This week the Honor Academy interns will start the event known as the PEARL (physical, emotional and relational learning). In past years, this even was known as ESOAL (emotionally stretching opportunity of a lifetime). Because of a spate of bad press and many damning ESOAL videos being posted to YouTube, Teen Mania made minor changes to the event and rebranded it as the PEARL.
Even though Teen Mania has admitted multiple times that the PEARL is basically the same as ESOAL, many people still falsely believe that ESOAL and ESOAL style activities have been removed from the Honor Academy.
If the PEARL was significantly different from ESOAL, Teen Mania would not be able to make the following remarks on its website and facebook pages:
“Current and past Interns have consistently rated PEARL as the most influential Life Transforming Event of the year!”
“Testimonies from past years of ESOAL (which is now PEARL) will be shared today at Teen Mania Chapel!”
From Heath Stoner’s Director’s blog: “My wife went through this Life Transforming Event back in 2008.”
As noted in this recent post, David Hasz specifically says that PEARL will be similar to ESOAL events from 2006 onward.
While I’m thankful that some minor changes are being made, especially the removal of the military atmosphere (I thought Jon Hasz told the KLTV reporter that “we don’t think of ourselves as a bootcamp“), a now unlimited access to food (though will they be allowed to keep it down?) and the supposed elimination of “fear factor” style challenges – I still have grave concerns about the overall event.
Firstly, how can leadership that (at the very least) made repeated grave errors in judgment be trusted in their handling of vulnerable young people? If someone felt it proper to simulate being buried alive in a coffin, to push you to the point of hypothermia and to terrorize you with cockroaches – all in the name of Jesus! – how can you trust their judgment in the future? Teen Mania leadership has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to earn the trust of parents and interns with regards to the safety of ESOAL/PEARL.
Secondly, the theology behind ESOAL/PEARL is nowhere to be found in Scripture! Is Teen Mania still using the PEARL to teach the “burial and resurrection” theology? Or have they abandoned it? This issue is conspicuously absent from all of their marketing fanfare.
Because of the oath that all interns are required to make:
“I will never speak ill of Teen Mania Ministries or allow Teen Mania to be portrayed in a negative light.”
It is unlikely that we will hear the truth about exactly what transpires at the PEARL for some time. However, since the PEARL is based on ESOAL 2006-ESOAL 2010, I will leave you with some videos from that time frame.
In 2011, will Dave Hasz and the rest of the facilitators stand back and watch as an intern has a panic attack?
I forgot to upload the video of the facilitator offering medical advice to a young woman complaining about ankle pain by saying, “Tell your ankle to be healed.” So instead, I’ll give you this one, which is more subtle but basically the same thing.
RELATED:
Sydney’s Story
ESOAL Training 2009 (including comments on fear factor style activities)
A Marine’s Point of View
18 comments:
According to the KLTV news story, many of the ESOAL injuries reported by area doctors occurred within the last three years. So when Dave Hasz says specifically that PEARL will be “similar to the last several years” and offers *no* concrete implementation of any alteration to the event to increase safety, we can expect just as many injuries to students at risk. This is completely irresponsible leadership.
Like the marketers who change the name of “Choco-Frosties” to “NEW AND IMPROVED Healthy Crunch,” Teen Mania evidently thinks we’re just that stupid.
The good thing that’s come out of this, however, is that TM has released its own website with detailed descriptions of what goes on. Now that they’ve spilled their secret, hopefully smart shoppers will be able to raise their own red flags. With a discerning eye, it’s easy to see from their own materials that PEARL = ESOAL = ABUSE.
Live PEARL streaming from the Honor Academy facebook page. Now you can see for yourself exactly whats going on.
The video you repeatedly keep posting of the intern having a panic attack and the facilitators doing nothing is not a panic attack. Matt was in my company and I was there. I saw first hand, he wasn’t having a panic attack… he was cold. Just though you would like to have all the facts.
Anon- you mean the scene where the young men are in what seems to be freezing water while the “facilitators” say “it’s all in your mind” and “do it if you love each other?” ?? You mean that scene isn’t of a panic attack but merely a really stupid stunt involving too cold water?
Oh, then maybe it’s okay.
Somewhere in I John I read something about if you love each other and God then you will do really dangerous things to your body… I’ll get back to you with the reference.
Anonymous – You are dreaming. Nobody acts like that only because they are cold. Your koolaid must taste really good.
Firstly*
-God bless your little soul.
I’m curious to know what you have to say when parents are on campus seeing it themselves and talking about how glad they are their child is doing this http://youtu.be/AFmEDZ9yG9Y
Teen Mania has been tricking parents for over a decade – so what?
Plus, I want to know what is going on in the background of that video. Looks like a food relay – but they said that they got rid of all the fear factor inspired events….
This just in: A cult that’s led by liars can dupe gullible people into giving them time and money, even if they’re parents. Wow, who’d a thunk?
My daughter finished the PEARL today and shared some of her experiences with her mother and I. In talking with her, it was clear the changes in the event this year provided for a more balanced LTE than the ones our other two girls experienced in past years. She reported no “in your face” experiences which we’d seen on video in a previous year or of leaders being mean. It was evident in the PEARL videos and my daughter’s comments that leaders made it a point to be encouraging and promote reliance on and consideration for those on her team. She described the experience as “fun” by the end, but also intense and the most physically challenging thing she has ever done.
