The following stories, told by former Advanced Training Institute (ATI) students on various online forums, are a small sampling of the many stories told by young people who became ill or sustained physical injuries while working at an ATI training center or at Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) headquarters.
These stories illustrate a common concern expressed by these former students: the leadership was generally not sensitive to illness or to accidental injury. Several students have reported that they were specifically told not to tell their parents about illness or injury, that their chronic health problems were dismissed as trivial or self-indulgent, that they were denied adequate care, or that they were strongly encouraged to participate in experimental or alternative treatments rather than seeking traditional medical assistance.
It is important to remember that most apprenticeship students interpreted “strong encouragement” as “do it or else.” The students were generally minors or very young adults, whose care and well-being was entrusted to the leaders at the training centers where they worked. Some were wise enough to consult their parents, but many were too young and inexperienced to recognize that a situation warranted their parents’ involvement. Having been taught to obey authority, these young people did not readily question their leaders’ decisions.
Don’t Tell Your Parents
During one of the early conferences at the Indianapolis Training Center (ITC), a lot of us got sick. The leadership told us not to call our parents because “they couldn’t do anything for us anyway.” Even at the time, with the lack of understanding that I had, I realized that was absolutely ridiculous. My sister and I called our parents just because they said we couldn’t. (R.P.)
When I was at the Moscow Training Center (MTC) one winter, I came down with a cold and then got the Russian flu. The leadership did not let me stay in bed and rest; they wanted me up and working. I tried to explain that if I could just get enough rest, I would get well sooner. I finally mentioned it to my parents on the phone, and they wrote to the leadership, saying that they knew the leadership had my best interests in mind, but they wanted me to be allowed to get the rest I needed to get well. The leadership was upset that I had talked to my parents about it — even though they had not specifically told me not to tell. (It was one of the many unwritten rules that you didn’t tell your parents such things.) But they allowed me to rest — sort of. I was required to attend morning devotions (to get to these I had to walk across campus in the freezing cold and snow), and then I could go back to bed. I eventually recovered, but I felt despised for being weak enough to get sick. One leader told me point-blank, “If you’re not strong enough to be here on the front-lines of the battlefield, I’m not sure why you’re even here at all.” I inwardly felt that this statement was quite unfair, but because of the principle of authority, I assumed he must somehow be right. (B.B.)
Mandatory Fasting
I think the forced fasting till dinner on Sundays was abusive. I knew many people who got sick from not eating — including my younger brother. (J.H.)
I was unaware of the mandatory Sunday fasting when I first came to the training center. I am hypoglycemic and cannot fast. I brought this to the leadership’s attention and was essentially told to pray harder. Finally my mother called, irate, and told them she wanted me to be fed on Sunday and, if the kitchen was closed, I was to be allowed to order pizza. The woman in charge brought me an apple and a cup of dry granola at 7 p.m. Saturday night, and was extremely irritated about it. I asked about ordering food, and she told me the granola and apple were sufficient. They weren’t. (R.G.)
Being severely hypoglycemic, I was unable to fast, but I was too embarrassed to talk to the leadership about it. When I fainted on two of the monthly prayer and fasting days, my roommate told my supervisor. I was told that I must attend the prayer meeting, but that I would be allowed to eat afterward. I was to do it discreetly and quickly, so that I didn’t miss too much work time. Problem. It took ten minutes to walk home, so that option took too long. But when I used the break room, everyone could smell what I microwaved, and people who came in for water would see me eating. I felt like I was torturing people, and I thought that I was less spiritual than everyone who could fast. (W.A.)
Experimental Therapy
My wife tore her meniscus playing volleyball when she worked at the ITC. She was asked to participate in a new treatment Dr. Hemwall had invented [prolotherapy] which consisted of more than 100 injections of sugar water into her knee. She consented, but I wonder if Dr. Hemwall had complied with appropriate laws respecting clinical trials for new procedures. And I question the use of sugar water for structural damage. (R.R.)
Physical Injury
I broke my arch while living at ITC. they wouldn’t allow me to go the ER. Instead a 17-year-old student who was assigned as the medical person there — her only training was a CPR course — looked at it and wrapped it. I had to walk on crutches until it was better. It messed me up forever. (D.M.)
I fell down the stairs and broke my foot. I knew it was broken because I had broken it three times previously. The leadership insisted that it was only sprained, had me wear a splint, and said I needed to walk on it. After eight weeks, I went home and saw my foot doctor. He had to re-break and re-set the bone. I have had to undergo two additional surgeries since then, because it healed wrong. (S.M.)
Insurance Issues
I was an ITC employee, and I was injured on the job. I was told that I had to use my own insurance and pay my own co-pay for the trip to the ER because if I claimed worker’s compensation, it would get the attention of OSHA and the whole ITC could be shut down. They also said they couldn’t afford the insurance increase if I claimed worker’s comp. I was directly told that I had to lie to the ER staff but that it was okay because I was protecting the ministry by doing so. I was also told that I would be fired and sent home in disgrace if I failed to do so. I did as they asked, but I also insisted that they reimburse me for the copay, which they eventually did. (J.H.)
