Personal testimonies of finding true freedom through God's matchless grace.

Articles about how Bill Gothard mishandles the Bible to support his legalistic viewpoint.

Living and thriving through the grace of God.

Stories and accounts of the destruction caused by the teachings of Bill Gothard.

You are here:

Author Archives: Carolynn

Life Focus: A Sister’s Perspective

18 November 2013, 06:00

Carolynn

32

I was 13 when my parents chose to send my brother to Life Focus. Josh was the first in our family—at age 16—to experience an apprenticeship program, and the whole family was both excited and apprehensive. What would the Indianapolis Training Center (ITC) be like? (My parents attended a short admissions seminar there several years […]

read more 

I Remember…

25 February 2013, 06:00

Carolynn

20

I was nine when my parents decided to join the Advanced Training Institute (ATI). I have many memories of their decision and its effect on my life. I remember being extremely happy before joining ATI. Happy with how we were homeschooling (using a mix of curricula), happy that my parents started a homeschool group in […]

read more 

Rethinking Grace

15 October 2012, 06:00

Carolynn

106

As I’ve discussed with my parents various teachings I learned through the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and through the homeschooling curriculum published by the Advanced Training Institute of America (ATIA), I’ve frequently heard from them, “We never taught you that!” They are sometimes defensive and sometimes horrified at the concepts I absorbed as […]

read more 

As the Pendulum Swings

6 August 2012, 06:00

Carolynn

19

When I look back at my parents’ decision to join the Advanced Training Institute (ATI), I think I can understand many of the reasons behind their choice. They first encountered Bill Gothard and the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) when their friends attended the Basic Seminar in the 1970s. A few years later, my […]

read more 

Unprepared for Life

26 March 2012, 06:00

Carolynn

20

What was your educational and vocational experience? I never went to college. When I finally moved out at age 25, I struggled a lot to support myself. I had little experience interacting with people outside the Christian homeschool community, and very few job skills. I moved six hours away from my family for a job, […]

read more 

The Aftermath of ATI and its Aversion to Higher Education: Part 2

29 February 2012, 06:00

Carolynn

16

This article continues a two-part series as students share the long-term effects of ATI’s teaching against college.         College was evil in my family. My parents have changed their views on this now, but still don’t put a huge emphasis on the importance of a degree. So now, I have 3 siblings […]

read more 

The Aftermath of ATI and its Aversion to Higher Education: Part 1

27 February 2012, 06:00

Carolynn

38

In the early days of ATI (Advanced Training Institute), families with a student in college were denied enrollment. While the official policy changed early on in the program, the philosophy of discouraging higher education continues to this day. The reasons given are varied, but the bottom line is clear: Students frequently were not encouraged or […]

read more 

    Search Recovering Grace

    Recent Posts

    Tags

    abuse Advanced Training Institute anecdotes ATI ATIA authority Basic Seminar Bible Bill Gothard Christian liberty college courtship culture false teaching fear Freedom Gothard grace guilt Headquarters healing Homeschool homeschooling IBLP IBYC Indianapolis Training Center Institute in Basic Life Principles ITC legalism love manipulation parents Recovering Grace RecoveringGrace.org Rock Music rules Salvation sexual abuse Sin spiritual abuse standards submission Training Center What Now? working conditions

    Copyright © 2011-2014 Recovering Grace. All rights reserved. RecoveringGrace.org collects no personal information other than what you share with us. Some opinions on this site are not the opinions of Recovering Grace. If you believe copyrighted work to be published here without permission or attribution, please email: [email protected]

    Back to Top