There is a steady increase of concern surrounding Teen Mania and while I and my teens have not gone to this camp, I have a friend who has. Mica is a courageous young woman who has found a way to raise awareness and seek healing for herself and countless others through her blog Recovering Alumni. MSNBC aired a segment about a few women who are seeking healing from their experiences with this popular “Christian Ministry”.

The documentary is interesting as I see different perspectives from people they interview. I highly recommend that you watch the video. I put the term Christian Ministry into quotes above, because I question whether this place is truly Christ-like and if it actually ministers to the youth.

It is in my opinion that Christ is gentle with children and that a ministry is a place where people who are already broken can find grace to heal from their brokenness.

In what I see of Teen Mania in this video, I see the staff trying to break these teens then “minister” to them afterward. This is parallel to me beating a dog with a whip then trying to convince the dog that I love him. Eventually the dog may end up attacking me, mistrusting me, and being mentally abused in the process. If this is love then how will they respond to real love when it’s given?

Regardless of what my opinion of Teen Mania is, I challenge you to search your own mind and heart and see what your Lord says to you about his grace and mercy and if this organization is truly Christ-like or if it even ‘ministers’ grace to these teens.

In the mean time, lets cross worms and cockroaches off our shopping lists, because quite frankly..I’m pretty sure feeding them to our children equates child abuse.