The "Bible-based boot camp" Teen Challenge doesn't want you to know about

Possibly the deepest revelations regarding the extent that abusiveness--and "God Warrior" imagery--make their home at Teen Challenge (and within the Assemblies) is brought home at the one facility that is confirmed abusive by a watchdog group--the West Florida Boy's Ranch run by Teen Challenge.

Teen Challenge Florida promotes the Boy's Ranch on its website--which happily notes they admit boys "from 12 to 17 years of age" as a "tough love" program. Kids not even yet into puberty can be subjected to a literal form of holy hell for such horridly anti-social behaviours as:

skipping school, resulting in failing grades

abnormal lack of ambition and depression

outbursts of anger and destruction of home property

absence from the home for extended periods of time

stealing from family members

poor choice of friends and suspected drug use

I should note that in Assemblies households, "poor choice of friends" can consist merely of having friends who are not fellow Assemblies of God members, and "abnormal lack of ambition and depression" and "outbursts of anger" can well be the result of fun with complex PTSD as you realise that pretty much your entire life has been a lie and you grew up in what amounted to a "Bible-based" coercive religious group--or that something is seriously wrong at home, compared with your friends. (Of course, I wouldn't know anything about that, would I? It's not like this particular style of home life has been known to drive people off the edge of insanity with the gas to the floor and the brake lines cut or anything. :P)

Anyways. Off to the "ranch"...or, more properly, "boot camp".

In the adverts on the "Boys Ranch" website, apparently in fine Bob Larson-esque fashion, the mere fact your kid likes the metal is a sign he needs to be sent away:

Dramatic changes in style of clothes, hair, music

These outward signs of rebellion should be obvious to a parent. Has your child started listening to radically-different music such as heavy metal or punk rock? Is your kid coloring their hair some weird color just to fit in? Is your child dressing down to fit in with friends at school? All of these are outward signs that your child is succumbing to peer pressure and all these should serve as warning signs to you that your child is in danger of falling into the same kind of peer pressure when it comes to drugs.

(Of course, it's not entirely surprising that Teen Challenge claims metal and punk = druggie; the Assemblies of God is one of the very, very, very few places post-World War II where book and record burning is not only considered socially acceptable but rather a bit of a group-bonding activity.)

Of course (speaking of rock music), the signs of normal adolescence are confused with signs of being a possible druggie, in a scene reminiscent of the conversation between Mike and his mother in the Suicidal Tendencies song "Institutionalized":

Isolating from family

Does your child act distant? When you ask your child what he/she has been up to, does your child give some vague reply? Does you child want to eat in their room all the time instead of with the family? Children are smart - they know that the easiest lie to tell is the one they can avoid having to tell. If you child doesn't tell you what he/she has been up to, there's a good chance your child is hiding something. Changes in attitude and personality

Does it seem like your child is suddenly a completely different person with a new personality which you don't like one bit? Has your child suddenly developed a tough guy/girl attitude? If your child is experimenting with drugs, there's a good chance you'll be seeing these kinds of attitude changes. Often parents just see this as normal teenage behavior and write it off. Don't make this mistake . . . otherwise you might overlook one of the most obvious signs of your child's drug problem.

. . .

Sudden bursts of anger

Has your child developed a violent side? Is he or she prone to sudden, uncontrollable fits of anger? This doesn't have to mean physically violent (though that is often the case) but can also be a teen who is always yelling or threatening people. Any of these things should be a warning sign to you that your child could be experimenting with drugs.

So pretty much being a normal teen in any household--and especially a dominionist one--can be a one-way ticket to being sent to the Jesus Gulag.

The visit to the website for the teen program is rather a bit of a shock--and disturbing as hell to those of us who have researched the highly militarised Joel's Army theology that has become core theology in the Assemblies.

For one, one does not expect rehab facilities to include, on the same page, the happy announcement that they take in boys as young as twelve for being "out of control" and see literal "God Warrior" imagery on the same page:

No, I couldn't make that up if I tried. We have guys in full camo, doing drills, with the Assemblies-preferred version of the "Christian Flag" (which has its own little pledge, too, popular in Assemblies circles).

Of note, it's actually somewhat honest in describing itself as a "Bible-based boot camp" (though considerably less so when noting availability of extracurricular activities).

And it's via the admissions form that we get into the real intrusiveness of Teen Challenge.

Starting out, we have a mandatory "bio-sketch" that asks parents to give the complete history of the kid and his "behaviour". Of note, this section includes some very personal questioning of the kid's sexual history:

To the best of your knowledge, what is your son’s sexual lifestyle?:

____ Heterosexual ____ Homosexual ____ Bi-sexual

____ Pornography ____ Child Pornography ____ Incest

Yes, there's a reason they ask if kids are gay or bi. I am afraid it's not in the interest of LGBT sensitivity.

