a GE trip this summer and I think I got a pretty good taste of what Teen Mania is all about. Even in the short time I was affiliated with Teen Mania Ministries, I
“I, too, was there the same year as Recovering Alumni. I think it was kind of a transition year…some of the old-timey crazy was still in full-effect, and some of the NEW! IMPROVED! CRAZY hadn’t yet been implemented. (examples: We still had to build the Quonset huts and do lots of other (extra) manual labor
Many former interns can verify the environment of suspicion and mistrust cast upon any intern that doesn’t fully subscribe to the party line. As I was reflecting upon my experiences there, I noticed an interesting parallel that might help convey this reality. Each spring, the interns must train to run the Tyler 10k. To be
Suspicion & Mistrust Read More »
hi there, I’m an HA alumni that graduated august of 08. my name is Jeff and i would like to share one particular incident that happened while i was there. if you’d like to publish this, be my guest. I want to start out by clarifying that the HA isn’t all bad, i did get
Here is an excerpt of Sonshine’s story that she recently shared with me over email. I am glad I got out (of the Honor Academy) and went through years of therapy to get my head back to normal. I am still working on it. I think the most damaging effect that HA had on me,
A mutual friend introduced me to Erin (not her real name). She has given me permission to reprint some of her emails which contain fabulous insights on how TM has affected her. My first reaction when XXXXX told me you’d started writing about spiritual abuse at Teen Mania was kind of funny and telling, so
Still Feeling it Years Later Read More »
Keep those stories coming. I will be publishing them as we go. I think it’s helpful for others to read these and realize they are not alone. Some of these stories may be controversial because many former interns have left the faith. Though you may disagree with their current faith status, I would encourage you
This email was sent in by Mike. If you would like to share your story, you can send it to recoveringalumni at recoveringalumni dot blog. Feel free to change your name and/or other identifying details if you prefer to remain anonymous. Hi. My name is Mike. I’m 31 years old. I was involved with Teen
