The Honor Academy website now features a page entitled “Recovering Alumni Information.” I’d like to discuss it point by point.
– Many stories and claims publicized by the group are done so in anonymity, which makes it challenging to verify facts or engage in a resolution focused conversation.
Which of my factual claims are anonymous?
– The one where you lied to KLTV about feeding cat food during ESOAL? Or the one where you lied about ESOAL being based on the military?
– Or maybe the one where Heath Stoner coerced an intern into lying to me, cutting off contact with me and participating in ESOAL?
Exactly just how challenging can it be to verify these facts? A couple of weeks ago, Heath openly challenged me on Facebook to retract my comments about Dave lying if he could prove me wrong. I have yet to receive any evidence.
As far as anonymous stories go, most victims don’t want to openly confront their abuser because of you know, THE ABUSE. The names don’t matter anyway – their stories RESONATE with many alumni. They aren’t isolated incidents.
– Comments and statements made and allowed by this group have at many times been accusatory, sometimes mean-spirited, in nature and do not communicate a desire to “seek to understand” or to allow for rebuttal or disproof of information. Attempts to correspond in a polite and respectful manner have often lead to fruitless arguing on both sides.
In fact, in the early days of this blog Teen Mania was given much respect and grace to listen and respond. However, when we shared our stories, they chose to betray our trust with their fake investigation as linked above. It was only after being lied to and betrayed that my/our tone became “accusatory.”
tl:dr: Telling lies with a smile is superior to telling the truth with a frown.
– One of the lead members of this group has communicated their desire is to bring down the Honor Academy and that nothing less will be satisfactory.
I am not sure who they are referring to here, but it most certainly is not me.
– A member of this group is a self proclaimed atheist, which will make it challenging, possibly impossible, to fully agree on the standards and accountability required by Teen Mania, since the mission is unquestionably based on a statement of faith that is Christian.
Last I checked we aren’t asking for anything unScriptural or unChristian: honesty, transparency, accountability & LOVE. Are those not Christian anymore?
Understanding this information has pushed us to walk in peace when interacting with this group and to walk in mercy and forgiveness towards them despite the retaliatory hurt levied on several of our staff members. While not always easy, remembering this information has become an important component of developing our own character as a ministry.
This response is so ridiculously inadequate and incorrectly portrays our MANY, MANY attempts to dialogue with Teen Mania, including a significant attempt to reach out to the Board of Directors last year.
Notice that Teen Mania does not actually address the substance of any of our concerns/allegations/etc. Their entire strategy seems to be an attempt to shift the focus off their shady practices and lies and back onto us. They don’t want anyone looking too closely at what really goes on and what their real track record is. Don’t be fooled by smooth talk from professional salesmen. Look at the facts.
If the facts that I’ve published are lies, they could easily refute them. They have not done so. That should tell you everything you need to know.