One particularly dirty secret in regards to coercive "behaviour modification" centers in general is that they promote "reparative" therapy--essentially claiming to "de-gay" kids. This is something that is not recognised as effective or as a Good Thing by any legitimate mental health org--in fact, they consider it an ethics violation--so quite the "parallel economy" of both doctors and dominionist alternatives to legit mental health facilities--of which Teen Challenge is but one chain of these--have sprung up.

In the case of Teen Challenge, the anti-LGBT attitude is especially apparent. As I've noted, Teen Challenge is a division of a denomination known for having spawned an anti-gay hategroup--and the attitude in "Watchmen At The Walls" is pretty much the unofficial stance of members in regards to LGBT people who won't stay in the closet and be "ex-gays". This is a denomination where involuntary outing, "exorcism", and shipping to places like Teen Challenge of LGBT youth who are unfortunate enough to be discovered is not uncommon. Even officially, the Assemblies of God is probably one of the worst denominations to even have people know you are gay; not only is there a very official policy statement in that being an uncloseted LGBT person is incompatible with the group, but the Assemblies of God is a co-signer of a letter to the American Psychological Association protesting the fact that "reparative therapy" is now seen as a formal ethics violation and not only ineffective but harmful.

And it's no wonder that the Assemblies protests this--it turns out promotes it even as the very supposed "ex-gay" staff members at Teen Challenge promoting "degaying" have stated its likely ineffectiveness. In fact, it appears Teen Challenge may well have been one of the earliest groups in the US promoting "de-gaying"--literature from Teen Challenge promotes its services as a "reparative therapy" center dating back from the 70's. The explicit promotion of "degaying" continues even today--Teen Challenge works closely with Exodus International, one of two primary groups (the other being NARTH, a dominionist "parallel economy" alternative to legit psychiatric/psychological/social-work groups that includes laypersons) that still promote the "reparative therapy" bogosity that has ruined lives.

Needless to say, any LGBT or remotely genderqueer kid is going to be at some substantial risk at a Teen Challenge facility...and, sadly, one of the more common reasons kids are sent to these facilities by their parents is in a futile effort to "de-gay" them.

Teen Challenge admits kids will be sent to a completely unaccredited school (though it does not admit the kid's "diploma" likely will not be worth the paper it is written on):

Although Gateway Academy is not regionally accredited, the school is registered with the Florida Department of Education as a Florida Nonpublic School. While the State of Florida does not require

Gateway Academy to obtain any state or regional accreditation in order to operate or grant diplomas, individual public school districts, colleges, and universities establish their own admission policies. To date, students having received transcripts or diplomas from Gateway Academy have experienced little if any difficulty transferring to another public educational institution. Our self-imposed high standards enable us to maintain a course of instruction relevant to the public secondary schools throughout our state.

(Read: We're going to use a dominionist curricula, but because the state of Florida pretty much has no regulations regarding private schools, we can still issue a diploma. Just don't try to enter any schools with it that might require rigorous educational standards, and don't be too shocked if they require makeup work.)

In addition to the standard "our child is withdrawing from your school" agreement on all Teen Challenge teen admission forms, and including the standard Teen Challenge "please do not send your child with anything save a Bible and the clothes on his back and changes of plain clothing for the next few days" requirements, people are required to agree to the Assemblies of God's statement of faith:

As a Christian organization, we regard the following statements as our sound doctrine of faith, based upon the holy and inspired word of God, the Bible. All students enrolled at West Florida Teen Challenge are required to attend chapel services, Sunday worship services, and participate in the Teen Challenge International Christian character building curriculum.

We believe that the scriptures are inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind. II Timothy 3:15-17

We believe there is only one true God, revealed in three persons...Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19 / Isaiah 43:10-11

We believe in the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, that as God’s Son, he was both human and divine. Matthew 1:23 / Philippians 2:9-11

We believe that man willingly fell into sin, ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual into the world. Romans 5:12-19

We believe that every person can have a restored fellowship with God through salvation, by accepting Christ’s offer of forgiveness for sin. Acts 10:37 / Romans 10:13-15 / Ephesians 2:8-9

We believe in water baptism by immersion after repenting of one’s sins and receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, and in the Holy Communion, (the Lord’s Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s

suffering and death for our salvation. Matthew 28:19 / I Corinthians 11:26

We believe the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a special experience following salvation. Acts 1:4, 8 / Mark 16:20

We believe that the physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is "speaking in tongues" as experienced in the book of Acts. Acts 2:4 / I Corinthians 12:4-10

