When I was 14 and 15 years old (mid-1990s), I went on a summer mission trip with Teen Mania Ministries. At the time, the ministry was headquartered in Tulsa, my hometown. I first learned about Teen Mania and their summer mission trips at an Acquire the Fire event that was led by Ron Luce.
At the time, I thought Acquire the Fire and Teen Mania were awesome. Acquire the Fire is a two day Christian conference. It had all of the elements of a rock concert with expensive lighting, loud music, smoke; but it was remarkably NOT secular. In fact, I clearly remember Ron speaking about how we needed to get rid of all of our secular music. Like hundreds of other teens, I brought forth all of my cassette tapes and CDs to rid myself of worldly music. I did not understand why it was bad, but Ron said it was not good for a Christian teen to fill his or her mind and body with worldly things. So I got rid of everything. Everything. Conveniently, there was plenty of Teen Mania merchandise for me to buy in its place. And buy I did. T-shirts. CDs. Books. Everything. As Ron said, I was “on fire” and on my path to becoming a “world changer.”
On the last night of the Acquire the Fire event, they highlighted all of the places they went on their summer trips. With the increasing passion of Ron’s voice, the emotional music, the vivid videos, the testimonies from Christian bands that I heard on the radio, I felt an increasing call to go on a summer missions trip. I do want to acknowledge that from the time I was five years old, I had expressed an interest in overseas work. This started the first time I saw a commercial for something like Feed the Children. At a very small age, I struggled with the fact that I could have been that child in the commercial. But for whatever reason, I was born to a family that could feed me. I kid you not, I really felt a responsibility to deal with this injustice. Really, truly.
So to make a long story short, my parents let me go to Asia…twice. The first year, I had an amazing experience. To provide context, it is important to note that I grew up in a family and church that are not fundamentalist/legalistic. God’s grace was definitely part of the message that I heard. To make a very long story short, I had a terrible experience on my second trip to Asia.
So 16-17 years later, I am an adult, a professor, doc student, Christian…and a critical thinker. In my adult years, I have quietly processed through my experience with Teen Mania Ministries. As an adult who can think critically, I have serious concerns about what I experienced, what I was taught, and even what I participated in as a malleable teen. I was a child. My husband and I have had conversations throughout our ten year marriage about my concerns. I have told him several times that my parents trusted their daughter to Teen Mania, and some of the decisions they made were unsafe. I have often thought, “My goodness, I would never put my students in a situation like that.” I have concerns about the theology of Teen Mania, their supervision of teens in dangerous parts of the world, their emphasis on evangelism instead of discipleship, and their reliance on emotion in worship services. As a marketing professor, I even have concerns about how they had us all purge our worldly possessions and then buy tons of Teen Mania merchandise. Teens are easily influenced. Consumption at its best…or worst.
So about one year ago, I told my husband that I was going to write Ron Luce a letter clearly articulating my concerns. After all, I am now a mature adult and a Christian educator. I decided to Google “Ron Luce” & “criticism.” Although what I discovered was startling, it did not surprise me. I found a blog. And I stayed up all night reading it. You can read that blog by going here: http://www.recoveringalumni.com/ Although I worry that a blog like this can potentially create a victim mentality, I can say that I have definitely felt like my experiences with Teen Mania Ministries were harmful for me in my development. I think that it is important that these adults, yes, we are all now adults, voice our experiences. I think that any group, organization, leader that works with young people or in ministry needs to be open to criticism. No group, like no person is perfect. It seems to me like Teen Mania is not open to answering hard questions from people like me: adults, passionate about ministry, passionate about youth.
It is not surprising that MSNBC or any other network picked up this story. They needed to. MSNBC filmed a documentary on Teen Mania that aired in November. Although some might say this is an example of the media attacking conservative Christianity, I want us to pause and really think critically. Instead of immediately jumping to the defense of Teen Mania in an effort to stand up for our faith, think about it. I want people to give themselves permission to ponder if this is concerning and if it is Biblical. Is Teen Mania’s approach wise, healthy, Biblical? You see, this is stuff that has kept me up at night since my mid-twenties. In no way do I feel sorry for myself. I stay awake at night worrying about other teens who could be harmed from their experiences with Teen Mania. While I’m not sure if Teen Mania is a cult, I do have concerns. Just like the five year old Mandy who saw starving children on her TV and felt responsible to help, I feel that same responsibility now regarding protecting teens from Teen Mania. I am a better person for living and seeing such severe poverty in Asia as a teen. However, all in all, if I was a parent, I would not send my child on a Teen Mania missions trip. It is the first time I have ever said that. That sucks.
Some might criticize the documentary, but I think it is an important conversation starter. I will tell you that as a former participant in Teen Mania programs who is now an adult, nothing in this documentary surprised me. Nothing. In the video, the leaders of Teen Mania talk about critical thinking. In my opinion, my experience with Teen Mania was very legalistic and absent of critical thought. That is dangerous. People of faith need to be critical thinkers. We need to be discerning people.
