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 should stay. Yeah, the leadership said things like “make sure this is what you want to do” but I honestly believe that the whole marketing technique of Teen Mania is unhealthy and damaging to many who encounter the ministry. They target youth, who are easily shaped and moldable (or at least, I was), and that caused me to get caught up in the excitement of the constant busy-ness of the first two weeks, and since they needed four months worth of my stay up front (which my mom graciously paid for) there was no way I wasn’t going to finish it out. I can’t waste mine, and supporters’, money.
The first thing I was shocked by was early morning physical training. Granted, I was in good shape for a lot of the year, but the lengths to which I got there were less than appealing. I remember the terrible pressure that staff and leaders and other interns alike put on me during the 4 am corporate workouts. More than once have I been told that I wasn’t running fast enough and that if I wasn’t “throwing up” at the end, then I didn’t push myself hard enough. I am not a runner. Period. I remember the humiliation as a leader began to ran circles around me pointing out that I was slow. This wasn’t during any special event or anything. It was typical early morning workouts.
I think the hardest thing was the favoritism that the leaders show towards interns. The Resident Directors were always playing sports and hanging out with specific interns and I spent most of my time attempting to MEET with my RD at the once a month check ins. Needless to say, during my whole stay there, I met with my RD once. Oh, I noticed how people were treated and it frustrated me because I really felt like I was in high school again. I looked around me and the ones who were given leadership roles, privilege, and lets face it, attention, were the ones who looked good, were popular, or had money. After an attempt to become a Core Advisor, I began to see this more clearly. I was overlooked for the more fit, cooler looking, hollister wearing, guys. They all just seemed to fit this mold. A mold that I spent my whole high school life trying to fit myself into. I refused to do it again here.
Also, let me say this: I know there are different opinions and such about this issue and people may disagree with me and by all means, that is their right. Ever since I was a kid, I struggled with homosexuality. I kept it under wraps for a very long time. Never. Not once have I felt comfortable and free enough to talk about it. In the dorms, I heard the word “fag” more times than I care to hear. Gay jokes were made constantly. Tell me, how is one supposed to tell their CA and RD that they are struggling with homosexuality when the leaders in charge do such great gay impressions? One doesn’t. So I didn’t.
My biggest upset was during the battle cry campaign. CCM recorded video of the counter protestors in San Francisco and presented it to us during a monday night service. The video showed guys dressed in weird outfits (a lot of GLBT people were at this protest), Sunsara Taylor from Move On and Ron Luce debating on Oreilly factor, and the whole time, slurs were being shouted, people laughed and mocked the people on the screen, and I immediately got up and walked out only to be escorted back in by an RD. It hurt so much to sit there and hear the laughs and jeers towards people whom I can so easily relate with. I felt sick.
When I look back at my experience at the Honor Academy, I do see good things come out of it. I have some wonderful friends who I have known for a few years. I have some cool memories and exciting stories. But I really do think that by far, the Honor Academy caused more detriment to me and my faith, than anything else in my life. The pressure to live up to these expectations came to be too great. Often the term “Integrity” would come into play as though me being 2 seconds late for chapel caused me not to have integrity. Surely, the RD’s at the door with their timers and watches didn’t think so, and I often found myself scrubbing toilets, as though that would make me be two seconds faster.
By the end of my year, I was so exhausted with all things God. Being forced to have a relationship with him was not what I signed on for, but that is exactly how I felt. Mandatory fasting, mandatory prayer, mandatory services, mandatory quiet times at the designated hour. During these times, everyone would seem so spiritual. The worship would be extravagant and hip, lights flashing everywhere, mood being set…for me, it felt like the Honor Academy was trying to draw some sort of emotion out of me that wasn’t there. The whole time, as I was being told I needed to speak in tongues, I didn’t have faith, etc etc, I felt like running away and burying my head in the sand.
At the moment, I’m still deeply scarred as I too have tried to converse about certain issues and have fallen through the cracks. The ring banquet, where you are told that you always have a home with Teen Mania and you are a part of the prestigious “line”, well…I feel like that was mostly lies. I graduated thinking that I received a second place ribbon. That I wasn’t really there to grow or learn, but rather, it was like searching for gold. The honor academy was the strainer and the leadership picked out and polished the best gold pieces while the dirt was thrown back. I don’t really have much of a relationship with God anymore. I’m not even sure if he exists and if he does, I certainly don’t feel that love.
