Life has been intense. I wrote this “Mission Update” so I figured I would post it here.
Mission Update
Hello, my name is Ryan Iley.
On August 14th I arrived at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy and immediately started the first Life Transforming Event (LTE) of the year, called Gauntlet. Gauntlet is designed to strip the popular culture off of a person, immerse them into the Honor Academy culture, and plunge them into the presence of God. Each of us was essentially purified as much as is possible in a week’s time, and made fully aware of the one year commitment we were about to make at the end of Gauntlet.
During Gauntlet, God really tore my heart apart in a lot of ways. Most of the things I heard in sessions were things I already knew, but it was different this time. The speakers had the power and authority of God behind them and concluded every message with a call-to-action. In addition, everything we did was wrapped in intense worship.
Although Gauntlet officially ends at the Commitment Banquet, in my mind, its conclusion is when the interns receive their ministry placement. My ministry placement is in Information Technology. I am currently working as a Help Desk Technician, but I hope to eventually develop new software. Whether or not it is God’s will for me to develop software, I know that He will use my talents in computer science to further His Kingdom in this position.
The next LTE is called ESOAL, which stands for Emotionally Stretching Opportunity of A Lifetime. ESOAL is a several-day-long event, during which we role-play as soldiers in boot camp. We don’t know much about what ESOAL really is because it is supposed to be primarily emotionally stretching and if you know what is coming, it doesn’t work as well. However, I do know that it involves a very large amount of physical exercise, and it will not be comfortable. In addition to that, I am doing something called “Bring It”, which means that my experience will be much more stretching than it already would be.
The rule in ESOAL is that you must attempt everything asked of you. For example, if I am only physically capable at this moment of doing 30 push-ups, and they ask me to do 50, I give my 100% and when I get to the 31st one, I try and try and try to do it, but am physically unable. That’s ok. The purpose of ESOAL is NOT to train you physically, but rather to teach you how to give your 100% – and then rely on God for more.
ESOAL is voluntary, and you can stop at any time. However, I intend to finish. I intend to rely on God’s strength and push through everything that comes my way. I will not quit. I will give 110%. God will give the rest.
I ask for prayer. Please pray that God would break me. I want Him to shatter me so that He can rebuild me into what He wants. Truly, I do. I am not speaking figuratively. He has already broken me in several ways and I want more.
Also, I ask for finances. I have $800 due at the end of this month in order to continue at the Honor Academy. The next month, I believe I have another $800 due. After that, it is $600 a month for almost the rest of the year.
In order for me to continue developing into the Man of God that He is building me into, I need your help: both prayer and money. If you desire to donate, you can do so online at www.honorAcademy.com. Make sure you have a credit card and my ID ready. (My ID# is 251 2199) You can also mail a check made out to Teen Mania Ministries to Ryan Iley, 23425 FM 1995 LOT 101, Lindale TX, 75771.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your help.
T. Ryan Iley