To watch the documentary, Mind Over Mania, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FGoAWW0BIgQ
I have been afraid to voice my criticism of Teen Mania publicly at the expense of offending people I know who support this ministry. However, I feel responsibility in standing with a group of former Teen Maniacs who are now critically thinking adults.
So, after watching the documentary, what are your thoughts?
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Tags: Ron Luce, Teen Mania Ministries, Recovering Alumni, Mind Over Mania, MSNBC, Global Expeditions
I like the honesty! I am going to try to watch that documentary soon, and I’ll let you know what I think. I just checked out the other blog you mentioned…yikes…
Interesting topic.
It’s sad that an organization took advantage of people when they were at their most vulnerable and easily influenced.
My experience with evangelical christianity as a whole has been it’s emotionally based first and critical thinking came later, if at all. I attended an Acquire the Fire type weekend in 1994, became a christian and allowed my emotions/beliefs to dictate major life choices from my teen life all through out my adulthood until a year ago when I had enough. I’ve publically left the christian life behind and have had zero regrets about it. I’ve had a year to reflect on what I allowed a religion to do to my life and while it’s not as destructive as a cult might be, it left a scar on my life and a huge distaste for any organized religion or belief in any higher power.
It’s not only the Teen Mania’s of the world but any evangelical organization, school, etc that baits people in with emotions, then preys on their weakness, and leaves very little for the mind.
You have brought forth my biggest concern with Christianity today in America. We are just going through the motions and no one is thinking critically about anything from the past, present or future. If a person who has a position of importance in the Christian community then we immediately say if it is correct. Unless that person goes against the grain of our theology then we put them on the cross to burn.
My hope as a Christian is that I can listen to someone else and still affirm them as person of value and importance when they think differently. My foundation is not built on always having to be considered right. We are afraid to admit we lack all the answers in life. Faith is built on trust.
I really like that you took risk to communicate how we as Christians need to become critical thinkers. Keep the blogs coming!
I was in the Honor Academy (Aug ’98-’99). It certainly was intense, and didn’t turn out at all like I expected. I went into it thinking I would get a clear plan from God for my life but came out rather hurt and confused. Now that time has passed, I consider it one of the most valuable experiences of my life, but not for reasons I ever expected. My critical thinking skills certainly were honed during that period and I learned a healthy distrust for establishments of all stripes.
As you shared, much of Teen Mania was driven by emotions. I recall very distinctly observing the screaming teenagers at the very dramatic ATF conventions we put on, thinking, “These people would scream for anything at this point.” Given the build up lights, lasers, flag shows, music and the other what have yous, it was simply hormones taking over at that point, not any true “move of the Spirit.”
I am confused by your post – you start out by saying that ATF and your first mission trip were good, but that second trip was terrible. You don’t say what happened to make it terrible. Then you say your overall experience (two good, one bad) has caused you to stay awake at night.
You even say this: “God’s grace was definitely part of the message that I heard.” But then say that Teen Mania is legalistic. How can it be both?
I’ve been doing a lot of research on Teen Mania since watching that documentary, and overall most of what I’ve read are positive stories about how Teen Mania is changing student’s lives and helping hurting teens find healing through Christ.
Sure, there will be mistakes and problems in that organization, just like in ANY organization. That is because Teen Mania is run by humans, who are mistake-prone and need grace too.
I hope the readers of your post do think critically about what is happening at Teen Mania. Keep in mind that people who’ve had a bad experience are more likely to speak out and have more of an emotional reaction in their comments than those who have had a positive one. I don’t always leave shining reviews of restaurants on Yelp, but if I have a bad waiter, or the food wasn’t right, I make it a point to leave a review. Get the picture?
Cindy’s whole TM connection aside…. how can you liken complaints of abuse and unethical behavior at a ministry to someone getting bad service at a restaurant?
If you were really doing research as your post claimed, you would take the allegations a little more seriously. But since you’re involved with TMM, of course you won’t research the problems there…
Shannon-Ashley, thanks for your comment. Yes, I thought her comparison was insensitive but it is not surprising from TMM. I want to also add that I would not label what I experienced as abuse per se. Harmful, I think so. Manipulative, I think so. Potentially dangerous, I think so. Strange, I think so. Incompetent leaders that abused power, I think so. I don’t want to take away from those who have felt abused by TMM or the HA. Screaming at a kid a ESOAL definitely looks like abuse to me. But in all fairness, I can’t label my own experience with TMM abuse.
Oh – I forgot to ask. Did you send that letter to Ron Luce? What did you say in your letter? Did he respond to it?
Cindy,
When I said “God’s grace was part of the message” I am referring to my family and my church, not my experience with Teen Mania. My experience with Teen Mania was legalistic. It was not both.