Overcoming selfishness and learning reliance on her team members and approaching challenges with a spirit of joy were things that helped her persevere to the end. She described several practical lessons that I thought were of real value to her. I asked her about the food relay and it sounded pretty tame by her description and wouldn’t qualify for what you consider “Fear Factor” style events. My wife does some of the same kind of food relays with her 3rd grade class. As far as being tricked by Teen Mania, I don’t think so. I’m sorry for those who experienced some of the negative elements of previous ESOAL events and hope they can put those in perspective and behind them. Perhaps you might want to talk to some of this year’s participants to be fair in your evaluation of this year’s events.
Hi Glenn,
If leadership quit being mean and screaming in intern’s faces – I’m thrilled! It’s too bad it took 2 years of blogging and a news story to get that to happen though, don’t you think?
Dear Glenn, I’m glad to hear that your daughter made it out relatively unscathed. I’m glad that she was able to participate in something that did not make her second-guess her value as a person. I’m glad that she isn’t going to spend the next two weeks sobbing at the drop-of-a-hat or paralyzed with uncertainty while trying to perform simple day-to-day tasks. I’m also glad they have made changes.
Still, it bothers me that the same people who produced “ESOAL” in all of it’s terrorizing glory are also facilitating “PEARL”. It bothers me that it took so many years for them to even consider making changes and, even then, the catalyst for change came from “bad publicity” and not a genuine concern for the people they tormented. Doesn’t that make you wonder what the true heart is behind this LTE?
@Layne – Dear Layne, I’m guessing you are speaking about your experience here. I’m sorry that your experience produced such anguish. I’m sorry you didn’t find comfort when you needed it. And I’m sorry that your experience and that of others didn’t get through to those who could’ve influenced change. I guess I’m not ready to pass judgment on leadership as not having genuine concern for the welfare of interns. I’m not sure that in creating ESOAL the way it was, that the leadership adequately considered how it would impact those emotionally vulnerable. I’m not sure that there were adequate measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the event and impact on individuals. Perhaps if they had a face to face with some that were wounded, they would’ve responded differently. I would like to believe they wouldn’t minimize the painful experiences and show honor to all. I guess you can feel good that your voice was heard and that changes were made. I sense the anger and distrust you feel and it’s understandable from where you are standing in your experience.
I know from having two daughters who spent 3 years and 2 years, respectively, that it wasn’t an easy experience. However, we’ve seen much good fruit from it. The Honor Academy has had a transforming effect on our whole family for the good. Other things they’ve had to sort out from their time at the HA. There are a few things I wish we, as parents, would’ve confronted. I pray that you can find the healing you need to move on and leave what needs to be left behind – behind you – or integrated into the person you are growing into through Christ. I know that God wants to heal you and allow you to experience peace – and to be at peace. Our family has experienced deep sorrows, but God has been gracious to bring beauty from ashes. My love to you as one who loves Him and to you, a child of God and a daughter who He cherishes.
@Glenn
You seem to have a nice tone about your response here. I’m thankful for that. You seem to care.
In reading what you have written here,
“I guess I’m not ready to pass judgment on leadership as not having genuine concern for the welfare of interns. I’m not sure that in creating ESOAL the way it was, that the leadership adequately considered how it would impact those emotionally vulnerable. I’m not sure that there were adequate measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the event and impact on individuals. Perhaps if they had a face to face with some that were wounded, they would’ve responded differently. I would like to believe they wouldn’t minimize the painful experiences and show honor to all.”
I am reminded of how easily parents place their children’s lives into the hands of the TM “leadership.” I’d imagine many parents wouldn’t speculate or try to figure out why the leadership at the HA do what they do.
You say you are “sure the leadership adequately considered the impact.” What makes you sure? Do you personally know those in leadership? Have you spoken to them or done research on their ability to makes adequate decisions or consider the impact? Or do you just believe it because it is such a wide spread teaching that we have to rely on our leadership to make right decisions because they are infact our leadership?
I hear words like “perhaps” “I’m not sure” “I’m not ready to pass judgement.” There are many stories here as to why ESOAL was so damaging and the “leadership” did nothing to change. I don’t believe they accurately considered those experiences while they happened or years after by their own response.
I am more concerned about the damage that can’t been seen until years later after the honeymoon phase with TM has worn off.
This reminds me of a cartoon…
http://searchingforgrace.com/webcomic/the-most-important-l-word-in-church/
@Glenn
I don’t know how I missed the “I’m not sure that in creating ESOAL this way it was,” part of your comment. Sorry for that part. I misread.
I got it wrong. I apologize for misquoting you.
I still wonder about the parents who don’t question TM Leadership and just believe the leadership is considering the interns.
Interns have shared their ESOAL experiences with the TM leadership for YEARS. TM leadership was well aware that some people were reporting negative experiences and what those experiences were. Initially, there were some fake apologies. “I’m sorry that was your experience” is not a real apology since it doesn’t take any responsibility for what happened. TM knew what the complaints of the recovering community were and did not make significant changes to the event until a Tyler TV station did a report on the event last year.
I think RA’s remark, “It’s too bad it took 2 years of blogging and a news story to get [changes] to happen though, don’t you think?” is something every parent should consider. It didn’t matter that the leaders saw interns break bones, contract meningitis and staph infections, and many other injuries and illnesses as a result of this event. What finally got them to make some changes was having their dirty secrets aired publically.
Julie, my thoughts exactly.