I’m sure there is more but i’m not that talented of a writer so I’m going to leave it at that. But I do want to say that I appreciate your blog. Its bringing closure to my life and that closure is something that I have been in desperate need of.
37 comments:
Shannon Kish said…
Matthew,
I am so sorry that you had to experience this! I know how damaging and slanderous those who feel homosexuality is a sin can be. I have many friends who are homosexual (including former interns) and I love them dearly. Not surprisingly, they are the most accepting, forgiving, and loving people I have met. (I personally feel that there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with homosexuality and accept it as natural.)
I hope that you will find healing, acceptance, tolerance, and love here and understand that not everyone who went to the HA believes the way that TM does regarding homosexuality.
March 25, 2010 8:53 AM
Thaly of the Valley said…
Matthew, I didn’t experience TM like this at all, however today I doubt everything I have been taught out of the bible and doctrine from any church… So although the experience materialized in a totally different way the outcomes are quite similar.
Today I can say that I think (because ever since I found this blog I have been re-assessing the hard feelings I had suppressed inside about TM and Christianity) that my problem was my mental level of maturity coming into the Internship. Rebellious already thinking that I knew more than my mother and was in complete control… Super naive about life bc I simply was in a foreign country that I didn’t even grew up in and had no idea as to how society worked. The fact alone that I was 17 should say enough. So resulting from that I became exponentially naïve, judging and legalistic among others.
I have a lot more to think about and many emotions to sift through. Now I realize why presently I doubt everything that I have been taught. Heck I do not believe half of what I read in the bible… I suppose that is some sort of wall of defense against naiveness…
I believe that as human beings we are mostly shaped by environmental forces. Everyone comes into TM in a different stage of their lives for a variety of reason and a plethora of needs… Obviously not everyone will have a great or bad experience… due to their backgrounds. So I suggest that perhaps a way to improve the system would be to sift through the individual candidates by conducting interviews in order to determine whether the experience will do them much good in the long run. In retrospective, we have all gained SOMETHING out of it. The problems is how to quantify how much of it is good and how much is bad. Who knows what would have been of us if we had not gone to the internship that specific year.
I personally had a freaking awesome time and bought into it like that was all that was relevant in life! In the long run I can see how this has handicapped me. What if’s run through my mind… but God’s grace is sufficient!
So who knows? Maybe I would have been better or worse off…
My suggestion is just a small thing that may be implemented… I do not assume that it is easy or nor effective enough to guarantee improvements. No suggestion at all would have been complaining ha? And that is one good thing I learned in TM… no complaining unless you are willing to come up with a solution.
March 25, 2010 9:13 AM
Robbie said…
Matthew…WOW…thank you for sharing your story. It actually brought me to tears reading it. I can relate to so many things you said…I, too, was a teen struggling with homosexuality and hoped that TMM could offer me some sort of “solution,” only to leave sorely disappointed.
Teen Mania most definitely DOES NOT have ANY resources in place to help or guide the gay teen. When I finally worked up enough courage to tell a TMM leader about my homosexuality, he prayed with me for a few minutes, “cast the demons of homosexuality out of me in Jesus’ name,” and that was it….I was supposed to be healed! If I was still having gay thoughts & feelings, it was because I “lacked faith” and didn’t believe that God had really healed me. Looking back, I see how abusive and wrong this all was. At the time, though, this incident totally broke me and almost destroyed my relationship with God…I wanted to be “healed” of my homosexuality, but I knew I hadn’t been, and I figured that I *must* be doing something wrong if God didn’t immediately change my sexual orientation.
My heart goes out to Matthew and all the other LGBT teens that have been hurt by TMM. Regardless of what TMM believes about homosexuality being right or wrong, they create a very dangerous environment for any believer honest enough to admit they are struggling with LGBT feelings. TMM obviously needs to train leadership to approach this issue with much more care and compassion. They also need to develop some real resources to help Christians struggling with LGBT feelings…instead of just telling them to pray about it, or trying to “cast the demons out.” LGBT kids are already at a much greater risk of suicide than their straight peers….I can see tactics like those used by TMM alienating these teens even more and making the suicide risk even greater.
The “solution” I was offered towards my homosexuality by TMM seriously scarred me and was responsible for a 10-year break in my relationship with God. Other LGBT Christians on this blog (like Matthew above, and other commenters) have relayed similar stories of heartache at the hands of TMM. When will Teen Mania wake up and realize that by dismissing the plight of gay teens, they are causing serious (and often permanent) damage to the very people they are trying to help?