We believe that sanctification initially occurs at salvation and is a progressive lifelong process of separation from evil. Romans 12:1-2

We believe that the "Church" is the body of Christ and consists of those people, throughout time, who have accepted God’s plan of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ. I believe this Church has received the Great Commission to go into all the world to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23 / Hebrews 12:23

We believe in a divinely called and scripturally ordained leadership ministry that serves the Church, i.e. apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists). Mark 16:15-20

We believe that divine healing of the sick was provided for in Christ’s atonement. James 5:14-16

We believe in the "blessed hope" – when Christ raptures His church prior to His return to earth (the Second Coming). I Thessalonians 4"16-17

We believe in the millennial reign of Christ when He returns with His saints at His second coming. And at that time the nation of Israel will accept Him as Messiah. Matthew 14:27, 30 / Revelation 1:7

We believe that a final judgment will take place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a lake of fire, a literal place called hell.

Matthew 25:46 / Revelation 19:20

We believe in and look forward to a perfect New Heavens and a New Earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on earth. II Peter 3:13 & Revelation 21:22

(Yes, this is actually--almost verbatim--a version of the Sixteen Fundamental Truths, which is the official statement of faith of the Assemblies of God. Literally the only difference is that the Teen Challenge version doesn't include the footnotes in the "official" Assemblies version, and the Teen Challenge version explicitly references "Joel's Army"/"Joshua Generation" theology in promoting the idea of the "fivefold ministry". And yes, both the official Assemblies "Sixteen Fundamental Truths" and the Teen Challenge version both explicitly call for the mass conversion of Jewish people to "Messianic Jew" kosher neopentecostals as an essential part of their end-times theology.)

In the obligatory legal agreement (in which practically all legal rights are waived, including the right to sue the bastards if necessary), Teen Challenge gives an indication of something not revealed in the shiny lit (and something universally considered a warning sign of a dangerous group by orgs like ISAC)--namely, parents legally give Teen Challenge custody of their kids, and not only that, are required to waive all rights to file abuse charges against the group or even the right to remove their kids from the facility or criticise Teen Challenge:

Second Party voluntarily and unconditionally, without coercion or force, relinquishes and conveys the care and custody of said minor to West Florida Teen Challenge, expressly appointing West Florida Teen Challenge as lawful attorney for said Second Party and in Second Party’s name, place, and stead for and to serve on loco parentis (in place of Second Party) of said child for his care, custody, safety, education, and training (both secular and religious) and for all other responsibilities, real or legal, including all necessities which West Florida Teen Challenge deems essential for the said child. This grant of custody and control shall commence upon the signing of this agreement by the last party hereto, and shall terminate as hereinafter provided. West Florida Teen Challenge agrees to accept the care and control of said minor child while he is on the said property of West Florida Teen Challenge for the period and under the terms and conditions herein provided. Second Party agrees not to interfere with the custody or management of said minor in any way and shall not encourage anyone else to do so. Second Party also agrees to support West Florida Teen Challenge positively at all times.

In fact, for parents to even see their kids, they are essentially required to sign a joint custody agreement, complete with visitation rights granted by Teen Challenge:

I (we) agree that it is vital to the restoration of our family for my child to be visited on the prescheduled and designated visitation days, referred to hereafter as Parent Visit Weekend. I

further agree to abide by the entire West Florida Teen Challenge visitation policies: Students are eligible for visits during the fourth month of residence or at the next prescheduled Parent Visit Weekend following the fourth month. Parents are notified by e-mail or letter. It is mandatory that all Parents/Legal Guardians attend every Parent Visit Weekend. Failure to attend scheduled visits and parenting classes could result in your child’s dismissal. Split families must work out an acceptable agreement between the parents and notify West Florida Teen Challenge of the agreement. The Parent Visit Weekends are for the Parent/Legal Guardian only. Siblings and grandparents may visit only during the graduation from Drill Academy’s Basic Platoon or First Phase and the final graduation of the West Florida Teen Challenge program. Students are permitted a Saturday 8-hour pass off campus and a Sunday six-hour pass off campus once they have successfully completed their 6th month in the Drill Academy program, or as personal evaluations permit. Passes off-campus are a privilege and not a right. They can be taken away at any time for disciplinary reasons. Parents/Legal Guardians are expected to strictly adhere to the Leave Agreement directives, a signed document outlining the rules to be enforced while off-campus. All items brought back to the ranch, as well as the student, will be thoroughly searched upon return from the off-campus pass. The purpose of the off-campus pass is not primarily for entertainment, but for the opportunity to grow together as a family unit.

