All I wanted was to go to boarding school and play guitar in a rock band, but instead my parents sent me to a Christian reform school in the D.R. So part of my life has been dictated by forces outside of my control- because I went to Escuela Caribe, I have to write about what happened to me and my friends. If I don’t, other kids will be condemned to repeat my past, or worse. And I don’t wish that on anyone.
In my last post I shared that the founder of New Horizons Youth Ministries, Gordon Blossom, molested his daughter. Since then, Jesus Land author Julia Scheeres discovered that Pastor Blossom frequently raped his wife. He also had sex with Haitian prostitutes, who were usually virgins. This was at the same time that he insisted his teenage charges refrain from sexual contact. Scheeres also learned that Blossom insisted on staffing Escuela Caribe/ New Horizons Youth Ministries with inexperienced staff members who were less likely to “buck the system.” I’ve suspected that for years.
After Gordon Blossom retired, his son Tim Blossom became NHYM’s chief CEO. Tim was the head guy during my time. My dad trusted Tim so much that when I had an issue post-graduation, he insisted I go to Tim for counseling. It was awful. More on that at a later date.
Last Tuesday I had a long conversation with a former student. She told me that on several occasions Tim “counseled” her at his house alone. He told her he had had an affair. He discussed how this affected his sexual life with his wife. He asked this student if she touched herself, and when she said she didn’t, encouraged her to do so. There are many more graphic details. Tim didn’t touch this student, but we both conclude he was likely grooming her for further abuse. Or maybe not. Maybe just talking dirty did the trick for him.
I knew lots of adopted kids at New Horizons. I knew lots of kids who were abused like me. Tim told this student that NHYM preferred students who were adopted or who had been abused because the “bond was broken.” He could persuade the parents to keep the kids there longer. If I hadn’t graduated from high school a year early, I know my parents would have left me there for three.
Instead I graduated, went to college, married, went to grad school. Eventually I learned to play guitar. My husband says if I spent as much time playing as I spend writing I’d be killer, but that can wait. Because I’ve got my own mission- to expose all those from New Horizons for what they are- fake Christians who made bank by exploiting families and abusing kids.
Tim was a creep just like his Dad. I was adopted also. Tim had my parents wrapped around his finger. Tim was a major manipulator. I like your blogs!
Pamela
I agree with you about Tim. The way he exploited adopted kids still makes me angry- I had several friends who were adopted.
My parents loved Phil Redwine too. Those guys were pros at manipulating the weak.
I was there from Feb 02 till May 03x Phil Redwine, Time Blossom, Mr Grant, Ms Shoei( at the time), and the rest of that staff can fuck off. Pray they never see me again.
Haha, I feel you. Hang in there!
I was the about the same time man I got stories about that place for days
I was a student and I struggle with PTSD now as an adult. I most definitely was abused physically sexually and mentally at both programs. I was to scared to say what had happened to me right before they were closed and I was one chosen who they knew somehow I was being severely abused. Not just in Marion Indiana but also in the Dominican republic as well. I’m glad to see I’m not alone and the only one who struggled as I did in silence and was called crazy because I was one student who fought back
I like to have you come forward and get a hold of me privately through my email I was a student there from 1985 to 1988 and I’m looking to bring a class action lawsuit against New Horizons youth ministry for the abuse that all students have taken please feel free to contact me privately to my email so we can discuss and please move this forward on two different students that you know of or still in contact with
Hey, I too am looking to help. I stayed in the DR all if 2001 and have stories about Tim and Mr Redwine. I was repeatedly physically abused. They liked to make an example out of me since I was the oldest. I spent the majority of my time done rheee after I turned 18. Tim made a trip down and told me he wanted to be the one to tell me personally on my 18th birthday that they could no longer keep me there legally, but that there was nothing I could do about it. I was there when Graham Higgs commuted his sexual abuse and after it finally came to the light, they moved him to the grounds crew.
Disgusting that they moved him to ground crew. A similar thing happened when I was there with a serial abuser, actually 3 of them. Much <3.
Hi my name is Rob I was a student there from 1985 to 1988 I would like to get students that have been there they went through the abuse as well to come forward to bring this to light because I’m thinking about looking into a returnee and bringing a class action lawsuit against New Horizons youth ministry please feel free to contact me at l a m p h i e a r 1973 at yahoo.com please leave your message I will get ahold of you privately let’s move this forward and pass it on to further students that you know of
Rob, I was in the D.R. from 1976-1980. i also suffered at the hands of Gordon and Tim blossom. physically, mentally and sexually. i have got resources and family willing to help with a lawsuit also ! i am so broken…my life has taken a downward spiral and self destructive path since i came stateside. let me know what you”d like me to do, and ant info you’ve obtained to get this going. i have sent a few articles to my attorneys, the “lifeline” lawsuit (400k cash and over a million in property !) and as many articles on the NHYM, Gordon and Tim blossom as i have been able to locate so far.
Hi my name is Tony and I worked in Canada in 2006. I can’t think of this other guy that worked along side of Tim, along with his wife. Both were above all others. Degrading even the staff.
While there working I heard derogatory statement made also a young girl that was there while walking on a trail was seriously injured. They forced her to do what the others had to do and she was drugged up on pain pills and her hand was pretty damaged by deelp lacerations. She had a hard time talking let alone walking or working while medicated.
I was injured in a slip and fall by the lake there, eventually taken back to states for treatment several weeks later. I was unable to walk because of back injury. Was living over on Thompson point which required a boat trip to work. Since I was having trouble walking, could not make it to the mess hall. Went three days without food because they were trying to force me to walk I guess. Eventually was brought a 9 x 13 pad full of potatoes and hamburger that looked like was left over from others plates. Was told that this will last you for a few days and nothing else was brought to me. It was discusting to say the least. They tell you to be careful with cooked food or other items a bear would eat. No refrigerator and in the summer. Guess they thought food poisoning would help me, lol.
So sorry to hear of your treatment. Thank you for your story. Much love.
A simular thing happened to me. I have had 2 back surgerys because of the Canada school. Going there was a horrible experience!! Thought maybe it was just mine. But seems like a lot of kids had the same horrible experience. Wow never knew about some of these things.
