I recently came across this great interview with Jeff VanVonderen, author of “The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse.” Towards the end of the interview, he discusses the recovery process. I’ve found this example to be very true in my life. This especially applies to those who have experienced rejection or disapproval from the HA staff […]
Why Recovery is So Hard Read More »
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 »
A bruised reed he will not break put on probation, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out kick out. Isaiah 42:3a 11 comments: Anonymous says: November 13, 2009 at 11:19 AM My best friend during the internship was “kicked out” in your words. He didn’t see it that way. He had not met
the Bible According to Teen Mania #6 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 »
Even though I abandoned many of the things I learned at Teen Mania, like many of you I still lived under guilt and condemnation. Even years after leaving the Honor Academy, the thought of Dave’s disapproval still hurt and hung heavy over me. Getting over his opinion of me was one of the greatest days
Just came across this great article by Darrin Hufford about grace called “A License to Sin.” The number one complaint I get about the grace message from people is that they feel it’s giving us a license to sin. I am certain I’ve heard this accusation no less than a million times in the last
Going through therapy with a professional counselor was the best thing I could have done after leaving Teen Mania. I highly recommend it if you are struggling through these same issues. The next milestone in my recovery, was about 3 years ago. I was driving across town listening to the radio. Just another ordinary day.
Even though I was learning that the “dark night of the soul” was a common experience, it was still not pleasant to go through. I was making progress in recovery for sure, but still suffering under extreme guilt and condemnation. For the next 2-3 years, I went through varying levels of depression and confusion. As
Now, it is a very curious thing that even though I left the internship, and even though it almost killed me, I still held rigidly to what I had been taught there. After all, there were times that I had heard God speak to me and I had grown closer to Him. I did not
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
In the Honor Academy, you are taught to give absolute submission and obedience to your leaders there. You are told that the leadership are basically God’s representative to you. To disobey them is to disobey God. They actively promote the idea that you, as an intern, should submit to them in every way and take
Dangerous Leadership Read More »
“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
In my research, I came across an interesting blog post by a man who had been to an ATF. The title of this post comes from him. Unfortunately, he has since deleted his blog. Luckily, google has a cache we have the Wayback Machine. He comments here on Ron’s preaching: Again, the cross was simply
Ron Luce – Well Meaning Wolf? Read More »
This quote has really been a blessing to me this week: (2021 Update: link now points to Wayback Machine) Sanctification is never advanced by self-focused grief or guilt. It is energized by joy and driven by love. This is the distinction that gospelized sanctification emphasizes. Only a remembrance of the gospel will free us from our
An anonymous commenter recently asked: Does the Honor Academy give the impression that in order to grow closer to God, one must suffer physically? I would answer emphatically, YES. But it goes far beyond just the forced exercise. In fact, by using this philosophy, the leadership at the Honor Academy had discovered what is possibly
Possibly the Best Control Technique Ever Devised Read More »
For those of you that may not know, David Hasz is the director of the Honor Academy at Teen Mania. He has a very visible leadership presence on campus – in fact, every part of the Honor Academy bears his fingerprints. Now, it’s normal for people to look up to their “hero” or to a
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
Since I’ll be out of town for several days, I thought I’d open the blog up for discussion without comment moderation. Please play nice while I’m gone. Comments not abiding by the comment policy will be deleted when I return. In particular, I’d love to hear from my daily readers about your experience, where you are in
Jared Wilson at the Gospel Driven Church has done some excellent writing on the nature of the Gospel and the Christ-less Christianity that inhabits much of our consciousness. He consistently takes apart our desire to “do” good works and “be” good Christians vs. what God has done for us in Christ. “Do” isn’t any less
The parable of the prodigal son offers an interesting contrast to both the leadership and environment of Teen Mania’s Honor Academy. Take a moment to read the story here. The son wandered off to live in sin and squalor on his own terms. When he repented he just hoped he could return and work for
The Prodigal’s Father vs Dave Hasz Read More »
One of my favorite bloggers, the Internet Monk, has often opened my eyes to the Gospel truth and helped me untangle the burdens of a tormented conscience. No other blogger has helped in my recovery more. Satan revels in torment of the conscience. The Spirit exposes our need of Christ. The accuser comes up with various
Torment of the Conscience Read More »
Nobody in a cult thinks they are in a cult…. People that are brainwashed don’t think they are brainwashed… That’s how it works… I’m just saying… 5 comments: Luna de Sorrow said… Yes. Exactly. Thank you. October 3, 2009 11:18 AM Anonymous said… You guys just like to blame all your problems on other people =] get over it November
What You Don’t Know…. Read More »