Thanks so much again for sharing, Matthew…and to RA for posting this powerful story! 🙂
March 25, 2010 9:14 AM
Moriah said…
Matthew,
The way TM treats people outside their little box is ridiculous.
They are missing out on so much richness and life.
Their loss.
Love
Moriah
March 25, 2010 9:18 AM
gc1998 said…
a church i went to for a while last year…that…ironically i now no longer attend because it set off TM “triggers” and turned me off so violently i couldn’t deal…watched a dvd called “Lord, save us from your followers” in home group. there was a segment outside of the SF ATF that had clips of ATF attendees protesting gay marriage or homosexuality or…something & also clips of ron luce speaking. i was never more ashamed of my involvement with TM than at that moment. SERIOUSLY. protesting sin? picket lines? (i guess i think the same activities against abortion are just a little different, but…that is neither here nor there for this conversation.)
TM has its “acceptable” sins…things that are ok or normal to struggle with…but yeah. if it’s outside of that, they can’t/won’t help. “matthew”, i’m so sorry that you were neglected and mistreated in this way.
(also, i appreciate that largely the comments haven’t descended into a debate on whether or not homosexuality is a sin. thanks for being awesome, people who read this blog!)
March 25, 2010 9:41 AM
Anonymous said…
The way TM treats those dealing with homosexuality is the way Christianism as a whole has been dealing with the issue as well!!!
This pisses me off and it’s why I find the Christian doctrine sooooo flawed!
March 25, 2010 9:43 AM
Eric P. said…
Despised, rejected, scorned, mocked, and considered unattractive– that reminds me of Somebody!
Also, for those who would like a sane view of what the Bible actually says about homosexuality, I love this article:
God Loves Gays.
March 25, 2010 9:51 AM
Recovering Alumni said…
Eric – Great first point. 🙂
I skimmed the article and it looks good – I just don’t want to get sidetracked on the topic of what the Bible says about homosexuality… It could easily lead to a huge debate so from now on I will delete anything that goes in this direction (even if I agree with it!).
When we (hopefully) open the forums, we can hash it out there – for now, let’s make sure we stay on topic. 🙂 Cool?
March 25, 2010 9:57 AM
Recovering Alumni said…
What’s up with scrubbing the toilets? Is that a punishment they dole out or something?
Also, I loved this line and I think sums it up so well: Being forced to have a relationship with him was not what I signed on for, but that is exactly how I felt.
March 25, 2010 10:00 AM
Joy said…
Matthew,
I understand what it feels like to have “fallen through the cracks” of the HA. I remember really wanting some help and needing to talk to someone but out of the many leaders at the HA I found none. That is no one that I felt safe to share some of the hurtful secrets I was holding.
Deep down I knew that God would help me. Yet, the loud voices of the HA are much easier to believe when we are in that environment.
I really want to express that I respect that you said, “I don’t really have much of a relationship with God anymore. I’m not even sure if he exists and if he does, I certainly don’t feel that love.” I went through something similar and I felt like I should just give up back then. But I still couldn’t let go. Something deep within me was grieving with me. At first I didn’t realize that it was the Holy Spirit. The extreme hurt and guilt made it really hard to understand that God still loves me despite what others had done. But after a while of crying out and letting Him touch those secret places in my heart I started to feel His love for me again.
It’s interesting, but I thought as soon as I started to talk to God again that I would only hear all the things I needed to change. Instead, I was greeted by my tender, loving, gracious God who only poured more love into my heart. He healed me and helped me to stand again.
With all that is in me I hope that this comment greets you the same way. I pray that God restores your Hope and reminds you of the great love He sees in you.
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:5)
(Please forgive me. I am not good with words but I pray that it’s my heart that shines through here and that you know that I am cheering for you as you heal).
March 25, 2010 10:03 AM
Anonymous said…
Good article.
I’d like to recant that last statement “this is why I find the Christian doctrine soooo flawed”. I think what I find sooo flawed is the Church’s ability to distort the bible and still call it the word of God. The fact that it’s ALL the word of God is heavily flawed to begin with.
March 25, 2010 10:05 AM
Recovering Alumni said…
Hey Anon – you definitely opened a can of worms with that one. 🙂 Let’s explore that a little more in the forums (which will hopefully be up next week!)