I too was there in 1975-1977 Escuela Caribbean Jarbacoa i too know of that perverted bastards Gordon Blossoms occult and have suffered and never forgotten see son of that bastards has face book see ugly repays old now wonder how he would like to have a culture shock from all his victims in a isolated country ….
I would be glad to come forward I was there in 1975 I am Angela Follis.
Hi I’m Jeff and I was a student at new horizons in Marion indiana, Canada and the D.R.
Hey Jeff. Thanks for stopping by:)
Hey rob I was a student in dr and have plenty of stories of these people I’m shure someone would want to hear I kind of just stumbled onto this site by chance randomly googling Escula carbie. Lol
Rob,
Did you ever meet Mark Swart? I’m his mom–I was definitely unaware of the abuse until I read Julia’s book. I’m angry–and gunning for them. Understandably, Mark still refuses to talk to me. We trusted them to help our son. Instead their abuse made things far worse. Unconscionable!
Jan
omg…me too !!! my parents thought tim and gorden were god !!! so, where do we go from here…im so broken !! i was court ordered by a fla judge that was in blossoms pocket. tim and gordon kept me in the D.R. for 3 years !! ive got stories…im in the FB group “survivors of new horizons youth ministires and the alumni. weve been talking about going to an attorney with the sexua abuse some of us endured, being that theres no statue of limitations on crimes against children;..the corporation im sure is a billion dollar industry and its only right they be held accountable, isnt that what our punishment there was all about, accountablity ! i was also told that” lifeline” won a 400K lawsuit against NHYM, so, those of us that have been broken and left to try and survive have decided to go after the legacy of tim and gordon blossom, and any corporation that gained any funding at our expence ! any info and or help, would be greatly appreciated !! my name back then (1976-1980) in D.R. was Sue Peterson. i was in pedregal and montana house.and i was sexually abused by gordon blossom, with his side kick, tim blossom paving the path for continued abuse, verbally and physically abused. i was a runner, i hit every corner of the DR trying to catch a banana boat stateside !! i was beaten so hard i couldnt sit, i tried to stop the beatings, i got a classic punch to the throat and jaw of one suprised gordon, but was then held down for further beatings, and then 2 months in the quiet room. im very scattered at the moment…many many days of abuse. ive been looking for the kids that where in the DR the time i was, but ive blocked so much out, and im struggling with all thats come to light since somehow stumbling across the hew horizons alumni and seeing numerous pictures of me and my friends…
I was in marion in program when 9-11 happened. I got kicked out after 3 months because I stabbed one of the guys in the face after I bent his glasses in half. I was in isolation. For 2 days with no sleep and had enough. I was heavily drugged with anti depressants and anxiety
Hi, my grandparents are currently friends with Tim. I have felt uncomfortable with him since day 1. My Gma doesn’t believe me but these stories just support the things I have felt uneasy about.
Thank you. <3
Remember the tool shed
My parents send me there as well. and I too was adopted, it took me years to show my parents what really went on there and break the corruption The Blossoms and Phil Redwine had on my parents. After I got my Masters in Psych did they finally listen. The entire time I was there they use to tell me I looked at girls sexually or that I had bad sexual though in my head, it wasn’t till years later did I even realize that teens had sexual thoughts. I was pretty sheltered growing up. My only issue ever was and still is. (at least from my own research and consulting with fellow colleges) I have a form of reactive attachment disorder. I find it really hard to attach to people be it family or friends. I don’t even feel that close to my parents now. and even at 32 I still have nightmares of the experience there and nightmares of my dad. I once worked there for a summer in Canada. The hardest 3 months of my life. Being stuck in the wilderness with College Kids younger then me, no real training, No degrees to back up what they were doing telling kids how what to do. It made me sick to my stomach, it was so hard to talk to the kids at night during devotions. Trying to tell them that it gets better and that program life is so much different then the real world. I bucked the rules all I could. I even read Nine Inch Nails Lyrics to the kids to help them check out of their summer of hell. Though surprising you can relate a lot of Nine Inch Nails songs to the program and God and draw connections. Anywho. I totally agree with you Deirdre, Tim is a creep, his ideas are borderline insane and his chart to explain people is just psychotic. Phil on the other hand, had a good heart. I will not agree with what he did or does, but I know from talking with him his heart was always there, I guess being the person I am I was able to see parts of the staff that was different. I have always been on of those people that ANYONE can talk to, they always seem to open up to me, and I saw things that were different. BUT I still hate that place that program and I would do anything in my power to shut it down or warn parents away from it. and If you are a parent having troubles with your teen, DO one of two things… TALK TO THEM… the one thing my parents never did for me… OR LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE. There is a good program down in Texas I heard about once.
Hey JM:
They called it “the program” for a reason- it also took me a really long time to understand how damaged I was by the whole experience. I just wanted to have a normal life when I got out. I didn’t talk about it. I pretended it didn’t happen. I still don’t talk much about any of this with my family- it hits too hard. And you aren’t alone and I don’t think it is a disorder, just a normal reaction to the trauma we experienced- I think most of us grads have struggled with connecting with others at different stages of our lives.
The sexual edicts were insane. It’s hard to believe what we lived with. But don’t worry- covered in Unreformed. Weirdly comic in retrospect.
I believe that many of the staff there, Phil included, convinced themselves and/ or were coerced into believing they were doing the right thing. That’s why the Blossoms hired people when they were young and untrained- so they could mold them. You only worked there three months- you know it was hard. Philip Zimbardo wrote this book called the Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil which you might want to check out. It helped me grasp some of the dynamics going on there staff to staff. It helped me understand how later as a high ranker I could become the person I least wanted to become. I do empathize with many of the staff members- though understand, this empathy does not excuse those who did wrong. Many of those people are now in counseling. Their licenses should be revoked.
I like your advice about talking to your kid. I like your admonishment to do the research. And I love that you read Nine Inch Nails lyrics to your students. Pretty Hate Machine was released my last year- we’d listen to it covertly on our walkmans in Marion. Wild times.
Thanks for commenting. Hang in there. I wish you the best. The more I have addressed all this (mainly by writing in notebooks no one but me will ever read), the happier I have become. The beautiful thing is that now we are all free to be whoever we want to be. I love that more than anything.