Even in my first trip, there are things that happened that concern me now. They did not at the time – at the time I thought it was great. As an adult, many things I experienced even on that first trip concern me.
I am glad that you have found that Teen Mania has helped many teens. However, I think that it is important to also hear from those of us who have concerns. Look, I am a Christian. I am passionate about discipling and ministering to teens. It is my very profession! However, I disagree with some of Teen Manias tactics.
I agree that there will be mistakes in any organization. However, I think it is important that these are discussed. Even in Ron Luce’s response to the Recovering Alumni site, he made it seem like it was something wrong with the person voicing criticism. Is it not okay to say I have concerns? Is it not okay to say I saw things that concern me?
I agree that people who lead organizations need grace. However, the Bible is clear that those of us who lead and teach are held to a higher standard.
I ALSO hope people who read my post think critically about it. That is why I wrote the last line – we need to be discerning people who aren’t afraid to think critically.
I adamantly disagree with you about comparing my experience with Teen Mania to a negative restaurant experience. In fact, I find that rather insensitive. It has been 17 years! I have never publicly talked about this except for with my husband and with a Youth Ministries professor….in 17 years! This is not a flippant restaurant review! And, I did not simply have a bad meal. I am a grown woman who has real concerns about Teen Mania.
My concerns are not just theological, but also about safety. For example, packing so many teens on an overnight bus trip that only girls can have seats, but all the boys must lay down on the floor and in the aisles for a several hour bus trip. If we had wrecked, do you know how dangerous that would have been? That is not about me getting my feelings hurt.
After reading the RA blog, I decided not to write Ron Luce because it seems like many reached out and it was not effective. However, a board member lives in my area, so I plan to speak with him in person.
Do you work for Teen Mania? I noticed someone accessed my blog from Garden Valley, Texas. If so, I would be more than happy to discuss this with Ron or with you over the phone.
Cindy,
I think it is important that you disclose that you do in fact work for Teen Mania Ministries as their Communications Consultant. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/cindy-mallette/a/252/10a
Or the fact that she is an intern.
She’s an intern? On her Twitter, it indicates she is married. I thought interns had to be single. I don’t know why she is Gauntlet week though. Perhaps working on a communications strategy for HA?
Her tweet to me indicated that she was. I’m waiting for a response right now.
Communication ethics 101 – ANY TIME you work with an organization you should always publicly acknowledge that you work with them when you comment on a blog or a website. It discredits you completely.
Of course you will defend Teen Mania. You should have disclosed you work with Teen Mania.
You put into words how I feel about my youth church experience and I thank you for that.
Great thoughts. I couldn’t agree more. Teen Mania has serious systemic issues that need to be thoroughly addressed, not just swept under the rug.
Excellent post, Mandy! You (and your readers) might be interested in a post I wrote examining a teaching by the Honor Academy. It appears that Teen Mania’s foundational theology is deeply at odds with orthodox Christianity, explicitly basing our relationship with God on our own “moral excellence” (their phrase).
Here’s the link:
http://www.ericpazdziora.com/writing/ashamed-of-the-gospel-a-case-study-of-teen-mania-and-works-based-doctrine/
I believe there are dangers anytime we remove parents from a young person’s spiritual upbringing. Scripture doesn’t instruct parents to raise up their children until they turn 13 and join the youth group. It very clearly gives parents the primary role in training their kids. Most traditional youth groups and youth organizations do nothing to encourage the spiritual growth of families, but rather serve to undermine parental influence and teaching. Parents should be encouraging critical thinking and theological training so that their teenagers are equipped to deal with the world in all it’s forms.
That being said, praise God for His grace. He is gracious enough to use experiences like Teen Mania to bring us closer to Himself. I think it’s great to consider these experiences and to educate others on what you feel is dangerous about them. But I encourage you to also focus on God’s goodness and how He was able to use them in your life. Blessings!
Absolutely, Alicia. And point well taken.
wow…enlightening, for sure. I lived with my family in Tulsa for four years and had plenty of interactions with many of the crrrrrazy charismatics there, and plenty of interaction with the solid grounded in the Word charismatics. Hope Ron Luce and company get their act together.
Mandy-
I think we were on the same trip (2nd Asia trip); I considered you to be one of my closest friends. We had a random class together in college where I proceeded to make a rather snide reference towards you and that trip. I am sorry. I know this isn’t the most appropriate forum to discuss personal matters, but I didn’t have another means of contacting you. If this isn’t the Mandy I think it is, I am sorry for random comment
-Stephanie
It’s the same Mandy. I don’t recall what you said to me, so don’t worry another second thinking about it. I accept your apology. I’ll email you.
Wow, for someone that has only been working for TMM for a less than a month, you are not off to too great a job there Cindy.