Life at the Riverfront Character Inn (RCI) was not exactly like life at the other training centers run by the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and its home school branch, the Advanced Training Institute (ATI). But there were many similarities.
One of the things that set the RCI apart from other training centers was that it was supposed to be a functioning business, operating as a conference center/hotel, while the other training centers were primarily used for training ATI students, and the conferences that they hosted were primarily IBLP and ATI functions.
In addition, unlike the students at other training centers, RCI’s staff members were not usually trying to fit their duties in around a rigorous study and class schedule. The students and families who came to RCI to “serve” worked as the staff of the hotel, doing everything… things like cleaning hotel rooms, cooking for banquets, waiting tables, operating an industrial-sized laundry room, working at the front desk, and countless other tasks.
During my time at the RCI, I did everything at least once (except for mechanical and maintenance), but worked mostly in the sales and catering office. My duties ranged from answering phones and keeping track of paperwork and payments to meeting with clients, overseeing the set-up of meeting and event rooms, and coordinating on the day of the actual event.
In the beginning, I was excited and a bit overwhelmed. I am not a very outgoing person by nature, and the task of communicating with people in the “real” business world was daunting. But I became good at faking confidence and grew into my position over time. Towards the end of my time, I began to wonder how my experiences were going to benefit the rest of my life. I didn’t have any plans to work in the hotel industry, and I wasn’t sure how my skills would translate into the real world.
Here are a few memories I have of working at the RCI:
During “peak” times at the RCI, when there was plenty going on and lots of students around, hosting big events was not a problem at all. RCI also housed Verity college students, and during times of great need (such as a very large event like a business expo with formal banquet for 4,000 people) we called on the Verity students to help. We also pulled in the staff family members for dish duty and whatever else we could. I was often in charge of scheduling out all of this–assigning who would work where and posting the infamous color-coded Excel charts for each event. I remember the families and Verity staff being protective of their time, to the point that it seemed they were reluctant to “do their part” and help. These attitudes didn’t seem to fit in with the teachings of community and selflessness that we were taught, and it often caused conflicts between them and “leadership.” Now that I have a family of my own, I can see exactly where they were coming from. Families have different priorities than single people, and I wish I had understood that. I would have known to respect that more.
When student programs were slow at the RCI, there were only a handful of people available to staff events and keep the 16-story tower we called home clean. It easily became overwhelming. I remember one event looming on the horizon, and there were probably fewer than 15 people in the whole building (not including the families). The grand ballroom was filled with round tables covered in white cloths, partially set with goblets and silverware. Light set-up (setting tables, decorations, etc.) was something that I detested. But it was up to me to make sure that this got done. I avoided the ballroom and my task for a day or two, focusing instead on things in the office. The hugeness of the task made me want to cry. I remember thinking and praying, “God, this was not what I signed up for. I can’t do this by myself and there is no one here to help. What do I do?” My last resort was to go to the director and tell him I needed the families to help, but I didn’t want to do that. The next afternoon I walked into the ballroom to find one of the moms checking each table for the correct settings. She looked up as I walked in and said, “We realized that you didn’t have much help down here, so my kids and I are going to help you get this finished.” It was such a relief to have them helping!
Other events that took place during “busy” times at the RCI went off without a hitch and were even enjoyable. I often felt like I was working a “real job,” rather than serving in a ministry. Some of the best bonding experiences with the friends I made there took place during the hecticness of busy events, while we rushed warmers full of plated-food down back hallways, did dishes for hours on end in an industrial-sized kitchen, or answered non-stop phone calls and checked crowds of people into their rooms.
I sometimes wonder what the people who attended those events thought of us. Teenagers and young adults staffing a conference center. The girls all wearing skirts. No mainstream music and only conservative family-friendly movies or news stations playing on the televisions. What did they really think of the place?
I’m grateful that I don’t have the horror stories and hurts from training centers that so many of my fellow students have experienced. (My own hurts came from the way IBLP turned my home life into something twisted and scary.) However, I would warn anyone who wants to go down this path to stay far away. If you want your kids to have character and be strong Christians, take them to soup kitchens or shelters for single moms, and serve the people there. Let them see the realities of life and learn to show the love of Jesus in the real world. Don’t isolate your children from the world around them. Instead, insulate them with truth, with love, and with grace, so that when they come across the harshness in this world they are able to stand and be the light that Jesus called them be.
"Don’t isolate your children from the world around them. Instead, insulate them with truth, with love, and with grace, so that when they come across the harshness in this world they are able to stand and be the light that Jesus called them be."
Yes, yes, and yes again!
As a Verity student at the RCI during that time period, I can relate to everything in this post. Verity was sold as an accelerated college experience, with it being strongly stated that the rigorous academic schedule would leave little time for other activities. Thus, it really puzzled me when we were required to help with various RCI conferences and events. I remember thinking many times that the place was horribly understaffed, yet at that time I was also still holding to the pro-Gothrad views I had been raised with, so I told myself there had to be a good reason for it.
Liz, I can't speak for others, but I sure would like to apologize for any feelings of ill-will or reluctance to pitch in I may have communicated. We were all put in a tough spot, and there wasn't much direction from higher up as to what extent we Verity students were supposed to get involved with RCI activities (besides service hour) in ways that wouldn't compromise academic expectations. Very glad that chapter of life is over.
Thanks for that. :) I hold no ill-will towards anyone in the Verity program. You guys were pretty much awesome. And yes, VERY glad that chapter of life is over.
I remember those banquets all too well. I still can't walk into a wedding reception or banquet without flashing back to the RCI days and mentally accessing the seating, place settings, food, etc. I have to say I really enjoyed my days in the Sales & Catering Office. You were fun to work with! True it wasn't all fun but I look back and see that my love of event/wedding planning came from my year at the RCI. I may not have realized how much I enjoyed doing that if not for my experience there.
Thank you for sharing Liz! I realize that a lot of people had some pretty horrific experiences at the training centers. I'm glad you're able to write about some of the more positive experiences. Thanks!
AmyJ, you were awesome. :) (and still are)
Liz,
Thanks for writing this. It is an eye-opener to people not familiar with the IBLP organization.
I am surprised parents did not question Bill Gothard's business model. Seems like the organization was making money on the backs of young people doing "ministry". Gothard must have been some salesman to convince people to move to Flint and live in a hotel. Did the families who ran the inn really believe this was the best way to do ministry. You wonder what the motivations were. Could it be that Gothard promised these families a future position in the organization if they ministered at the inn for a season? I would not want to raise my family in a hotel.
Jane, some families may have been promised positions, or at least hoped for them. For others, I believe they thought they were akin to missionaries and were sacrificing their freedoms at home for the 'greater good'. Service like that was glorified.
I am convinced that Mr.G. found a way to convince many parents to send thier children to serve in a ministry only to be building his "ministry" empire. Most of his so called ministries fell through and he replaced them with money making businesses. The ITC has quite a few examples of this. OTC got rid of their outreach to single mothers and the fatherless. They focused solely on Character First which was Mr. Hill's business. Most of the training that these centers gave was not traing at all but free labor. I thought as a single mother that they would help my girls with a marketable skill. He made us believe that the ministry would be there for the fatherless and widows.I thought that after a year or so that My girls take one of their courses. I was foolish to think that.