<3, D
I was in Marion & Missanabie Woods Academies. My name is Gabe (Gabriel) Auer & I was a high ranker. I was there between 1993 to 1996. I was never really treated badly, but I always felt some students were. It sounds like things went downhill in the early to mid-2000’s.
It was always a terrible place. i think it was easier for some of us than others.
I was in marion in program when 9-11 happened. I got kicked out after 3 months because I stabbed one of the guys in the face after I bent his glasses in half. I was in isolation. For 2 days with no sleep and had enough. I was heavily drugged with anti depressants and anxiety meds by their own doctor. I believe he was a Mexican guy agulaera or something. Does anyone remember me. My name is robert
Wow ditto Deirdre! You put it perfectly. I never could understand why I never wanted to talk about it when I got out but you are right. I was a teen and I just wanted to live a normal teenage life. I think it helped me block it all, just being a normal but somewhat
crazy and rebellious teen. I’m 47 years old and I still have dreams about being in that place, weird dreams where the same kids are still there and recognize me and I them, etc.
The staff would abuse me terribly but I was so in need of love they would hug you after
and make you want their acceptance. So in my dreams I am often friends with them but
still scared and huddled together with the students. It’s often that I’m going back to
visit for some reason as an adult, I don’ know why. (Maybe part of me still wants their
acceptance?) Also I’ll have dreams where I’m trying to get away but every time I just
never end up doing it, like the TV specials of Gilligan’s Island where they would get
off the island and then something would always happen and they’d end up right back!
hahaha Don’t think anyone who hasn’t been through this shit would understand.
Did anything ever come of the lawsuits? I was beaten and abused constantly and Bob
Kim shook me so bad in the forest in Canada that I think it damaged my neck and back
permanently.
We must have been there around the same time. I hear you and feel you. I am sorry you have nightmares still. Therapy and speaking out has helped me. <3<3<3
Deidre,
I am desperate to find out more about NHYM. My brother went through the “program” from late 90’s into 2001 and on returning home cut ties with family when he told my parents he had been abused. They refused to listen. Now that I am older and able to do something, anything, I am trying to find out what did/does happen. He went through all of the NHYM campuses. Please contact me!
Hi 9187101034 I’m cloud i was in the program and when I was there I tried to run away more than once they continued to threaten me with the dominican republic which I got a break on and because my mom refuses to pay further more I ended up in canada things went horrible and I feel like I was taking advantage of lied to and told to lie to my parents about what was really going on why i was there I did however rebel against them in a non violet way which they did not like I refuse to snap or have a crisis I refuse to have one I refuse to give in to their ways I was only 15 but I saw through them and I was going to make sure that they didn’t succeed personally I know that place was a scam and the fact that it still up and running is very sad and disappointing
I do not support the imperial westwick ambitions of new horizons youth ministries and have found their actions to be reprehensible therefore I feel they should be punished to the fullest extent and in my opinion it should be the death penalty
This was copied and put on the website of a completely different church called Horizon Community Church which is not even associated with the church or people in this article. I hope it was a mistake and not threats and intimidation as that is agains the law.
I had nothing to do with the posting. Apologize for the inconvenience.
You can feel free to email me at lamphiear 1973 at yahoo.com I was assuming it there from 1985 to 1988 I went through the same situation with the abuse and looking to move this forward to see what we could do about found or class action lawsuit against New Horizons youth Ministries
Quite honestly, i think the statute of limitations has passed.
you may call,text or email me. i was in the DR in 1976-1980. ill tell you everything i remember, and as ive been talking with the others, weve brought back lots of suppressed memories. ill take a few days and try to get them more in order. names are difficult but some are coming back as well. MY name was Sue Peterson, ive changed it years ago. Mya Solace goodwitch420@yahoo.com, 828 387 0876
So sorry to hear. I would believe your brother- from what I understand, awful things occurred there during that time, especially to the guys. I’ll be in touch. -D
so MANY GAY PEDOFILES IT MADE ME SIIICK!!! (2000 graduate)
MR. GRAHM, he was a fuucking faggot fat fuuck. I almost got my ass whooped because i told another student that i knew he was gay. SURE enough, 6 months later he was caught molesting a kid in the ice cold showers.
TIM BLOSSOM TOLD US REPEATEDLY THAT WE DIDNT NEED TO LOVE OUR MOTHERS. FUCKING PEOPHIOLE PIECE OF SHIT!!
Oh, and mr Grahms punishment for molesting kids was Machetting a field of grass. WTF!??? We had to do that shit every day.
I dont know much about Mr. Redwine, other than he bent me over a chair and whooped the shit out of me. I bet that guy is a pedophile piece of shit too. ID LOVE TO FIND ALL THESE PIECES OF SHIT AND WHOOP THEIR FUCKING ASS!!!
THESE GUYS REALLY GIVE CHRISTIANITY A GOOD NAME.
BTW, I STILL BELIEVE IN GOD.
but honestly, i dont like the word Christian. and i dont like to use it.
Where u at Tim Blossom, come and get some!
Me too I was there in the beginning
I interned there for a year when I was in college (2007ish maybe?). I used to tell the kids all the time the only difference between me and them was that I had a key and could leave because none of them seemed that bad. Mostly, sad as it sounds, it seemed like their parents just didn’t want to deal with them. I loved every single one of those kids and I still to this day think about them and hope I made it a little less awful for them. I can relate to the person who read NIN lyrics as I took in a stack of brand new tabloid magazines one day for “Group Therapy” so the girl’s house could make collages of things that represented who they were…and maybe feel like normal kids for an hour and check out what was going on in the real world.
Thanks, Tiff. Checking out- yes! And yea, I think you nailed it, many parents just don’t want to deal with their kids.
Tiff I remember you doing that project! It was at the beginning of my time in the program. I got thrown from normal life to being afraid to enjoy myself or even really acknowledge who I was as a person. Your project was the first time I was able to be myself since being put in the program.
