As a world leader among Christian summer camps, Kanakuk provides children with fun, safe and professional outdoor youth camping experiences that grow them spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially. I respectfully disagree with that comment. We are only a small fraction of the Kanakuk survivors, yet our collective abuse experiences span from the 1950s to 2022. Kanakuk will continue to support the right of victims to share their stories and will seek restoration and healing for victims through constructive dialogue (Matthew 18:15-17). We have been abused and silenced for far too long and are now joining hands to stand up for accountability and justiceand to stop ongoing and future abuse. Despite attempts to re-frame decades-old details to fit a modern narrative, Pete Newman was a rogue employee living a life of utter deception. Martens also did not want to go into specifics on how Friday's lawsuit could impact settlements Kanakuk has reached over the years with other sexual abuse victims across the country. He has also provided an open letter to victims who do not prefer to meet face-to-face. Kanakuk set out to become an industry leader on the issue of abuse when it launched its own child protection program after Newman's case. I've just received this press release initiated by the Turley Law Firm. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? Reexamining Kanakuk's Abuse and Struggling to Forgive. We desire to support victims and help them in their healing journey. Where we have failed in this effort, we are sincerely sorry. And Tom, I stand corrected. It's been nearly 16 years since Joe Alarcon dropped off his son with Pete Newman, director of Kanakuk Kamps, for an overnight stay. No More Victims LLC. Claiming things like Kanakuk continues to fail on basic safety practices and protocols and stating that Kanakuk ..ignores other known perpetrators and their enablers, including those in leadership at Kanakuk to this day. They distort the truth, promote false narratives, and harass individuals who oppose them. Imagine being sexually abused as a child and being forced to never speak about it with anyone. Newman confessed after a Texas Kanakuk father confronted Newman and threatened to call the FBI. In May, a camp director told Kanakuk employees that Newman was dealing with hyper-sensitive parental complaints about hugging but would return soon. We know now that we have added confusion and frustration when we have spoken on this topic. So we didnt. As a child growing up in Branson, Hoffpauir was involved with Kanakuks youth ministries, and said he was abused by Kanakuk director Pete Newman from 1999 to 2003. Christian Rocker Posts Stunning Response to Recent Apostasy of Christian Leaders, Chicago Radio Host & a Former Bodyguard Say James MacDonald Asked Them to Arrange Murders, James MacDonald Took Millions from Harvest & Now Demands Broadcast Ministry, Mancow Airs Shocking Comments By James MacDonald: My Response. There are many false narratives circulating online, particularly stemming from a website that purports to share facts. Keith Dygert, who said he was abused as a child at Kanakuk Kamps near Branson, testified in support of a bill to extend the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse survivors in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 13, 2023 (Clara Bates/Missouri Independent). As a child growing up in Branson, Hoffpauir was involved with Kanakuks youth ministries, and said he was abused by Kanakuk director Pete Newman from 1999 to 2003. A camper immediately reported the suspicious actions of the staff member in accordance with our Child Protection Plan camper training. We support the right of victims to share their stories in pursuit of healing. For years, a former staffer at Kanakuk Kamps, one of the country's most popular Christian summer camps, abused dozens of boys. Yeah, I think so.. Pete Newman is the most thorough relationship builder with kids in Kanakuk history, Joe White once said in advertising for a father-son retreat. However, we couldnt report with precision why Newman finally confessed to abusing children and said so in that original story. Survivors of child sexual abuse are attempting to enact laws in Missouri and Texas to change the legal landscape for Christian camps that cater to children and teens. I asked Joe White about Neugebauers account on April 12, but neither White nor his attorney were willing to provide information. The fact is that neither Joe nor Petes supervisors would have allowed Pete around their own kids unsupervised, much less in their own homes, if they suspected him of abusing kids. Kanakuk paid $144,296 to K-Land One. Another was a dad of young boys who was abused as a kamper while a young teen. A 50-page . The child she named was the same child Neugebauer helped send on the ill-fated retreat. Their lengthy investigation determined that no other Kanakuk employee or leadership member was aware of Mr. Newmans illegal activities. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. What was the camps response? Eleven years ago, former Kanakuk director Pete Newman was imprisoned for sexually abusing boys at the popular Christian summer camp, but recent reports and petitions say more child sex abuse is hidden from the public. As soon as Kanakuk became aware of abuse, we took action, including immediate termination and subsequently reported him to authorities. Dozens of additional news outlets have carried stories. Newmans abuse impacted so many people, Whites former secretary Vicki Morgan said in a phone interview. Click To Tweet, Due to the graphic nature of the descriptions & images found in this proof, we've compiled them into a PDF document, Child Sexual Abuse Encompasses a Wide Spectrum of Sexual Acts Enacted on People Below Eighteen Years of Age, investigative piece published in March 2021, , there have been at least two