Physical restraint is used, despite the fact that the West Florida Boy's Ranch is not a licensed mental health facility and even psychiatric hospitals and police departments must follow specific legal requirements for use of restraints:

I. The first phase of West Florida Teen Challenge is a military structured program that instills discipline

and enforces correct behavior. All Standards and Procedures are issued to each cadet and family member. They are explained and demonstrated to staff members to ensure safety, equality, and the knowledge of how to safely handle combative, aggressive cadets, or cadets that demonstrate by their actions that they are a threat to themselves or property.

II. General information is outlined regarding possible violations or actions that can lead to the applying of hands-on techniques to restrain a cadet in order to protect, or prevent harm to himself, others, or property, or to press him into obedience.

III. When and how will use of force be applied? When a cadet becomes combative, either vocally or by threatening actions, after being told to "stand down", a term they have been taught to mean STOP.

The staff member on duty will call for back-up assistance. If time will not permit, he will proceed to physically bring the combative cadet under control by using approved arm bars or escort procedures, which will restrain the cadet without causing injury. Hands-on procedures are designed to gain control, prevent harm and

protect property.

A. Step one: The staff member always tries to talk a cadet into submission first.

B. Step two: The staff member will always explain what the cadet did wrong, and why corrective actions were taken.

C. Step three: After combative conflicts, the staff member has the right to take pictures of the scene and the cadet to use as articles in his incident report that will be forwarded up the Chain of

Command.

D. Step four: The staff member will file a report of date, time, location, situation, and parties involved. If necessary he will gather additional information in writing from eyewitnesses. I understand and comply with the Rules, Regulation and Procedures of the West Florida Teen Challenge Drill Academy.

(Legally, police departments are only allowed to use "necessary force"; in legit mental health facilities, only psychiatrists are allowed to permit the use of restraints and only for limited periods of time.)

Children trying to escape the abuse--even to go to somewhere like a "Safe Place"-type affair--are subject to being returned involuntarily and are subject to retribution:

Second Party recognizes that West Florida Teen Challenge accepts children who may have a history of running away and this is one of the rebellion issues that are addressed in the program. The Second Party agrees that West Florida Teen Challenge will not be held responsible for the safety of any minor child that runs away from the facility. West Florida Teen Challenge will report a runaway child to the local authorities to facilitate their return. West Florida Teen Challenge will not be held responsible for finding a runaway child. West Florida Teen Challenge is not responsible to involve itself in any court proceedings resulting from any criminal activity. Students are not necessarily dismissed from the program for running away. We will continue to work with a student and their family to facilitate change as long as progress continues to be made. Running away will result in the student’s program being started over. If a student has been enrolled for less than two months, two months will be added to their program

This makes it rather more difficult for kids to escape (and now you know why most people reporting abuse tend to do so as adults--if you can't contact CPS, and you can't even really leave the facility without the risk that the cops will turn you back in, it makes it rather more difficult to report abuse). In these situations, about the only way for someone to escape from the facility before the age of 18 is to successfully run away and file an emancipation proceeding, and hope your parents or Teen Challenge-friendly law enforcement don't find you in the meantime.

No, this is not an exaggeration, I'm afraid. The last person under the age of 18 who was held at the Love In Action/Refuge facility in Memphis--a "de-gaying" facility that had former Straight, Inc. employees running the place--had to do exactly this--not once but twice--to finally escape. D.J. Butler not only had to run away from Love In Action/Refuge to file his initial emancipation proceeding but--in the midst of the proceeding--was kidnapped by his parents and hauled back in handcuffs to the Love In Action facility, where he was threatened with being sent to juvenile hall if he left again. Butler was successful in escaping a second time to complete his emancipation proceeding (and had a number of people giving amicus curae briefs in the emancipation proceeding showing the coercive nature of Love In Action's tactics).

In addition, parents are forced to agree to a standard "Christian Conciliation Agreement" (in part 8, we will discuss how this is part of a standard indemnification waiver used in almost all Teen Challenge facilities that not only includes waiving of the right to sue for injuries but requires parties to enter a mediation agreement heavily weighted in favour of Teen Challenge). Effectively, this prevents parents from suing--and makes it difficult for even survivors to sue.

And--as we will see--there may well be a reason for this. In our next part, we'll explore some extremely disturbing revelations on how sexual abuse has occured at Teen Challenge facilities, how sexual offenders targeting youth are employed at Teen Challenge, and how this may be a systemic issue throughout the Assemblies.

Previous posts in this series:

Part 1: Teen Challenge: The Assemblies' own "kiddie gulag"

Part 2: Teen Challenge: Coercive groups disguised as rehab

Part 3: Teen Challenge: A typical week in the "Jesus Gulag"

Part 4: Teen Challenge: Life within the "Jesus Gulag"

Part 5: Teen Challenge: Possible missionary mill?