I went through the Canadian program in 2006 and the 2006-2007 school year in Marion. I do believe that most of the staff I dealt with were in their own minds doing the right thing. In Canada I was screamed at thrown into push up position by the Marion Cabin Team Leader Mr. Posts, and then told to get up and do a unit of pure squat thrust. What did I do? I had a secret relationship with a girl in his Cabin and her being on 1st and me on 0 level we obviously couldn’t be communicating but we would give each other little looks motion a joke if we had a chance. And for the rest of the summer I had to leave her alone. Even when on level.
I don’t believe that the program promoted the development of healthy sexual or platonic relationships. It was a dogmatic system fueled by fear of stepping out of line and built on the back of submit and accept.
I miss memories I had with my housemates who for the most part I have kept in contact with. There were some days off that we really did feel like a family. Canoe camp and trail camp are experiences I hold dearly and I can never be sure if it’s just residual effects of my programming because once I bit. I bit hard. I became a 5th leveler off points by the end. If anyone wants to connect and talk more about the program please respond. I’d love to hear a collection of experiences from those places.
Thank you for being a voice to others. My husband is a survivor of STRAIGHT-incredibly similar stories although he has yet to talk much about it, even though he was there from 1986-1988. He is working on a book now. His life after ‘treatment’ involved severe alcoholism to the point he now has essential tremors, even though he has not been drinking for the last 8-10 years. Severe anxiety, PTSD, nightmares, depression-you name it. I have recently gone down a rabbit hole looking at the (thousands?) of “facilities” (I use that term loosely) that have damaged children over the years in the name of therapy. There is a huge listing of the dozens of former STRAIGHT clients who committed suicide. My husband just tried to do it slowly with alcohol to cover up his shame, guilt and shattered self esteem. I saw the beauty of him underneath the shield, and have worked on drawing him out to be the person he is now. I hope you are able to write your story in a book format. I wish all the survivors could put into words their experiences in the hopes this torture ENDS. It is 2017. We live in a first world nation. Yet this is still promoted on shows like “DR” (He was stripped of his license in California years ago) Phil, who sends kids via transporters (causing severe trauma) to places like Turn About Ranch (as recent as this year), where there are stories of not only abuse, but a youth recently killing a staff member to get free. My husband has told me stories of kids in STRAIGHT there (in Florida) being told they were going to Disney World, just to be dumped into these republican funded (Bush for his center) abuse centers. Again, thank you for standing up and talking about this. My husband has not been able to talk to his parents about these abuses, some 30 years later. They still believe the program ‘helped’ him-he graduated high school late when released (at age 18) due to no valuable education in the program-and this helps kids how??? So much to say and I have not even had the experience, just hearing in snatches from my husband, and now an entire weekend reading article after article after article of abuse. Wishing you peace n your journey.
Please inform me, per email or here, where Tim Blossom is currently located. Kidnapping charges are going to be set against him, so need location. Dominican news are interviewing me about kidnapping.
Gil
Link to new video about Mew Horizons Youth Ministries, and Escuela Caribe. This is from a Santo Domingo news reporter Nuria Piera that interviewed me. I finally come out and tell them, with evidence, that I was kidnapped for two years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpkVQncxI0M
Hi Gil, I would love to see the YouTube link, but it comes up w an error or private only message… perhaps it’s expired now as it’s been a couple years
I am new here, but I think we know each other. My name is Janice, from San Diego. I was in Escuela Caribé late Oct 1986 to late August 1987 after I graduated from HS there, class of (1) 🙂 in June 1987.
Not to sound like a creepy stalker, but I (think?) maybe (?) we “dated” while there? Haha… making me chuckle. I can remember sitting on an outdoor bench by the entrance gate & tetherball court on the grass field, w a great friend named Gil, actually we soon become “approved” boy/girlfriend, allowed to hold hands after we had earned our proper levels… omg that’s such a random hilarious memory.
I truly hope this doesn’t sound creepy
I mean this all with the very best ~ I always hoped he had a happy life.. if that’s you, well then, best wishes to you.
But back to the harsh reality of what we all experienced there… I too have the similar list of nightmares, terrors, addiction, MDD, PTSD/Anxiety disorder… pretty much the gammet of hell created by those awful awful humans who felt entitled to do what they did to us.
I completely stumbled on this site today by accident… so random… but clearly meant to be. I have so many questions & so much to share… Diedre do you still monitor this? I truly hope we can get in touch!!
Happy to DM you once that’s approved. Meanwhile I will post the long write up I created in response today… and open up to anyone who may have been there w me. As my fellow classmates were the one joy there.. (ok, maybe climbing Mt Pico at 11k ft was a 2nd great thing…)
other than that, pretty much the same horrible abuse destined here aligns w my life story as well.
Not over it. Still very broken. Incredibly broken. So much shame.
So would truly enjoy to connect in some manner as it may help each of us.
Very best wishes & Merry Christmas as well
Janice 🙂
I wonder if they pulled it…
Omg Jan? I remember you and yes you and ship dated )if you can call it that) I always wondered what happened to you!
I sometimes stumble on your fathers program on the radio. Then I think about you for a couple of days.
I would love to reconnect! I’m not sure how?
Hi Deirdre! Keep up the good work sister!
Pam
Hey Pam! <3
Went to the DREPUBLIC in the late 80s.thank God I lived off campus in Jarabacoa.We each lived our own hell.Believe what you read .Can’t make this shit up.
i remember you jeff werling. i was in the marion program and in missanabe woods. i hated NHYM. i was abused as well. they would not even allow me to attend my dads funeral!! i had to run away from the marion group home on Penn. Ave and hitch hike to be there.