additional deep-dive investigative pieces published detailing the abuse and efforts to curtail discussion of, sexual abuse survivors and/or former employees of, . Others in support of the bill included a survivor of sexual abuse from a Boy Scouts leader in Missouri, a family member of a Boy Scouts sexual abuse victim who died by suicide, several advocates, and an attorney for victims of sexual abuse in Kansas City, who said he has to turn away hundreds of victims who are past the statute of limitations. Naturally, some victims families worry about what happened with those recordings. Tragically more than 12 years ago, one of our staff members was accused and convicted for abusing Kampers. However, survivor advocates say that many of the camps leaders, including Joe White, Kanakuks CEO and board chair, have never been held fully responsible for their leadership failures. To the best of our ability, we desire to answer accurately, compassionately, and clearly, and support victims in their healing journey. Neugebauer also said White argued that if Neugebauers family or the boys family went against Kanakuk, they would be doing the devils bidding., They always used the same line, he said, that I was doing the devils bidding.. Kanakuk wasnt a ministry, it was a very big business.. More:It was just a thing at Kanakuk: Campers and staff say nudity was part of camp culture. Clara Bates covers social services and poverty. My personal opinion. In addition to uncovering information about the circumstances of Newmans confession to the camp, Ive also received information indicating that Newman may have created child pornography of nude and sexualized images of Kanakuk kids. An open letter from survivors of sexual abuse at Kanakuk was delivered personally to Kanakuk President, Joe White on Feb 11, 2022: We are survivors of Kanakuk abuse and their allies. Victims of sexual abuse by former Kanakuk Kamp staffer Pete Newman (pictured above, currently serving 2 consecutive life sentences plus 30 years) have come forward and are taking legal action. Kanakuk has continued to minimize the reality that they have allowed abuse to flourish. Kanakuk Kamps, headquartered in Branson, Mo., begins camp terms next week and plans to host 20,000 children this summer. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! Goodwin is now the president and COO of Kanakuk Ministries and executive director of Kanakuks Family Kamp. Jody Jones, who flew from Utah to testify, was a camper at Kanakuk in 1985, when she was 8. This article was originally published at Ministry Watch. Neugebauers account also lines up with court testimony, which indicates Newman was fired on March 10, 2009, but does not explain why Kanakuk insisted the catalyst for the confession was a letter from an attorney. Each person who spoke with the CBS 11 I-Team says he or she, or a family member of his or hers, was sexually abused at Kanakuk Kamps sometime between 1999 and 2008. Kanakuk camp near Branson went public late Friday with a new statement aiming to redefine its relationship with people who say they are survivors of sexual abuse that took place at the Christian summer camp. The survivors latest petition also pleads for Kanakuk leadership to admit to known failures and to invite an independent investigation. The website is supported by No More Victims LLC, an organization made up of Kanakuk survivors. Joe White continues to seek out any opportunity to meet with victims and their families who will allow him the privilege to share his sincere sorrow and seek forgiveness and reconciliation. Kanakuk also fully supported the law enforcement investigation and prosecution of the abuser. As soon as Kanakuk became aware of abuse, we took action, including immediate termination, and subsequently reported him to authorities. Bates is a graduate of Harvard College and a member of the Report for America Corps. OnSeptember 15, Newman was finally arrested. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Neugebauer confirmed the dates by combing through archived emails; Neugebauers wife, Melissa, corroborated the timing of these events by consulting her journals from that period.). Responsibility, accountability, and transparency must be required of institutions like Kanakuk Kamps if we wish to stamp out child sexual abuse. 2023 Kanakuk Ministries. BRANSON, Mo., April 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new website has launched dedicated to creating greater awareness of sexual abuse that occurred at the . KANSAS CITY, Mo. More to the point is the echoing in church organisations of worldly power structures. In March 2021, an anonymously owned LLC created a website sharing so-called Facts about Kanakuk. Neugebauer, the co-founder ofQuantum Energy PartnersandBanzai Capital Group, sent his kids to Kanakuk Kamps for years and sponsored dozens of other children, especially children of people in ministry. 2015 A federal case filed in Texas by John Doe III, originally filed in 2013, is settled because "all matters in controversy between the parties have been resolved." 2012 Additionally, Kanakuk set out to elevate our safety practices, which resulted in the Kanakuk Child Protection Plan. We are humbled and grateful when we can have direct conversations. Seven states open the window for two or more years, as this law proposes Missouri do, and two states currently open the window permanently for adult survivors of child sex abuse. A host of new allegations against Kanakuk have surfaced due to more survivors and witnesses speaking out. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. (Newman later admitted to abusing at least one boy on this trip. She also wrote about vocational education for Democracy Journal. Though this is one of the worst Christian sex abuse scandals in American history, the story had never garnered much attention. There are many false narratives circulating online, including one that states Kanakuk has employed other abusers. The fact is that Kanakuk has employed over 50,000 full-time and summer staff over the past 96 years. Kanakuk's statement contends that the organization learned more than a decade ago about "deceptive and abusive behavior" from one of its directors and "quickly took action," including "immediate termination and reporting of the individual involved to authorities." These actions were against Kanakuk policies, and the individual was immediately terminated, reported to authorities, and ultimately convicted of abusing campers. I was in advanced discussions with them. On March 16, White emailed families to tell them Newman had left to deal with a family emergency and to request prayers for Newman. For reasons that remain unclear, Newman finally confessed his crimes to White, Goodwin, and Cooper, the senior leadership at the camp.. This service is free to readers and other news outlets. Survivors and family members of victims of sexual abuse at Kanakuk camps testified at a hearing before the Missouri House Judiciary Committee regarding a bill proposed by local state Rep. Brian Seitz to change laws to help survivors of childhood sexual assault. We support the right of victims to share their story in pursuit of healing. Regarding these other organizations, bloggers, authors, etc who continue to make baseless claims and defame Kanakuk, our employees, and friends we are prepared to defend our people and this ministry against such a cancel-culture mentality. Former Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell, the person who ultimately prosecuted Newman, does not recall what was foundif anythingon these devices. Kanakuk has said these men were fired and reported to law enforcement as soon as the abuse came to light. Ye reap what ye sow. Sorry to you innocent types just wanting to be a good teacher or minister. In 2010, Newman pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexually abusing boys. Pete Newman is serving two life sentences plus 30 years. I wanted to extend Joes legacy.. (MinistryWatch has written a series of stories about Kanakuk, found here.). Despite these distractions, we remain focused on the ministry work that has been a light and beacon of hope and joy to generations of families for the past century. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Like a robber just came in and took everything in the vault, Should I go to the prison and tell him he ruined my life, And that what he did to me will make it hard to find a wife, My Son Was Abused in 1994 and Joe White Knew, It seems a little late in 2003 to be training counselors when they already had problems with counselors before 2003, Joe White referred to my son as a drop of water. Decades of child sexual abuse reports show that Kanakuk Kamps ignored or covered up this evidence. Its a critical necessity for their healing and restoration. Instead, White encouraged Neugebauer to forgive Newman and to protect the camp without calling the authorities, according to Neugebauer. It is an essential part of the healing journey for many, and we support this right and will not stand in the way of any who wishes to do so. Great! Corbie Dale Grimes, who worked at Kanakuk in the 1970s and '80s, is serving a life sentence for abusing a boy in Texas in 1999. Following an investigative piece published in March 2021 by David and Nancy French in The Dispatch, there have been at least two additional deep-dive investigative pieces published detailing the abuse and efforts to curtail discussion of crimes at Kanakuk CBS 11 and VICE NIGHTLY NEWS with extensive testimony from sexual abuse survivors and/or former employees of Kanakuk Kamps. We are listening and will communicate more carefully. No One Knows. Cooper plainly states it: They sent Newman away. The prosecutor estimated the total number of victims could be in the hundreds, andNDAs prevented most of the plaintiffs from sharing their stories. Newman confessed to his superiors at the camp, and Kanakuk later fired him. Since the 1970s, under the leadership of White and his wife Debbie-Jo, Kanakuk has become one of the largest Christian camps in the world. Weve said it before, and we will say it again, we are forever sorry for the pain inflicted on victims and their families. The settlements inhibit victims and their families from sharing their stories and as a result, hinder their recovery process. In 2009, Newmans Kanakuk story came to an end, we wrote. By Nancy French and David French Dec 23, 2021 90 Known as a charismatic director and ambassador for the camp prior to his 2009 arrest, Newman was charged with crimes involving six underage victims and admitted during sentencing to having inappropriate activity with as many as 13 more campers, according to past News-Leader reporting. I believe in summer camps, he told me in a phone interview. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? In 2011, a summer staff member acted inappropriately with campers. We absolutely want to clarify this. We want victims to know that their voices are heard and that we will never stop being sorry for the pain inflicted upon them by these perpetrators. Ill never forget that call, Neugebauer said, saying he knew the 13-year-old child to be honest. Reed Martens, another one of Yandell's attorneys with the law firm Monsees and Mayer, said Yandell feels it is important to speak out against Kanakuk's handling of sexual abuse cases despite the 2010 non-disclosure agreement. USA Today has a print and digital daily readership of approximately 2.6 million. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. We immediately began conversations with identified victims and their families and notified parents of current and former campers. Telephone messages left for Taney County Detective Ronnie Roberts about what material, if any, was found on those devices went unreturned. Power, a platform, money, reputation, money, a wholesome image to protect because that image is the cash cowall these factors combine to make silencing victims very attractive to predators and their minions. No disciplinary action was taken against any of Newmans supervisors. Newman pleaded guilty in 2010 to seven counts of sexual abuse, and the prosecutor said Newmans victim count might be in the hundreds. Four witnesses who say they were abused at Kanakuk Kamps, a popular evangelical camp outside Branson, Mo., testified before Missouri . With the release of the new articles, former Kanakuk campers, staff and sexual abuse survivors have come forward from cities that include Dallas and Amarillo, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Nashville, Tenn.; and Fayetteville, Ark. Another camp insider remembered it differently. I remember hearing about Pete doing something inappropriate toward [name redacted], she told me in a phone interview. As I sought out legal action in an effort to hold my enablers accountable, I was crushed to find out I was a few years past Missouris statute of limitations, Hoffpauir said. We also recognize that an essential part of healing is the ability for victims to share their stories. We immediately began conversations with identified victims and their families and notified parents of current and former campers. [Letter From Joe White]. Despite the survivors who have come forward, at least a dozen lawsuits, and the news investigations that have uncovered practices at the camp that enabled the reported abuse to fester. Our desire is to support victims and help them in their healing journey. To donate, Documentary On Sexual Abuse Allegations At Christian Camp Kanakuk Wins Emmy, GRACE Finds Sex Abuse Allegations Against Chris Rice Credible, Young Life Accused of Ignoring or Covering Up Allegations of Sexual Misconduct, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. But he didnt survive past the age of 29, so now I refer to him as a victim, and Im trying to be his voice., Former camper suing Missouri-based Kanakuk claiming fraudulent abuse settlement. We look forward to the next century of building next-generation leaders. No More Victims LLC, the group behind the Facts About Kanakuk website, said in a statement it has received reports of eight Kanakuk victims whose deaths are suspected to be related to their abuse., The News-Leader reported, One Newman victim, Trey Carlock, died by suicide in 2019 shortly after settling his case with Kanakuk. Or is your son over there or is he supposed to be? This maternal concern is what she believed forced Petes confession, but she wasnt sure. Would you impugn the reputation of every male volunteer because of the evil actions of the few. You might want to confirm that.. Neugebauer wanted Kanakuk to bring in professionals to do an investigation to properly identify all victims. A now-27-year-old man who was sexually abused as a child at Kanakuk Kamps in Branson is suing the Christian summer camp, claiming Kanakuk leadership lied to him and his parents about their. The bill also includes a retroactive piece, called a window or revival law, which allows cases that were barred or dismissed due to a statute of limitation to be revived during a window of two years. This list places Kanakuk alongside such behemoths as Reddit, Google, Netflix, and Twitter (ironically, a platform the NCOSE uses) as a mainstream entity for facilitating, enabling, and profiting from abuse and exploitation this is simply not true and defies any semblance of common sense. The prosecutor who oversaw the case later estimated the actual number of victims could be in the hundreds.. We will respond further if or when appropriate. We believe that abuse of a child is deplorable and stands counter to our mission and Christian calling. We believe that abuse of a child is deplorable and stands counter to our mission and Christian calling. Kanakuk leadership has consistently said it was not complicit in the sexual abuse perpetrated by Newman and Lee Bradberry (a Kanakuk counselor who pleaded guilty in 2013 to four sex-related charges involving campers at Kanakukbefore he wasfired in 2011). The investigation by law enforcement that resulted in the prosecution of Pete Newman did not result in any criminal or civil charges against Kanakuk leadership or staff. Hoffpauir was one of several survivors of childhood sexual abuse, including from Kanakuk and Boy Scouts of America, who testified at a House judiciary hearing Monday night in support of a bill that would extend the civil statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. But he didnt survive past the age of 29, so now I refer to him as a victim, and Im trying to be his voice., Candidates' ties to Missouri reform schools facing abuse, New U.S. House Natural Resources chair opposes limits on, Missouri knew of contamination in Springfields groundwater. For this reason, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has named Kanakuk Kamps to the 2022 Dirty Dozen List. We also realize that we have added confusion and frustration when we have spoken on this topic. Between April June 2021, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation was contacted by three survivors of sexual abuse allegedly taking place at Kanakuk. He has asked that you respect his privacy and not contact him or his family, but that you keep him in your prayers.. In both instances, Kanakuk fully supported the law enforcement investigation and prosecution of the abuser. Child sexual abuse allegedly taking place at Kanakuk named was the same child helped. 2021, the National Center on sexual Exploitation has named Kanakuk Kamps, headquartered in,... As the abuse came to an end, we wrote, saying he knew the 13-year-old to! Was contacted by three survivors of sexual abuse, we couldnt report precision... 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