Comment Policy

Before I post my experience I’m wondering if it is ok to post about positive things on here without critizing any bad experiences others have had. I understand what this site is about but I had a bit of a different experience going thru and coming out of the HA and wondering if those experiences are welcome so that both sides are shared.
Thanks,
Jami

Hello! Thank you so much for doing this!!! This topic has been a burden on my heart for years as I’ve watched friends either be dismissed and then isolated, as if they weren’t human, or friends graduate, but with so much bitterness in their hearts that it was more harmful than good by the time they left. In addition, I’ve had my fair share of moments of being upset, offended, criticized, experiencing shame, etc, during my time at Teen Mania. But because of it, I can relate with others from Teen Mania specifically on this topic, as well as other people in the rest of the world. It has definitely kept me from feeling a superior attitude towards others, and has helped keep me in touch with REALITY that people hurt people. It has been a growing and healing journey and It hasn’t been easy. It definitely took the strength and encouragement of other alumnus to “let things go” and to “forgive”. I am so thankful to them for the revelation beyond the “current situations” at hand. As I began to practice forgiveness, I started seeing the healing happen in my heart. I experienced what Christ meant when He said to forgive your enemies as you’d like to be forgiven!! *Now, I would NEVER say that Teen Mania as a whole, was my enemy–I love Teen Mania, but it was individuals who made me feel worthless. Forgiving those individuals was hard, and it took time, but I finally came to my own realization that ETERNITY was in front of me, and I would much rather let go of my hurt than to cripple my future. Bitterness was crippling me. Hate was crippling me. Unforgiveness was crippling me. I realized that if Jesus meant what he said—that He wouldn’t forgive me unless I forgave others, then I better start learning to forgive, because my own wicked self needed FORGIVENESS from the KING! It has been a humbling journey, and not an easy or perfect one.

By sharing this, I would like to join in with whomever started this blog and encourage everyone to know that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Freedom comes from being real. From forgiving. For letting Go and trusting God!! =) He LOVES YOU!! YOU ARE THE APPLE OF HIS EYE!! His delight is in you, and He longs to be with you!!! When you learn to see things through His eyes, everything else does seem to fade away. As a fellow alumnus, I love you. There is nothing you can do/did that would change my feeling towards you in this matter. I’ve seen it all. Regardless of whatever lie the enemy has deceived you and I with, the common thread is Christ!! Satan is a liar and Christ isn’t!! =) You are my brother and sister, and I’m praying for you. I have been for years, as I long to see healing happen in alumnus’ hearts!!

Please know that you are loved!! You are desired!! You are valuable!! Let today be a new day of healing for you. No longer feel the condemnation that you may have felt. Feel the restoration that only the Lord can bring. He is good, and His ways are right!! Forgive those who have misrepresented Christ–because we all do throughout our lives. Despite our imperfections and misrepresentation of Him, He loves and forgives us.

I guess I was lucky. When my room leader (gi?) had given me a bad review my first week on campus, so much so that they contacted and freaked out my folks, I threw down the gauntlet on the spot. Turned out that since I was on breakfast kcrew, I never got time to sit n chat with my room lead. He somehow translated that into a failing on my part.
Without hesitation, I got in his face and had a little chat to straighten him out. He even called my folks to appologize for scaring them into thinking I was somehow on the verge of being dismissed. This set the tone for me and mine for all three years I was on campus. I did not tolerate abuse or lack of thought from any figure in authority, and felt that I did my part to keep the spirit of the place alive, in spite of the letter of the law.
I say I am lucky, because for me, conflict and confrontation is merely a challenge to be learned from and overcome. I invited confrontation from leadership at every level if for no other reason than to be able to prove points. Sometimes I was in the wrong, but the majority of the time I championed for those around me. From the menu in the cafeteria, to the state of living on campus; from the treatment of our vehicles to the treatment of the easily manipulated or wounded, I enjoyed being the wall for people to hide behind. I had a blast for three solid years, and hope that the issues brought forward by those who didn’t have a Bear to hide behind are taken seriously. Remember that things not done in love are a waste, so be gentle to those who have been hurt, and patient with those that are missing the point of restoring someone gently

@ Bear.
I’m impressed with your comment.

@ R.A. The comment policy is such a divine idea. 🙂

I am enjoying reading your blog. Thank you for this forum. While my experience was positive overall, I can understand some of your concerns with the HA.
I wonder why some people can have such a positive experience, while others leave hurt and feeling abused. As an individual who was physically and emotionally abused throughout my childhood, I did not percieve teen mania as abusive in any way, even though I participated in ESOAL and had a few negative encounters with leadership. Overall, I felt I had great mentors in the HA leaders. I was able to see that the leaders werent perfect, and knew I wouldnt follow the rules for my entire life, but saw the benefit in following the rules for the 2 years I spent at HA. I felt the leadership truely cared for me, even though at one point I was not recommended me to become a GI…which I ended up becoming anyways due to support from other staff.
The only thing I have not enjoyed about this blog so far is the rules for the comments. I read your post/comment about the rules TM has on their alumni forum, and was disappointed by TM’s restrictions. Then I got to this page, and you have restrictions as well. I think in a way it could be helpful to engage some comments, at least those that are written respectfully, that express the above feelings, such as “not critizing a good ministry”, etc. Otherwise it makes your site look like everyone who comments agrees with you, which surely cant be the case, just like everyone who goes to TM’s site doesnt agree with them, but you wont see that there if they restrict comments from people with different views from their own. Maybe I dont really know enough about the blogging world. Maybe it wouldnt work and it would just turn your blog into a big argument. But those are my thoughts.