I went to school there in 1980 and yes it was a lot of abuse and messed my head up I ended up marrying an abuser cuz of it I was with him for 8 years Phil redwine was my house father and so Brenda was my house mother and Charlene was my sister I’ve had a daughter I named her after Shar and I’ve had two other children and I have lost them due to my abuse that I had encounter where I was there I reached out to one of my classmates just recently and it is been hard to really go through all the pain that I went through and I don’t know if the school still in service or not I’m trying to find out but I really feel sorry for all the people that had to go back home
Class of ’93. Growing up in my childhood must somehow lead me to believe something a little different than most of the post I come upon concerning New Horizons. Having a psychotic mother with nothing to lose is thee ultimate hell. As a ward of the state I was place in this program. From “he ain’t heavy he’s my brother” to several foster homes to the good ol’ DR. Sure there were a$$ whippings and maybe a little bit of pushing and shoving,(mutual might I add), but to be honest, I partially believe this place “saved” or should I say “prolonged” my life. I am not easily persuaded nor intimidated, so what some may call “abuse” I would call moments. And if we let these moments consume our thoughts, then one will not proceed in life. I can promise that I have been there/done that. Life is about choices. There was a documentary put out a couple of years ago. The basis of the film was misleading. I had assumed the film would focus on the ass beatings a lot of kids weren’t used to. There are “alternate lifestyles” all around this world. During my time (2 full years) I did not encounter any situation that simulated this so called “movie”. Maybe I was too busy causing havoc that I didn’t notice these things. Too much more to write and to get any sort of message out, but if there are folks that harbor ill feelings towards the past, I understand, but there are alternatives for dealing with the anger.
Best Wishes
I wouldn’t say I am angry at this point. Torturing kids shouldn’t be regarded as therapeutic.
I was in marion in program when 9-11 happened. I got kicked out after 3 months because I stabbed one of the guys in the face after I bent his glasses in half. I was in isolation. For 2 days with no sleep and had enough. I was heavily drugged with anti depressants and anxiety meds by their own doctor. I believe he was a Mexican guy agulaera or something. Does anyone remember me. My name is robert
Yes I was I’m all three programs I am Julie Essick. I have a lot of memories however many I try to block to focus on the good. I hope maybe some of you remember me and can share. Thanks and Be Blessed
My name is Mark Snyder, and my experiences with NHYM while in the Dominican Republic totally validate everything written here. There were good staff members there, and I would like to point directly to Grant and Stefanie Cerney and Mark Sainato. The only good memories I have are attributed to them and our time together there. I have no idea how I would have turned out had it not been for the good relationships that we were able to build there. I was not a particularly bad pre-teen, but I did have your normal teen rebelliousness and sexual curiosity. I did not have any knowledge of drugs or sexual promiscuity until my time there. I know I had problems with my parents, but to throw me into a cess pool with people that had problems much greater than mine was a big mistake. I became surrounded with kids that had much more life experience than the privileged sheltered life of private schools that I had become accustomed to. I akin it to taking a first time non violent drug offender and throwing them into prison to be taught a lesson. I got taught alright, that’s for sure. I have tried to forget about everything I experienced that went on in the Dominican Republic. I am 41 now, and needing a copy of my High School Diploma led me to search online which led me to this blog. What a can of worms. Nothing good has come of this. If anyone reads this and can tell me how to get a copy of a diploma from NHYM, I would greatly appreciate it. As far as my personal experience, there is no healing, there is only trying to forget, make the best of it, and move on. I have tons of resentment towards my parents for sending me there, but holding a resentment is like drinking a glass of poison and expecting someone else to die. Good luck to all NHYM alumni, I hope your integration back into society has not been as nearly as difficult and trying as mine was and still is.
Mine was so hard I kept letting being there led to not trust or relate to anyone. Til this day I suffer
I was there in Port Au Prince the very early days Early 1972 thru 1973. Tim Blossom and his Wife Rosie mostly ran it (After Craig Something died in the swimming pool. I was there that day and helped pull him out of the water). Also the Matthews family ran things for a time, but mostly stayed in Michigan.
It was a fairly twisted place.
I’d like to find out how the other kids that were there did after. We all came to be very close.
I don’t really want to share stories about what happened. I just would like to know how the kids did.
Jerry my name is Dan Delong I was with you I arrived late 72 they called me Moosey I have a email account it is Delong small case delong.d@Yahoo!.com I was a fat kid I remember you Terry I want to talk to you David Aldridge called me Moosey Mike really to name a few anybody that was there in 73 please contact me on 59 now
Hi Jerry my name is Don or you might remember me as Moosey David Aldridge called me that looking forward to hearing from anybody that was there in 73 God bless all of you
Hi Jerry my name is Don they called me moose I was a big 13year-old I think you were skinny and had curly here maybe I would love to talk to you I don’t think I can put down my phone number I’m at yahoo I too would like to see how everybody’s doing I talked to Tim every couple years hope I hear from you
Hi my name is Jason Lane. I was a Program “resident” of the Marion, Indiana group home on Pennsylvania Ave from 1986-1989. I was also in the Canadian program for the summers of 1987, 1988, and 1989. i too was abused physically and mentally while there. Lucky for me it was not sexually. My main abuser was the Program Director, Bud Tiear. I suffered alot under his rule. and when i told the blossoms they did not believe me and told me i should not tell lies. then they told bud and he threw me in the lake in canada. i could not swim at the time and would have drowned if not for a wonderful women named Christie Umfred, who heard me yell for help after Bud just walked away and left me there. He insisted i could swim and said i was faking. i assure you all i was NOT!. i’m sorry to say im glad he is dead. so is Bob Kim. rotten ppl every one of them at the top. I saw Jim Stopenhagen last year. He has cut ALL ties with them poeple and now runs hes own spiritual program in Yoder Indiana. Feel free to contact me by on my facebook if anyone would like to speak to him. He has helped me alot. I would also like to get in contact with ANYONE who was there and remembers me. I was ALMOST sent to the D.R. but Thankgod i was a court case and the judge would not allow it. If i went i would probably have killed myself. God Bless All who survives this program and the Creatures who ran it.
This is the link to ny Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/jason.lane.90226
We just missed each other. Glad you are doing well. Much love.
I wrote a 3 paragraph? Where is it?
Hi, My name is Becky Goodwin and was the group leader for starr house and the did community service projects with houses to the poor,was there from 84-90 I just came upon this site as typed in NHYM and am so overwhelmed with grief in what I have read as did not know about the Blossoms and all that you have shared. Crying reading all that has been written and what you had experienced.I really love Jesus and went there to serve others and care for kids. I Remember Julia and if anyone remembers me and would like to email me,visiting nurse now(last name is Gilbert)I felt like I tried to give so much to the teens there because you all were so hurting,email xxxxx
I’m actually fine. Thanks! Much <3.