March 25, 2010 10:07 AM
Anonymous said…
RA – I would LOOOVE to explore more on that topic. In the last 3 years that has been my main struggle… believing it to be ALL HIS WORD. and I am not sure why during the internship we studied Muslims and the origins of Mohammad but not the origins and evolution of the bible itself.
March 25, 2010 10:12 AM
Liz (Engskow) Davila said…
I love where this blog is going …
For anyone who says this is “gossip” (not specifically on this post, but on any post), they don’t understand the courage it takes to put such hurt down on paper and share.
Hopefully, the leadership at TM will suspend their judgment and care more about the people who are sharing their hurt, than “The Ministry.”
As far as finding a “solution” … well, I think that is a discussion needs to come down the road, maybe in a few months? Right now I think we should just share and listen. I also think that maybe TM leadership should initiate the “solution” conversation. We will just get frustrated if we try and “fix” everything and no one listens. If the leadership doesn’t see anything wrong, then we will just be running around in circles.
March 25, 2010 10:24 AM
Dan said…
RA – great to hear that some forums will be available soon. Obviously, your blog raises many bigger picture issues that transcend (or maybe encompass) the issues you’re raising about TM/HA.
Matthew…I’d like to throw my voice of support to you and personally apologize for hurt perpetrated on you by Christians. I won’t share my personal theological views of homosexuality here (not the right place, and it sounds like RA’s forums will have more of that) beyond to say that Jesus loves and values you as much as any heterosexual person.
I wish that Christians were able to demonstrate that love better. It breaks my heart that you are in the place where you’re at, in terms of not feeling God’s love. All because a group of people couldn’t keep their hateful mouths shut.
I’ve been where you’re at. I’m there often, actually. Questioning my faith and everything about it. I’m not gay, so my reasons for questioning God and Christians are different, yet I understand so much the feelings those questions raise. Please know that there are many of us, gay and straight, who stand with you. You’re not alone.
I, for one, will be praying for you. And not so that your “eyes will be opened” or anything super-spiritual like that. My prayer for you is that you’ll feel God’s love again.
March 25, 2010 11:47 AM
Thaly of the Valley said…
YAY Dan… I dido your sentiment. Matthew… You have opened my eyes to the unfortunate reality of gays within the church… I will personally make it a point to stand up and advocate against it!
I pray also that you are able to feel the love of the God who created the Heavens and the Earth…
March 25, 2010 12:03 PM
Anonymous said…
wow, dan-beautiful prayer. God’s love is truly beautiful when we can see it with no strings attached…’Just cause’
Also, someone posted on how uneducated the leaders are at TM about the homosexuality subject. Not only do I 100% agree with that as I was a Core Advisor who had NO CLUE what/or how to respond to this issue….and when I asked for help, the help I received was all very vague. Also a good friend of mine was a CA and had a guy in his core who struggled with it and was shocked at how blatantly black/white HA handled his ‘case’. This guy in his core got dismissed for it and my friend felt so out of control when it all happened. He tried to love him beyond what the HA said but the damage had been done.
As a youth pastor now, I have to say it’s still really tough but I have a confidence now I didn’t have back then….to show love unconditionally…speak truth unwaveringly…I will never a ‘change’ a person. If I try to, it will be manipulative persuasion….but God’s love does wonders. EVERY.TIME.
March 25, 2010 12:22 PM
Shiloh said…
Matt.
Dude, I totally know you! (hehehe and your mom. 🙂
I’m really glad I got to read your story, because honestly, you were one of my favorite guys in the internship! you always did your best to honor God in everything. I always felt loved by you!
Aand… I’m still curious about the whole, homosexuality situation! I am demanding answers now!
haha. I was always confused at T.M because they seemed to have the ‘bible belt old school’ mentality. Old school is terrific, but doesn’t make much since when you grow up in complete lawlessness.
March 25, 2010 12:55 PM
carrie said…
Matthew,
Thank you so much for sharing your story.
I am actually horrified that someone you trusted with this insight would pray for the DEMON OF HOMOSEXUALITY to be released from you. Regardless of where anybody stands on the issue of homosexuality, I think most of us here can agree that it is definitely not demonic.
I just want to tell you that you aren’t bad. You never were. And you deserve to be in a safe, loving, and caring environment as you choose your life, no matter how it looks at any given moment. You are loved here.
