1998 article from Dallas Morning News:
SAN ANTONIO — They came thinking they’d spend a month swimming, sleeping late, hanging out — all without parents nearby to nag.
They didn’t know that by 5 a.m., their young hearts would be racing from pre-dawn calisthenics; that their biceps would bulk up from hitting the ground and doing 50 every time they messed up; that being a leader would mean taking the heat for those out of line; and that aching muscles and tired bones would yearn for lights out at 11 p.m.
And they hadn’t counted on counting on God to get them through 32 tough days of physical training, manual labor and studying.
It wasn’t the vacation they expected. It was something much more. […]
Charles Flowers started the Christian Boot Camp four years ago to show at-risk teen-age boys that “God has led them to be mighty people on Earth.” Flowers left the United States Air Force after 12 years to start the program at Faith Outreach Center, a nondenominational church where he is an associate pastor.
The camp, which Flowers believes is the only one of its kind in the country, grew from 26 boys the first summer to 120 this year. The girls’ camp, which ended July 4, is in its second year.
2007 article from Houston Chronicle:
BANQUETE — Arrest warrants have been issued for two officials at a Christian boot camp accused of dragging a 15-year-old girl behind a van after she fell behind the group during a morning run, authorities said.
Charles Eugene Flowers and Stephanie Bassitt of San Antonio-based Love Demonstrated Ministries, a 32-day boot camp, are facing aggravated assault charges for the alleged June 12 incident.
The two were accused of tying the girl to the van with a rope then dragging her, according to an arrest affidavit filed Wednesday by the Nueces County Sheriff’s Department. Arrest affidavits for Flowers and Bassitt list a $100,000 bond.
A call to Love Demonstrated Ministries was not immediately returned today. No listing was found for Bassitt. An answering machine at a listing for Flowers cut off during an attempt to leave a message today.
Flowers, the camp’s director, allegedly ordered Bassitt to run alongside the girl after she fell behind, the affidavit said. When the girl stopped running, Bassitt allegedly yelled at her and pinned her to the ground while Flowers tied the rope to her, according to the affidavit.
The girl’s mother gave investigators photos of her daughter’s injuries that were taken at a hospital where the girl was treated and a sworn statement from a witness who claimed to see the girl being dragged on her stomach at least three times.
You win if you weren’t surprised by the 2007 article after reading the excerpt from the 1998 article.
So a few Christian fascists try to practice their love with some rope and a van … typical liberal media to pounce all over the *bad* news and ignore the *good*.
I personally know Charles Flowers, I was in his boot camp in 2000. I KNOW he would NEVER do anything like this, and the employee, Stephanie Bassit was a trainee, just like me when she first started out we were about 13 or 14. We were best friends. Commandant Flowers and T.A. Bassit would never do this. I personally feel sick about this whole thing. Please stop passing judgement, INNOCENT UNTILL PROVEN GUILTY… you people seem to be forgetting that law… HE DIDN’T DO THIS. I will stand by him and Bassit untill the day I die. God Bless them and their families… Kirby Arnold
“The girl’s mother gave investigators photos of her daughter’s injuries that were taken at a hospital where the girl was treated and a sworn statement from a witness who claimed to see the girl being dragged on her stomach at least three times.”
“Onward Christian soldiers” indeed.
Christ, and here I thought that summer at Vacation Bible School run by Southern Baptists was bad.
Although I *did* end up making out with one of the counselors there. She was a cutie.