Omg Becky I remember you so fondly. Deirdre can I please have Beckys email? She was the best!
Pamela Borden
I was there in 1975 hell hole and so much molesting we went thru I was court ordered the blossoms family a big session pool lies pain and regrets I suffered still have issues I’m ,58 years old and still full of shame due to the cult world of blossoms
Both gorden and Tim abused kids, sexual abuse isnt always with touch tho,i was victim to both their crulity! They truly had my parents believing he could ‘fix’me…we all have difficulty growing up, adolescents sucks. I’m trying to find ppl that were I’m Escuela Caribe DR during the later 70’s – mid 80’s..any help would be great!! I changed my name,and then married, my name in the DR was Sue Peterson, from St.Petersburg Fla.
My name is Kim. I was adopted & my parents & I never seemed to see eye to eye. I became a prisoner there in Marion, In. in 2006. I was 12 going on 13. Emotional abuse was daily & I was made to scrub floors, was outside alone turning dirt for hours, also was made to cut down a tree with an ax unsupervised for hours & forced to do lots of push ups, 100 in a row while being yelled at. My house father told me he did not like me. Our showers were timed to 4 min. I was made to scrub garbage cans to be emaculate for hours. While I was there my mother responded to a questioners & stated she regretted adopting me, which my counselor shared with me. I was told by my house mother that sometimes parents just need a break. A break would have been fine, the abuse was not. I was forced to eat cereal once w/bugs 🐛 in it & told I was being rebellious when I gagged. It was absolutely horrible. I was told Buddhists would go to hell & that masterbation was a sin! My letters were read so not sure my fam even got them all & my phone calls were 5 min & recorded. I was on 0-1 level my entire stay. I was not allowed to talk to other 0 or 1st level students. I had to ask to enter every single room, & do ten push ups before entering the next room. I was not allowed to cry, I would be punished for that too. I was so young & scared. My biological parents passed when I was a baby. I was told my entire life I was crazy. I feel I suffer from PTSD & depression due to the abuse. I destroyed all letters & pictures from the program & just did all possible to forget it happened because it hurt me deeply. Not sure how one recovers from such trauma. My parents told me they were sending me to this school on Valentine’s Day in a card. I now remember this every Valentine’s Day . I hope to heal one day.
I’m so sorry to hear. Check out FB for the NHYM support groups. xo, D
<3
A simular thing happened to me. I have had 2 back surgerys because of the Canada school. Going there was a horrible experience!! Thought maybe it was just mine. But seems like a lot of kids had the same horrible experience. Wow never knew about some of these things.
I was in Canada in 2005. If anyone would like to get in touch you can email me at misslys422@aol.com
Alyssa (Hall) back then, now Thomas.
Hello I was a student at nhym in , Indiana and in canada I was in the program for 10 months they kicked me out because I didn’t go by there rules I was hit and beat on in Canada thrown in dog lake several times because I wouldn’t let them brain wash me and if I ever met any of the staff that worked there when I was I would most likely do something serious to them Steve was my counselor what a joke Tim was a joke while in Canada we had a bat problem in the dinning hall I developed histoplasmosis not long after there is alot more stuff that went wrong there and I would be gladly to tell my story about the place anyone wanna get ahold of me get me at reed88casey@gmail.com or 812-677-1091
Well , It turns out Jim Stoppenhagen lied to me. I recently found out that he WAS a Board member AND one of the Board of Directors. I have Picture PROOF of this. His Program in Yoder Indiana Still helped me alot though. It was the Mentors working under him that helped me alot NOT him. I told them many things about New Horizons Youth Ministries and what happened to me there and how i was treated. They were the ones who suggested i find other survivors and talk to them and decide if i needed professional help. I realized i was suffering from PTSD after talking to them through their group page on Facebook. I have decicec NOT to seek professional help as they are all helping me through alot of my issues. Good people and trustworthy. I do not trust anyone but they are helping me work on that as well. Thank you Deirdre for making this page with the link to the group. Without it i would have probably never found the group page !
<3
……i was a prisoner in the dr,11 MONTHS, 1980…..if i could hunt a rat down today ,its name is KEITH WARD…..SCUM FOR CHRIST!….JEFF EVANS TOO!………
<3
I am a parent of a former student in 2004 and am just now coming across this stuff….I’ve suffered a tremendous amount of guilt over the years and knew deep down inside that what they were doing and the rules they instituted were neither ethical or legal, but somehow they convinced me that my relationship with my son was not healthy and I needed to no longer “be enmeshed”. “It will be like experiencing a death in the family,” they told me. And it was. Our relationship died that day, and has never been the same. After doing all the research, my heart has sunk, and my guilt and sadness has reached an all new high. Shame on me for not following my gut instinct….$50k in student loans and a damaged relationship later. 😔😔😔😔😔
I am so sorry to hear…but I am happy you are realizing you made a mistake. Keep trying with your son. Much <3.
I wish my parents were like you.
My mom is totally in denial and says I made everything up.
She says “Well you cried when you left why would you do that if it was bad?”
As if I hadn’t formed bonds with the other kids after a year there and a summer in Canada.
My dad just tells me he doesn’t want to hear about it because “he can’t take it”.
He is in a wheel chair now, they will both die without ever accepting or even hearing about
what they did. They still complain about what a bad teen I was. Well I wonder why?
I was damaged goods after I left there but before I was an innocent and good kid whose
only issue was not paying attention in school and getting poor grades.
Just want to say you’re a good mom to be strong enough to accept the reality of what
occured and I hope you and your son/daughter are able to get past this and forgive.
I would love to do that with my parents but I know it will never happen.
Hey…student at all 3…took me 18 years to realize I had PTSD because I always thought I was weak for not accepting what happened to me. It isn’t healthy for a person to be scared all the time over periods of months and over a year. Thanks for having this website Dierdre;)
Healing to you, my friend! <3
I too was at the hands of Tim Blossom from 1974-1976. Sad to know they were allowed to continue for so many years unscathed while ruining so many young lives. Most of my life has been silent… Who really believes a troubled teen anyway?????. Pretty sure that is what the banked on.
