About me

I'm just a believer that is recovering from my experience at Teen Mania's Honor Academy and I would like to share my journey of healing with you.

October 2, 2009

The Prodigal's Father vs Dave Hasz

10/02/2009  Recovering Alumni  10 comments

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 his father as a servant. Instead, his father ran to him, threw him a party and gave him back his place as son.

What happens at the Honor Academy when you repent of breaking a rule? Does the leadership welcome you back with open arms, throw a party for you and rejoice in your reconciliation?

Um, no. You get 2 options.

They kick you out.

or

You get to go on probation. Do lots of chores, write lots of papers, get your privileges revoked so you can PROVE you are repentant.

How exactly is that a reflection of the Father?

- Note, I am talking about people who are treated this way even after sincere repentance. Not those who brazenly break the rules and just happen to get caught.

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10 comments:

You should read "The Prodigal God" by Tim Keller. I think you'd be interested in his take on the older brother. You get a good idea of it here: http://theprodigalgod.com/pdfs/The-Prodigal-God-Excerpt.pdf

Wow, that is awesome. Thanks for pointing me to that, Ben. Can't wait to read the whole thing!

That is so true!

I sat on the Honor Council and I hated it. I was very disengaged during the process because I didn't feel I had the right to determine someone else's fate at the HA.

There is no room for error. There is no room for mistakes. What kind of message does this send?

I thank God for Jesus and that TM does not have a Heaven to kick me out of. Well they have a HA to kick me out of.

It was always creepy when someone would be dismissed, three of my roommates went before the Honor Council and 2 were sent home. At least with the roommates they got about 2 minutes to say goodbye before disappearing. When someone (not in my room) got dismissed they just disappeared. For a few months at the beginning of my internship they would flash their name up during chapel and announce they were gone. After the first few months though they stopped and people would just "disappear" without any comment. It was truly sometimes like living in a sci-fi horror movie.

Not like living in community with brothers and sisters who cared for one another at all.

I was one of those who "disappeared." the decision to send me home came a few days before everyone was supposed to leave on a retreat, but they deliberately waited to do it until right before everyone was going. I was simply not on the bus. When they got back I and all of my things were gone. I felt like Jimmy Hoffa or something.

Do they still forbid people from contacting those who leave (either voluntarily or not)? It's my opinion that this is mostly to keep you from hearing their side of it.

I WAS SENT HOME, I WAS THERE FOR 5 INTENSE MONTHS, DID NOT BREAK ANY CODES. THOUGH WAS DEALING WITH SOME FEAR AND DID NOT EVEN GO BEFORE THE COUNSEL. I WAS SO BROKEN AND DEPRESSED ABOUT THAT I HEARD VOICES TELLING ME TO DRIVE INTO A TREE AND KILL MYSELF SO THEY WOULD REMEMBER ME. I WAS CONDEMNED BY MY RA FOR THINGS LIKE TALKING TO MY BROTHER CORE, AND LOOKED AT IN AN EVIL WAY WHEN WERE REQUIRED TO FAST FOR 3 DAYS AND I HAD TO TAKE ANTIBIOTICS FOR LYME'S DISEASE, THEN SHORTLY AFTER I CAME DOWN WITH ANEMIA. THEY PUSHED US TO FAR, NOT TEACHING US THAT FAITH IN JESUS GIVES US GRACE TO SALVATION.

Anonymous - Wow, that is terrible. I'm so sorry that happened to you and we are glad to have you here. We are all on the path to healing!

I was dismissed right before January graduation. The reason i was dismissed was bc the DD didnt care about me. I went to her hurting, and she brushed me off. I didnt get a honor counsel case, they brought me in right before dinner and told me i had to be off campus. Once i got home, i completely shut down. not bc i didnt know how to function, but bc the hurt of the "staff" was alot to handle. My mom even called Mr. Clay and talked to him, and he lied to her with my DD in the room. I later texted my DD and she apologized for not caring. She was too busy to care since she was over 34 other girls. My CA said she was too scared to get involved in our lives. Thank God for my AP. Ppl keep asking if im going back, but i wont. I know they will be out to get me, and be looking for ways to "get arid of me" as soon as they can.

I was kicked out also, for depression and suicidal thoughts. I live very far away and could not get a flight for two weeks but did they let me stay....no. I am guessing they would have turned me out on the streets if one of my core-mates had not found a friend who would let me stay. They lied to me the entire process but that is another story.

Anonymous - I'm so sorry to hear that!! You deserved to be treated better.

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