Acquire the Fire/Honor Academy

[Shannonkish]

Hello friends,

I am not sure of how many of you have taken your youth group to an Acquire the Fire conference or any other Teen Mania event, but I wanted to give you some information.

When I was a kid, my youth group went to ATF in Nashville, TN every year. Eventually, I "felt the calling" to go to the Honor Academy (The Official Website of Teen Mania's Honor Academy: Welcome) for a year long internship. I graduated from that internship in 2001.

Since then, I have had a host of problems related to my experience there. This is neither the time, nor the place for me to discuss that. But, I do want to direct you to a place where this has been discussed by hundreds of other alumni of the Honor Academy at length.

Before you sign up to take your kids to an Acquire the Fire or before you think about encouraging your youth to attend the Honor Academy, please read these stories for more information. There are lots of videos, audio and so forth that can provide you with a host of information that may make you think twice.

Please visit My Teen Mania Experience to learn more.

Thanks!

Shannon Kish

My Teen Mania Experience

 

[sjt1979]

Youth Leaders, Parents and other people who are invested in teenagers...

I was an intern the same year as Shannon Kish (the original poster of this thread). What you guys need to know is that Shannon, along with a small handful of former Honor Academy participants (some who were dismissed from the program rather than completing it) have banded together with the stated goal of bringing Teen Mania and the Honor Academy to an end.

In this day of internet and blogging and forums and "Search Engine Optimization", this small group of people seem to have a massive voice. By taking stories and videos from many years past way out of context, they have been able to cast a shadow of doubt on Teen Mania - despite 25 years of youth ministry excellence and their service to hundreds of thousands of teens and youth leaders through Acquire The Fire, Global Expeditions and The Honor Academy.

My story is simple. I was an intern who graduated the program, went to college, got married, had a couple of kids, excelled in business and the corporate world, pioneered a growing youth ministry as a youth pastor...AND, was able to trace it all to my year as an Honor Academy Intern. The character I built, the drive to personal/professional/spiritual excellence I developed and the integrity the Honor Academy demanded set the tone for my future success.

If you would like to check out stories of thousands of current and former Honor Academy interns and alumni, go to hastories.com.

Shannon's group, Recovering Alumni, does their best to marginalize the Honor Academy's ESOAL event that parents, grandparents, interns and staff voluntarily partake in multiple times...you can see the real story of the fruit of this event by going to esoal.org. You can see tons of video from this event by going to trailerclub.blogspot.com/search/label/ESOAL%202010.

All I'll ask is that you guys just be wise. Are there imperfections at the honor academy...yes...have there been mistakes, you bet. But Shannon's group seems have an irrational obsession with bringing down Teen Mania.

We don't fight against flesh and blood...

 

[Shannonkish]

Why thank you, sjt1979, for the single post that you have posted on this forum. Welcome to Christian Forums by the way.

To set the record straight--

First of all, I went to the internship, graduated, went to college, and am currently working on my MSW. As well, I have a full time job in social services. The HA internship had absolutely NOTHING do to with my accomplishments. It did, however, have everything to do with some of the problems I have had since the internship.

Secondly, I am not the owner/creator of the Recovering Alumni forum. As a matter of fact, I have never posted a blog post. My story was posted on the website back in 2010. I am a supporter of the group because I believe that the HA has done serious damage to many people. While there are some that have great experiences, there are also hundreds (not a handful) of us who did not have great experiences.

Third, while the videos and evidence available on the website does contain some outdated material, there is also videos and other evidence from as recent as this current intern year (2010-2011). So, the fact that there is a wealth of evidence that dates back to the early years of TMM, and also as recent as this year only further proves that nothing has changed at the HA and that the damage that was done to those of us that were there in 2001 is still being done to those there in 2011.

As for the videos of ESOAL, take the videos and watch them-- either from the esoal.org group or the recoveringalumni.com website (they are similar and sometimes the same videos). Then, ask yourself, What does ESOAL have to do with Jesus? Would Jesus have expected his 12 disciples to have participated in that event? Would Jesus have simultaneously told interns that they were losers, they should just quit/give up? Or, would Jesus have taken the place of the intern and bore the pain and suffering for them? Would Jesus have been there to encourage, and love on the interns?

 

[Shannonkish]

Oh, and this "irrational obsession" that "we" have is neither irrational or an obsession. We have seen firsthand the dangers of the HA and TMM. We are looking to prevent others from being hurt and abused in the same fashion that we were. Because of this, we are doing what we can to ensure that others are aware of their practices.

Similar to the abuse groups that I participate in support of those that have been physically, emotionally, and sexually abused I participate in this group. I fight, daily, for those that can't fight for themselves. That is my job/career/passion.

 

[Phoenixwell]

Hello sjt1979, and all,
What you have to say is interesting but I'd like to elaborate on it a bit, if you don't mind.

1) By stating that all your success is due to the HA, you inadvertently state that people who haven't attended the HA or didn't complete the HA are not as successful. This is patently untrue (although I know it is something taught at the HA, so I see where you are coming from). I left the HA 5 months into it (I was being mis-treated by HA leadership and treated as expendable slave labor, 8 hr m-f in the call center PLUS 10-12 hrs m-sat and 5 hrs on sun. building the bunk beds you slept on). I am also quite successful, have character and strive for excellence. There are many avenues to success and a good character.

2)You state that "stories and videos from many years past [are taken] way out of context. I know of no story that is embellished or taken out of context. You can read my story recoveringalumni.com/2010/06/kates-story-part-1-of-3.html from 1997, please let me know what portion is embellished or out of context. Also for a current story Hannah's story recoveringalumni.com/2011/02/hannahs-story-pt-1.html details current events at the HA.

3)You also state "Are there imperfections at the honor academy...yes...have there been mistakes, you bet." This is the core of our message, There are aspects of the HA that leaves people broken and damaged. Is it not better to bring it to light in the hopes of change and improvement, than to sweep it under the rug and allow people to be run over in the name of God or the sake of 'the cause'. It's like a career criminal saying 'no one is perfect' an expecting no consequences.

It also reminds of Jesus, HE left the 99 to fine the 1, WE are to follow his lead. If a few are hurt and broken, shouldn't the many lift them up and bring healing to them?

3)Your last statement "We don't fight against flesh and blood..." are you implying that Shannonkish is a demon, or possessed by one? Is this a war? By your own admission there are 'flaws' at Teen Mania at large, if they refuse to see those flaws the right thing to do is raise awareness to people - teenagers - can see both side and make an informed decision.

Something we both can agree on: Do your research and make your own choices and decisions. After dedicating over 6 years of my life to Teen Mania, I can no longer endorse them in their present state. The ministry leaves too many people broken and damages in its wake. I personally wouldn't recommend sending your youth to Acquire The Fire events, GE Summer Missions and defiantly not the Honor Academy.

Peace.

 

[Shannonkish]

Ding Dong the Cult is Dead! http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct...-why-shutting-down-acquire-fire-ron-luce.html