I sliced off part of my left thumb when I was putting away dishes in my home at IBLP headquarters. I could not get the bleeding to stop, but I did not have insurance and was afraid to call an ambulance because, even though IBLP had agreed to cover most of my medical expenses, they discouraged our actually using this “benefit.” After 45 minutes, my roommate, who could not drive my manual transmission car, found two young men who could drive it, and the four of us headed to the ER. It took the ER doctor 30 minutes to stop the bleeding, and I was petrified that I would be sent home — if not for fraternizing with the opposite gender, then for foolishly getting hurt and costing IBLP money. I was more afraid of being sent home in disgrace than I was of bleeding to death. (W.A.)
Yep, been there. Playing ultimate on a cement parking lot...in a skirt. My feet were knocked out from under me and I landed right on my knees. It was not even suggested that I call my parents. My knees swelled up so bad I could hardly walk, but there was no rest time when working at the TC. I was thankfully given permission to use the elevators and not have to walk up the 4 flights to my room. After all these years I now have bad arthritis in both knees from improper care following the injury.
You had to have permission to use the elevators with bad knees?
This stories are ridiculous! Even more thankful today that God protected my kids as He did. My heart breaks for all the young people who have experienced these situations firthand and those who are still being subjected to this type of treatment. God help the truth come to light. This abuse has got to stop!
I have to say that I got sick at ITC once too. But I was so sick there was absolutely no getting me up. hahaha My roommate rustled me a little and told me she would tell the nurse. I barely even remember the nurse coming in with whatever she had for me to drink before I was out again. I think I slept for two days straight. It was probably a combination of being sleep deprived for so long so my immune system was down and then when I got sick... I was out. LOL
But, on the other side, while we were playing volley ball. A girl lost her footing on the loose gravel and dislocated her ankle. I remember her in agony while the nurse tried to decide whether to call someone or not.
I came down with something at ITC .. I was sick in bed for 3 days with high fevers. Finally someone came in to ask me what sins I had committed to be this ill. I didn't know what to say. I don't know if my parents ever knew how sick I was.
"Caring for your apprenticeship student' at it's best!
Physical neglect and spiritual abuse all in one handy package! Apply at the closest TC today!!"
I went home for Christmas from ITC with a cold I'd had for weeks. The woman I sat next to on the airplane felt sorry for me (or maybe I annoyed her) because of my constant coughing. She gave me her pack of cough drops. When she disembarked I handed them back to her and she said, "Keep them. You need them more than I do."
I finally saw a doctor when I got home, who initially diagnosed bronchitis, but after antibiotics failed to make any impact, I returned to the doctor and learned I had pneumonia. I'm really glad I was back home by that point. I shudder to think what might have happened had I developed pneumonia at ITC. They seldom sent anyone to the doctor.
I had what I thought was the flu. The nurse told me to drink Alka-Seltzer every 2 hours all day. By night I spiked a temperature of 104. Ended up going to the ER. As I left in a wheelchair I stopped breathing. I remember everything going dark and my roommate telling me to breathe. I had pneumonia. Alka-Seltzer so often? Why didn't I think of that! To this day I can't stand certain lemon flavors and scents.
Yes, I remember that Alka-Seltzer was one of Bill Gothard's personal kicks for a while. He believed it would heal anything--cough, cold, flu, you name it! I tried it once, just to humor him. Besides tasting really nasty, it didn't do a thing to help my flu! LOL
Yes, I remember the Alka-Seltzer, too. BG had it placed in medical cabinets all over HQ, and whenever we felt a cold or flu coming on, we were told to take it over and over until we felt better. It was touted as a miracle cure-all. I couldn't drink it because it triggered my gag reflex, and felt terribly guilty for using Nyquil with its alcohol content. I felt that I had to hide my non-approved over-the-counter meds.
Quite frankly, I'm disgusted. Gothard's and the IBLP headquarter's ideas of what to do when someone gets hurt doing their work is totally foolish, hurtful, and heartless. Really shows you what's at the root of this stuff. Totally uncaring about people and their individual needs.
Did anyone ever ask in reply what deep deviant hidden sin, that the leadership is hiding that they believe that everyone else is hiding something?
So many stories from friends in the ATI circles at home that were just like these throughout the years. Such a shame.
~Sally : )
I started running a fever and had a panic attack in the middle of the night at the ITC and was given vitamin C to cure this. I was also told I could not leave my room for 24-48 hours. I left my room and marched downstairs to call my mom. I then went back to my room and was horribly bored so I opened my door and set there and talked to people walking down the hall. The nurse showed back up and told me I obviously had a serious problem with authority and needed to read my Bible and go over my seminar materials more.
Gag me, there is nothing "Christian" about this. In fact, it's entirely heathen! I would expect this kind of treatment from some sort of cult or commie establishment. Not from people who professed Jesus Christ as their savior! I am utterly disgusted.
Where in the world did they get these so called staff leaders? Did they get hired when they showed they could eat live snakes and stomp small furry animals? It must be the grace of God that someone did not die (or go postal) while at one of those "prison camps". Are these ITC's being held today in the same way?
Wow.......just wow. That is borderline physical abuse and definitely negligence, all in the name of Christ. How is not taking care of the students who are supposed to be learning about Christian ministry helping to reach the world for Christ? God be with all of you who have suffered so--I'm surprised the nurses who refused to give proper treatment are even nurses.