Ray Boltz’s Children Share Teen Mania Experiences in New Season of ‘Shiny Happy People’

“I was in this to learn how to do better international missions, but they wanted me to…get those commits,” said Phil. When he tried to get off the team and into a different job, he was told that he needed to be faithful with little and not complain or be bitter. Leadership communicated the mindset: “That’s what you don’t want to do? That’s what God wants you to do.” 

Ranfeld said Luce told the teens that God was the one who understood their passion and that their parents would not understand. Youth were told to “die to self,” but what that meant, said Ranfeld, was the interns should always put themselves last and never to acknowledge their own needs, instincts, or what their bodies were signaling. “Your life means nothing compared to the purpose,” she said.

Teen Mania alums described a controlling, highly authoritative environment where asking questions was discouraged. Interns allegedly often worked hours far beyond what they were required. Not only were they not allowed to date or even appear to be romantically involved with anyone but they had to break off any relationships they were in prior to attending Honor Academy. 

One strange part of Honor Academy was when groups of interns were taken to a location away from camp, left with a large wooden cross and no money, phone, or place to sleep, and were expected to make it back to camp relying on God for all of their needs. 

Phil said he was in a group that got picked up by a driver who might have been intoxicated and that he knew of interns who had guns pulled on them. 

Teen Mania and Ray Boltz 

While Ranfeld and Phil participated in Teen Mania events, Ray Boltz lent his musical skills to the ministry. Phil described his father as “an evangelical celebrity.” Boltz, who won Dove Awards for “Thank You” and “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb,” led worship at Teen Mania events. He even wrote the song “I Will Tell the World” specifically to help Teen Mania with its mission of spreading the gospel across the globe. 

“Teen Mania Ministries invited dad to write a song and film a music video to promote Global Expeditions recruitment,” Phil explained.

At one point, Luce invited Boltz on a Global Expeditions trip with Teen Mania. “Dad was affected by this,” said Phil. On the trip home, Boltz wrote the lyrics to his hit song “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb.” The music video for the song portrays a father and son imprisoned for their faith, with the father being dragged away to be killed.

“That was a huge song for dad,” Phil said. Docuseries footage shows Boltz performing the song at a Promise Keepers rally. 

Episode 3 of “Shiny Happy People” leads with Ray Boltz coming out as gay, which Boltz did in 2008, although he came out to his family years before doing so publicly. “Our dad, he had a very successful career, but he had a bit of a secret,” said Ranfeld.