Tim Is on Facebook
As a former student who was traumatized as many were by this Hell hole,
I am shocked to find that Budd Teare is still a practicing counselor at
a college. https://www.indwes.edu/academics/faculty/cv/budd.teare_cv.pdf
How have these people been allowed to not be prosecuted?
Anyhow, the place still intrigues me and I still think of the friends I
made, trauma has a way of binding people.
Does anyone know the exact address of the old group home in Marion?
The country road that the “school” was on doesn’t seem to have a google map
but I’m pretty sure the boy’s group home, which I was at, does.
Would like to look the place up and see what it looks like today.
It was a big house with a field in back and a shed.
https://www.facebook.com/tim.blossom.73
Tim Blossom’s gross FACEBOOK, looks like he still surrounds himself with young kids.
I know Tim and Rose personally from church. Tim-fast talker, blames everything on your mother right? Psychoanalyzes everybody. Rose-very quiet(can’t get a word in edgewise anyway). I am so sorry to hear about the abuse you went through. I can’t begin to fathom how horrible this was for all of you. I’ll admit I was shocked when I realized that this abuse happened at the hands of someone I know. Thank God I didn’t send my son there, although I believe it was suggested by Tim.
I’m glad you didn’t! Thank you for sharing. You might want to check out the book The Whisper by Tim’s sister, Shirley Jo Petersen. https://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Shirley-Jo-Petersen/dp/1933324112
Looks like a great book!!
Hi All. I just saw this blog and I am so so sorry for the abuse that you kids went through at NHYM. I was a housemother in Marion, a group leader in the DR and a kitchen worker at Missianabie woods. It wasnt until right before I left that I found out about sexual abuse that had gone on. I never liked Bud Teare as he was downright rude and intimidating to staff and students alike. I was freshly out of college and was out to save the world. I had rose colored glasses on. I was there from 1988 t0 1990. Now, looking back, I see how abusive this organization was, all in the name of Christ. Intimidation and insults are no way to help a child grow, nor to help a staff member to exceed. I just want you all to know that I support you in following and speaking your truth. Nobody should get away with mistreatment and abuse. I just want you to know that I was a staff member and that I hear you. Im out here in Oregon, but I remember my time with NHYM and it was definitely not at all pleasant. I wish you kids the best in healing from this trauma and in doing what you feel is the right thing for you to do, to bring justice to light and peace to your precious hearts. This stuff just makes me sick, thinking about all of you, with trusting hearts and adults that abused them. All the best,
Kristi Unfred
Thanks, Kristina. <3
Looks like a great book!!
Thanks!
My ex-husband went to Canada and DR in 1984 area, before we met in 1990. I knew he hated it and he also was adopted. I never knew the extent of abuse and it all makes sense now. My heart breaks for all who suffered at the hands of these evil people who should be in hell
Love to you both. Glad you now understand.
In searching for a camp counselor, Tim Blossom and his wife Rose,I have come across your site and read of all the abuse that so many have been subjected to. I am wondering if it is the same Tim Blossom? Do you know how old he is and possibly have a picture of him?
I don’t have a picture of him but it is the same person.
How do you know it’s the same person?
Read the book his sister wrote, the name of which I cannot remember but Theresa Rosado covered it in this five part series: https://nuvo.newsnirvana.com/news/news/to-hell-and-back-a-nuvo-series/article_b5349b5f-a8bf-5b67-93f9-d440a2171629.html
Tim should be deceased by now.he left a son behind in Marion I bekieve.
Tim is 80 but his wife is died just this year.
Tim is still alive. Rose passed recently.
I just wanted to let everyone know that Budd Teare has died.
https://www.nswcares.com/obituaries/Budd-Davis-Teare?obId=19585814
My initial reaction was sadness.
I forgive him and maybe in a fucked up way, I often think he was part of the plan
to make me become the man I am as I do believe God won’t put a burden you can’t
bear onto your shoulders but on the other hand, just because he uses wicked people
to accomplish his tasks does not excuse their wickedness.
It doesn’t appear Budd ever acknowledged or faced any of what he did.
It’s amazing to see names I know of “counselors” from when I was a child as it
appears many of them stuck around apparently. Nothing but good said about Budd Teare.
Most of the “counselors” seemed to fall into one of 2 groups, at least, on the male side.
Either they were completely socially inept and dorks, or they were socially inept but angry,
mean and took it out on us kids. The women seemed to just go along with things and were
very submissive. Some of the women were nice to me, I remember sobbing inconsolably into
the arms of a few of them and some genuinely seemed to have empathy, especially two,
but of course not enough to stand up or speak out as to what was going on.
People who were “controllable” were purposely sought out, types who would either not
question things or who would enjoy lording their power over others.
In the comments section on Budd’s obituary, I see that “Cindy and Bob Kimm” are still a thing.
Bob shook me so bad in Canada that my hands flung around and I bloodied myself with them
like a rag doll. Then he made me and other “witnesses” attest to the fact that “he did not
touch me” and that “I did it to myself”. This was all because a higher ranked student used
to make me sit on his back and pop all his sits. One time I farted so he told Bob I “farted
on him” and I was taken into the woods and given an “attitude adjustment”.
Sounds stupid but these things were common to those who know what the environment was like.
He probably caused neck/back injuries to my 12 year old self as well that have been
with me throughout my life.
Eric Moore was one of the most cruel, I rank him just under Budd, possibly worse.
I’d love to see a facebook page or picture as to how he turned out.
What he liked to do was give difficult, physical adult tasks to kids that could not
accomplish them and then mock them for hours until they suffered from exhaustion.
Literately mock as in make fun, say the pain you’re feeling now is nothing in contrast
to the pain we’re gonna feel in “real life” when we get out of the program.
He was a very tall man and once he broke you down he would run backwards while you were
doing 10’sx, 20’s and 30’s and say “Man you aren’t even trying! I can run backwards faster
than you are doing it!” In Canada, he made me keep carrying heavy rocks up and down a hill
and I was smart so I would try to load them into my shirt and he would push me down the
hill and say “Nope. You aren’t gonna do it like that.” He enjoyed finding the limit where
you could not pass and then just watching you suffer for hours, slowly exhausting you.
