No great mystery there? Well, not even one Teen Challenge website that I've been to says anything on it about being affiliated with the Assemblies of God church, including the entire main website at http://http://teenchallengeusa.com/. Obviously, you were 'born' knowing this but I wasn't aware of this fact until I really started digging around over on the Assemblies of God's website at http://http://ag.org/top/ to find the Teen Challenge link! So, why are they hiding this 'fact' from the public anyway? That doesn't look like pride to me! That looks more like Teen Challenge is hiding the fact that they are affiliated with the Assemblies of God and visa versa!
KArly, are you really so dim that you think because it is not mentioned on a website that there is some conspiracy to hide the fact that Teen Challenge is part of a well-respected denomination of the Christian faith? I already explained why you wouldn't see that. It is because TC is non-denominational, even tho they are a home mission of the AG. They do not adhere the 16 articles of faith that the AG does. They adhere to 10. The other six are more denomination specific and may be a turnoff to Baptists or other denominations that would have a need for TC. Teen Challenge's turning point meetings, the outpatient program where most interviews for residential treatment are conducted are usually held at AG churches.
Evidently all that training has left you very close-minded and bitter! Do you even realize that a world outside of Teen Challenge exists???
YOU'RE calling me bitter? Wow, the irony of such a statement from you is apalling.
If you are sheltered away from the real world every single day for an entire year in Teen Challenge,
you are not. students receive weekend passes to go home every month once they are out of induction. Furthermore, most students will go on choir outings to churches all over their respective areas most Sundays. Many of those churches also have luncheons afterward where the students get to hang out with the congregants. Fundraising gets students out several days a week. Various outreaches get students out in the world, like the CURE Corps every March in L.A. which is an entire month of street evangelism and outreaches that TC students do participate in.
while having your phone calls monitored and your mail read AND only allowed visits from people who are 'approved' by Teen Challenge then you cannot tell me that you are not in an a place that reeks of a communal nature!
You're right, Karly! Teen Challenge should encourage students to call all their old buddies and talk about the good old days. They should allow students to communicate with old girlfriends they used to get high with, because these people won't try to convince them to come back out and play, will they? Did you ever stop to think that there is a reason for rules like that? Your definition of communal is one then that says residential treatment is wrong. What solution would you propose, Karly. You are obviously the expert.
Regarding Rev's post, it sounds like he was sending things that could have been mistaken for junk mail to me. I would also like to know what kind of church he pastors. Many groups call themselves Christians that mainstream churches consider cults--like the Mormons or the Jehovah's Witnesses.
and now read the post directly below it from Cherokee Lady, which was written on Tuesday, May 1st, 2007:
This would make me ask questions as to why.if it's even true to begin with. There seems to be a coordinated effort I'm seeing here by an organization called Delancey Street. Their own website is very vague. I see nothing to say they are not a for-profit organization. They claim to receive no funds from taxpayers yet the next page says Diane Feinstein has set up a foundation to receive federal taxpayer funds for Delancey Street. And Some of the very complaints you have made about TC I see Delancey street's website does not address. And if they ARE for profit, then Diane Feinstein settingup a foundation for taxpayer funds would bring up ethics issues. Where is their daily schedule? What organizations are there who fund them, besides taxpayers. They claim $10 million annually in donations, yet I see no mention of non-profit status. What is the nature of the vocational training? Washing dishes in the restaurant? Working for a moving company? I want more information about this organization that has taken it upon itself to attack Teen Challenge so vociferously. I see this very website is part of the Delancey Street faithful. How much money does Mimi Silbert make? Is she earning it on the backs of those she claims to help? Can I call Delancey Street and request a full financial statement of their earnings and expenditures like I can BY LAW with Teen Challenge since it is a 501c3 non-profit.
Also, your blog is misleading concerning the Better Business Bureau's opinion of TC. You only showed the Springfield Offices, which do not fundraise and do not treat people. A thorough search of the BBB's website would have included individual TC's of which some actually are members of the BBB.
NOTE: 'Rev' is referring to Number 3 from Page 15 in this Teen Challenge application: http://http://www.saintlouistc.org/pdf/stltc-application.pdf
3. I release to Teen Challenge the right to search, read and withhold my mail in the manner explained in the rules.
Like I said in the other thread, TC does not read mail, except in very special circumstances. And the only mail that is supposed to be withheld is if it is from a questionable source. The student is supposed to be made aware of that and the reasons why it is being withheld and sent back. It is not a policy of TC to hide mail from students.
And while you are at it, take a good, long, hard look at #8!
8. I release Teen Challenge from all financial or legal responsibilities in case of accident, injury, illness or other misfortune.
That's pretty standard. When you got your job, if you do work, you likely signed a very similar release form. It holds no legal water. Students have sued TC in the past and have won. TC does not take that document to court to try to claim some legal standing. It is every businesse's nature to try to avoid being sued. Like I said--most employers do the exact same thing.