March 25, 2010 2:58 PM
Anonymous said…
I have heard that there is a Christian Ministry, Exodus International: http://www.exodusinternational.org/ that specifically addresses LGBT and the church. My understanding is that this ministry holds seminars for Church leaders and anyone who else who would to be taught how to respectfully and in love address/minister to individuals on this subject. I have not attended this seminar nor am I affiliated with this Ministry. But maybe TM Leaders could attend something like this to better help them address the youths struggling with this subject. If anyone reading this knows anythin about this ministry and its pros or cons maybe that can be discussed in the up and coming forum.
March 25, 2010 3:41 PM
Anonymous said…
Has anyone heard of SY Rogers? He is also an international speaker who ministers on this subject. He has a website, syrogers.com. I found him to have a safe ministry but I’ve only heard him once.
March 25, 2010 3:55 PM
Robbie said…
Anon…I, unfortunately, have lots of experience with Exodous International. While more caring than the TMM “cast the demons out” approach, it is still seriously lacking in confronting the real issues that LGBT Christians face every day. Exodous International offers “conversion therapy”….that is, they attempt to convert gay people into straight people…every time…regardless of the individuals’ situation. This approach has been pretty much universally condemned as downright harmful by every major medical and psychological organization in the world. For me, trying to supress my sexuality as Exodous International suggested almost ended in me taking my own life (thank God, it didn’t). More information can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_therapy
For Christians who are struggling with LGBT thoughts and feelings, there are two websites I’d highly recommend. The first is http://www.whosoever.org which offers an overview of “pro-gay theology” and helps LGBT Christians figure out how they can integrate their sexuality with their faith. The other is http://www.gaychristian.net which offers a fair view of both sides of the LGBT Christian issue. The important thing for gay Christians to realize is that there are a whole range of views on the topic of homosexuality that don’t necessarily coincide with what the American evangelical church has traditionally taught. “Seek and ye shall find.” 🙂
March 25, 2010 4:25 PM
Candor said…
Matthew – Thank you so much for sharing your story. I feel horrible for you for the way you were treated by TMM.
My best friend is gay. A lot of my friends are gay and I have a couple lesbian friends as well. I love them all; the atheist gays, agnostic gays, Christian gays, Jewish gays, and I even have a friend who’s a Muslim gay (Thank God he’s dancing to Lady GaGa now in the States and not in prison in his home country for being a homosexual).
Anyway, my point is that while it’s so hard for me to watch the way that gays are treated in society, in the Church, and especially by TMM, know that YOU ARE LOVED!!! And I personally LOVE you. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
March 25, 2010 5:27 PM
Marc Houston said…
Thanks for sharing. I was in the same boat and even though I stayed, gave up on the HA after month 2 and religion not long after. If you ever want to chat, feel free to hit me up.
March 25, 2010 6:29 PM
Shannon Kish said…
There is a good author and book about homosexuality and Christianity (not demeaning or even against either of them)
The author is Will Roscoe. One of the books I am currently reading (because it is fascinating) is Jesus and the Shamanic Tradition of Same-Sex Love. You can find it on Amazon. Good book.
March 26, 2010 8:08 AM
Eric P. said…
As long as we’re mentioning names and ministries, I know this guy personally and he’s the real deal: http://christopheryuan.com/
March 26, 2010 9:22 AMLayne said…
I made the mistake of making outside friends during the internship (Dallas area) who were *gasp* gay! They made a couple of trips to campus and were, to be honest, just downright afraid of the place. I couldn’t blame them. Even though I spent a lot of time trying to calm my friends’ doubt and fears, a part of me held my breath when they came to visit campus. I really really didn’t want anyone outside of my circle of intern friends to speak to us. I was so afraid of how they would make these people feel about themselves, how quickly they would shatter the trust and friendship we had built.
To be honest, I was actually afraid of bringing any non-christian friends to campus.
March 26, 2010 12:07 PM
Layne said…
To explain, when I said “I made the mistake of making friends…”, what I meant to refer to was the strange pressure my CA and ACA’s put on me after finding out that I spent weekends with non-christians. Though it wasn’t a rule that you couldn’t hang out with non-christians (or even back-sliddin’ christians), it was certainly discouraged.
March 26, 2010 12:11 PM
Layne said…
…a third note…
Thank God I made friends outside of the internship. I’m currently engaged to one of them. We met in Tyler 6 years ago. Thaaaank you East Texas!
March 26, 2010 12:16 PM
Recovering Alumni said…
“Though it wasn’t a rule that you couldn’t hang out with non-christians (or even back-sliddin’ christians), it was certainly discouraged.”