You sound like a town crier who’s been drinking the cup of offense. I understand that nothings perfect, and your time at TM may not have been. But to camp at offense will not only damage your life but the lives of those in which your cup of pollution spills into. The fact that your pillaging the lives of people from the grace that God has available to them is not healthy. I know that someone with a hard heart usually doesn’t recieve words like this, but I’m begging you to move on. Where in the Bible does it show Christ doing anything of the sort that your doing through this website? You can be hurt, you can be bitter, you can morn, but to stay there, to stay in that place will hinder you and others greatly. And, since when did God give into the hands of you and me to be Judge and Jury? If there is anything you get out of this comment, think about the lives of the people your influencing and whether or not you’ll regret what you’re doing in the end.

to anon 12:52 — your following sentences are condescending and scary…. “The fact that your pillaging the lives of people from the grace that God has available to them is not healthy. I know that someone with a hard heart usually doesn’t recieve words like this, but I’m begging you to move on.”

good luck in the real world — I hope no one has to interact with you as their example of Christianity.
yikes!

lol, I love how Anon 12:52 says this:

“And, since when did God give into the hands of you and me to be Judge and Jury?”

… aaaand then s/he goes and judges RA for his actions. Typical intern fashion.

I have clinical OCD and watching this video makes me so freaking grateful my mom wouldn’t help me pay for Honor Academy! Holy crap. I’d have been having a mental breakdown every week.

What people need to understand is that everyone’s grieving process is different. That is like telling a mother who lost a child, “you have 2 weeks to grieve and then it’s time to move on”.

The problem in the Church is that we don’t know how to properly help each other through the grieving process. We are the only ones who kick our wounded while they’re down.

The Bible says to bear one another’s burdens. If a person doesn’t have the strength to move on after they’ve been hurt, stand in gap and pray for them. Pray that God would be able to heal their heart so they can move on.

1 Thess. teaches to restore “gently”. You do not receive browny points from the Lord for throwing salt into someone’s wounds.

If we don’t humble ourselves and show some compassion, we may find ourselves in a position where we may need some compassion.

After watching the documentary and reading the posts, I can’t stay out of the fight any longer. I am an old TM war horse from way back. Hear’s my thought, TM you sowed a seed and now your starting to reap your harvest, and I believe there is more to come. I, with all sincerity hate to see a ministry attacked, but this place has had it coming for a LONG time man! Now in my 30’s and knowing what I know now, TM (to me) is a ministry of flesh and carnal knowledge rather one of spirit and truth. On that note I will say their praise and worship was great but all ells; forget it. The thing I saw that pissed me off the most, and is probably one of the reasons I decided to say something, has to do with a comment he made about those of us who share this walk. “PaPa Luchia” the leader and mentor to a lot of people called Christianity a religion. My so called brother, This is NO RELIGION! I eat, breath, sleep, and live this reality to me of being a son of the most high God! I know I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and it was not your doing. The arrogant pride that ministry carries makes my spirit cringe. The phony-baloney, condescending religiosity made my action of when I was an intern very hostel. I remember watching Hasze with his Nazi cheshire cat grin and wanting to wipe it off his face (come to think of it, there were a lot of people I wanted to beat the “Hell” out of,LOL) . As a matter of fact that’s why I did ESOL, lol! I had envisioned a full blown assault the moment he stepped up to my face, I was going to have a excuse for Knocking his Block off! Any ways, it never did happen but for some the story is worth a laugh. The ultimate point to my expression is, I agree, reform of TM has to take place! They have hurt noumerous people and there comes a time when words of appolgize don’t cut it any more. And to be real honest, which this statement might stir up a hornets nest, but it is what it is, I truly Believe God has taken his hand of that ministry and will not return it until the leadership has changed. I truly LOVE the concept of TM , but how its been carried out has been a disgrace.
To all those who have been hurt by the men and women of God you trusted, may his favor, peace, restoration and LOVE be showered upon you! To those who mock them for their grief, JUST SHUT UP!! I read some of the comments hear and they sound so degrading and condescending. That’s not love for your brother or sister who’s heart is broken, it’s the BS religion crap that has gotten this world and ministry in the hot water it’s in now. Guard your tongues and show some grace and compassion! Listen, I made it through everything that place threw at me; weather it was ESOl (not once did I think about ringing out), the retreats, all the way to graduation I made it. The only problem was I was so pissed off with a determination of an F U attitude that the place that was supposed to be facilitating spiritual growth was fueling this rage that should have been subdued. On the day of graduation I felt like crap! I felt like my year of growth was wasted. Now I am a firm believer in 10% is what happens to you and 90% is how you react, and I have taken full responsibility for my part of insolence, however TM needs to be held accountable for the years of BS and pain they have inflicted on those who were relying on them to be used by God to change their lives for the better, no the worse.