I knew James Moline, he was one of the “new” counselors that came while I was there.
He was okay, he had a whiny/nasealy voice and just seemed kinda slow mentally.
– D
Today I turn 50 years old. My time in new horizons feels like yesterday.I see many names and stories I recognize here.Most my schoolmates are dead Jon renninger and others passed away soon after school ended for them.I know many other stories as well seeing that I lived in Marion when I left school.kept working with Loren stucky ,former house leader, for years after.Rob white,get with me,I stay in Sarasota during the holidays!
Dude, we just missed each other. Hang in there. D
I ran away from New Horizons Academy twice in Marion Indiana. I was over 18 so they couldn’t do much. I was supposed to be going to a house that was 18 and above, but they shut it down supposedly a week before I got there. The second time I ran away I was taken to Gordon’s home. He informed me that they messed up and I messed up and I should forget the whole thing. I had major PTSD for what happened over the year I was there. He proceeded to tell me now that I had completed the program, and so now I could come and work there. I believe that the staff was on a power trip from all the trauma they experienced themselves because at least when I was there half the staff had been in the program themselves. There was however a wonderful woman named Barb who was the nurse who I could talk to. I believe she helped me get through that experience.My parents were devastated when they learned the truth of what went on at the school.I saw one of the staff members in my hometown a year later and I had a panic attack so bad my mom had to get me out of the store we were in. It took me 10 years And lots of therapy to recover from what happened to me there. I walked in there a optimistic girl and walked out broken. I am sorry for everything that the rest of you went through, we were told stories about Escuela Caribe and how bad it was. Also how bad Canada was. What I went through was nothing compared to what I know some of you went through. I don’t know if I will ever completely get over the experience. Each time I watch a movie about treatment centers, I just compare it to what we all went through. I am so glad the state of Indiana finally shut it down. I heard a girl who had been to the DR say that she was told when she arrived, if you run, because you were in the DR they will just sex traffic you or rape you, and we won’t come after you.As I said I consider myself to be one of the more lucky ones who didn’t go through all the trauma that other people went through. I think we will all have emotional scars for the rest of our lives thanks to New Horizons.
I’m sorry about all you went through. I’m glad you’re still here. Best of luck. D
I’m sorry and yea, I remember being told I would be sex trafficked. It’s in my book.
Best of luck! <3, D
I was a counselor NHYM in Missanabie Omtario Canada on 2006. I witnessed verbal sexual abuse, physical harm after a girl was injured and medicated and told she had to work using tools.that could hurt her.
I had slipped on missed covered soaked rocks by the lake and hurt my back very bad. They would not take me to hospital and never brought me food to eat in cabi. I couldn’t walk very well alot of pain. Several days later they said I could go to Dr. an hour away..was taken by boat to land where I was to get a ride to hospital. They said no one is going to take you here’s the keys. I had to drive myself and then have to wait 4 hours to see Dr. Came back to camp amd.several days later they asked me what I wanted to do. I said I need to go home so I can get medical care. They were passed. I was able to get back but they didn’t care at all about what I was feeling. The pain was terrible and mentally they abused me.
In the short time I was there,these
kids were treated horribly. Sexually, mentally and physically.
One more note we staff and kids were told there is to be no smoking..I smoked at the time, so I obeyed them but then smelt smoke.coming from a.staff members cabin and knocked.on the door. He invited me in and gave me a cigarette which I smoke there and sold me a pack of cigarettes. Rules were.broke all the time by staff. They the rulers of NHYM should be incarcerated.
I filed a work comp case and.won because of there lack of immediate medical attention and not filling out forms.when I returned from to the USA. They were fined and my attorney said that this is rare. This goes to show how corrupt this organization is or was.
Tony, sorry I missed this when posted. I hate to hear about your experiences. I am glad you were able to receive some form of amends. Thanks for sharing your perspective— it means a lot to survivors. Take care, D
I just wanted to say that I hope you all find peace, in some way. I’m so lucky – I learned from my Mum just before she died that my Dad (classic malignant narcissist, although it took me decades to realise that) tried to strong-arm her into sending me to a similar, non-religious programme (now exposed as being very abusive). Thank whatever that my Mum, uncharacteristically, absolutely refused. Thank you Mum. 🙂
(Of course, then there came my stepdad, which, well. This is not my space to vent in.)
I went through a lot of abuse and neglect as a kid, teenager and adult. I’m still being abused by family, the UK government, the UK psych system and random people. I’ve had serious mental health problems my whole life (current diagnoses: Complex PTSD, Borderline PD (I don’t agree, but it sticks), various anxiety disorders, DID (I think this is wrong, but w/ever, PTSD) and have been physically disabled for 15 years. The abuse I went through has seriously impacted my entire life (I’m 47), although I’m finally reaching the beginnings of… Peace? Maybe?
I know there’s no hierarchy in trauma or suffering, but I’m so in awe of the people posting here. I can empathise, hugely, I suffer similar repurcussions, but I honestly feel that I massively lucked out in avoiding the hell that y’all were subjected to, and the recoveries that some of you describe… ❤
I hope this isn’t a bad thing to post. I’m just so angry for you, and wanted to let you know that there are other people out hete supporting you.
Thank you. <3, D
Hello, I attended Escuala Caribe, 76-77, in Jarabacoa. I found the place strict and I chafed somewhat as I just wanted to be a normal cool kid. Over all I found my time there pretty positive though I could”nt wait to get back to the States. I”m appaled that the program became another Synanon sp. It appears that personalities became more important than principles. At times it felt that I was treated somewhat differently. maybe because I knew scripture better than the Staff and always wanted to know why they believed as they did. Prove what you believe according to the Bible not some charismatic preacher, if you’re claiming to be Christian. My experience in the D.R. gave me a great appreciation for the good old USA. May the grace of God give healing from the past and hope for the future. Scott F.
Deirdre, i have literature you may be interested in.
I worked all three programs and have acquired much literature and Publications newsletters training manuals and handouts Etc that I was given by New Horizons. You’re welcome to them. I would pay for postage if you want me to send them to you. Contact me privately for more information.
Lora, I just saw this and will be in touch. Thanks!