If that doesn’t sum up everything that is wrong with the HA, then I don’t know what does.
March 26, 2010 12:23 PM
hitchcockhill said…
Matthew,
I was so happy to read your post. The marketing thing is huge. I remember going to an ATF after Columbine. Ron was on stage about to give the missions push and they used images of Rachel Scott and Columbine to push home the message. For those who don’t know Rachel Scott was one of the kids murdered at Columbine and it was reported she was killed that day for being a Christian. After her death it was revealed that she was to go on a GE missions trip. So Ron gets on stage and starts asking who is going to go in her place since she couldn’t. The only people who weren’t moved were people who had no pulse. Looking back I’m sure the feeling of sorrow for Rachel and the guilt of “not going since she can’t” is probably what motivated me to go to the break out – sign the card – get the mailed info – get the phone calls from TM reps – and the rest is history. The very same marketing techniques were used for the Honor Academy. I probably wanted to be an intern more because it looked cool. Remember the intern run? When all the interns at the event ran up on stage after the promo video. Seeing the images of the HA was like watching a trailer for the biggest and best movie. What? Church camp for a year? oh and look – these kids are so excited. Wow. I want to be excited too. I totally hear you on the marketing.
I remember being an ATF promoter and my mom worked with a local church and they brought a group of kids. When I asked her what she thought of it – the first thing she critiqued was the marketing of all the other Teen Mania stuff. She would have preferred for it to not have been so extensive. I of course countered her perspective with the drivel I’d been brainwashed to feel. Yet – she was so right. The whole ATF is supposed to be an encounter with God – but it’s also a weekend commercial for Teen Mania Ministries.
I have more to my story that maybe I’ll share in the future. Matthew – we have a lot in common and I’d love to chat with you sometime. Shoot me an email through my blog – or anyone else for that matter that relates to Matthew. God Bless you.
March 26, 2010 5:50 PM
shyvioletgirl said…
11 years post Honor Academy, I am a happy, bisexual female. I Never mentioned to anyone during my internship that I was dealing with queer feelings. I have had relationships with men and women and I’m really bisexual. I do not feel that Exodus International or the whole ex-gay movement is in any way a safe place to turn for people dealing with homosexuality.
I prayed for deliverance, but I was given the gift to accept myself as I am.
March 28, 2010 10:06 AM
shyvioletgirl said…
11 years post Honor Academy, I am a happy, bisexual female. I Never mentioned to anyone during my internship that I was dealing with queer feelings. I have had relationships with men and women and I’m really bisexual. I do not feel that Exodus International or the whole ex-gay movement is in any way a safe place to turn for people dealing with homosexuality.
I prayed for deliverance, but I was given the gift to accept myself as I am.
March 28, 2010 10:06 AM
z said…
Interesting point about columbine, Hitchcockhill. I remember hearing the news of Columbine on the radio just days before Day 1. I felt utter shock and disbelief. A few days later I was at Day 1 where the shooting was used to play on our emotions to urge us to “rescue our generation” or sign up for a mission trip or something.
Columbine had a huge impact on me. I still think about the shooting often and mourn for the kids and parents involved. I well up with tears when I see videos of the event. I’m not usually impacted by news events that strongly.
Maybe my feelings about Columbine are just characteristic of generation Y. . . but maybe they have something to do with how the the subject was handled at Day 1 during the wake of columbine. . . I wonder. . .
Anyway, neat point. Thanks for bringing it up.
March 28, 2010 12:09 PM
moriah said…
shyvioletgirl.
i support you a thousand percent
March 28, 2010 2:51 PM
Liz BR said…
I’m with Moriah. Shyvioletgirl, thank you for speaking out against Exodus as unsafe. Whether or not you believe homosexuality to be a sin (and I don’t), that’s exactly what Exodus is: unsafe. Many of the people I know who have gone through its programs are way worse off than former interns, and that’s saying a lot!
March 29, 2010 8:55 AM
hitchcockhill said…
Thanks z. I really truly feel like Rachel Scott was exploited. I read the book her parents published Rachel’s tears on my missions trip that summer of 2000. I cried a lot and I was deeply saddened that she was taken away. Had Rachel Scott been left out of the marketing equation – there is a good chance I probably would have looked at the trips as good opportunities but could have passed. The guilt of going on the trip because she died was so strong – it was the primary motivator. I wonder if that happened to other “maniacs” the summer of 2000.
March 30, 2010 12:51 AM