Newman confessed to his superiors at the camp, and Kanakuk later fired him. The true fact is that this group is not interested in anything more than furthering their agenda. We are listening and will communicate more carefully. 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. While there are still calls for Kanakuk to release victims from NDAs so that they can share their story, and accusations that we are silencing victims, Kanakuk has made it clear that we absolutely support the right of victims to share their story in pursuit of their healing. Logan Yandell, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, filed the lawsuit Friday in Taney County court against Kanakuk Ministries, Kanakuk CEO Joe White, Kanakuk Heritage Inc. and Westchester Fire Insurance Company. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? Kanakuk has said these men were fired and reported to law enforcement as soon as the abuse came to light. Many prayers for the victims & their families. If a person youd employed to take care of children actually abused them, you would be the one who calls the police on Pete. There are many false narratives circulating online, particularly stemming from a website that purports to share facts. After hearing the massive sum White requested for the nonprofit purchase, Neugebauer realized this would not be a financially responsible decision. Retrieved from A statement from the organization said it claims to know of more than 125 victims of Kanakuk abuse with allegations against over 30 unique perpetrators within the organization, dating from the 1950s to today, all while under the White familys leadership.. Pete Newman, who had been a Kanakuk Kamps director, was convicted in 2010 on seven counts of sexually abusing young boys and is now serving two consecutive life sentences plus 30 years. Our Kanakuk Child Protection Plan, which contains over 340 identifiable and measurable protective elements, is integrated throughout our organization and has been shared with more than 600 youth-serving organizations across the country. And I believed this narrative for over a decade.. Our policy is not to comment on pending litigation. Martens said with Friday's lawsuit, Yandell and his family are hoping to get justice. 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. [Letter From Joe White]. Remember Harvey Weinstein. Many of the allegations in these and previous articles involve incidents from the 1990s, 2000s and early 2010s. Kanakuk continues to be transparent about the events that occurred over a decade ago, and the steps weve taken to ensure such deceptive behavior doesnt happen here again. Kanakuk camp 'abuse survivors' call for independent investigation into sexual assault accusations, that were reportedly flagged for Kanakuk leaders in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006, recently issued an open . 2023 www.news-leader.com. 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. Kanakuk Heritage Inc., is filed in Missouri state court, alleging multiple instances of sexual abuse by Pete Newman and subsequent cover-ups by Kanakuk leadership. It was the summer of 2002 and he was excitedthe Christian sports camp advertised the "best summer ever . Goodwin is now the president and COO of Kanakuk Ministries and executive director of Kanakuks Family Kamp. Kanakuk will continue to apply and evaluate our safety practices to help keep Kamp safe and fun for all. 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. 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. 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. OnApril 23, a Kanakuk attorney offered to meet with Taney County officials. The fact is that Kanakuk employees and families, along with Petes family, friends, and closest acquaintances, were deceived by him. Kamps, Berlin: See 59 unbiased reviews of Kamps, rated 3.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #2,764 of 7,413 restaurants in Berlin. #ProtectChildren Click To Tweet, @Kanakuk, release survivors from their NDAs so that they may speak about the childhood sexual abuse they endured at your camp. Youll be my accountability partner. As a family we love Kanakuk. (Newman later admitted to abusing at least one boy on this trip. Vice News speaks with survivors, who say the camp has used. The settlements inhibit victims and their families from sharing their stories and as a result, hinder their recovery process. 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. Our children and nieces have all been as campers. The boys allegedly recorded were ages 13 to 16. 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. This lawsuit is being filed to hold Kanakuk accountable, and to give Logan and potentially other victims and survivors their voices back.. BRANSON, Mo., April 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new website has launched dedicated to creating greater awareness of sexual abuse that occurred at the . Nobody has resigned as a result of the failure to stop a decade of abuse. White, who has written 20 books, is a regular speaker at conservative Christian organizations, including . We were devastated by the deceptive practices of this individual and continue to grieve with victims and their families. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! We believe that abuse of a child is deplorable and stands counter to our mission and Christian calling. #ProtectChildren #ListenToSurvivors. New allegations of child sexual abuse at Kanakuk Kamps, Kanakuk Kamps Must Be Held Accountable for Systemic Sexual Abuse, Myriad Survivors Reveal Years of Hidden Institutional Abuse at Kanakuk Kamps, STATEMENT Kanakuk Kamp Leaders Must Be Held Accountable for Child Sexual Abuse. But Joe did not have that reaction., On March 10th, at 11 a.m., I met with Doug Goodwin and Joe White, wrote Kris Cooper, in a statement. I took Pete to New York with [Newmans wife]. [Read Examples]. Reexamining Kanakuk's Abuse and Struggling to Forgive. Newman pleaded guilty in 2010 to seven counts of sexual abuse, and the prosecutor said Newmans victim count might be in the hundreds. CBS News Texas: Free 24/7 News . The USA Today piece, Survivors, ex-employees say Kanakuk Christian camp ministered to its sexual predators, reveals several new cases of abuse of children at the hands of Kanakuk staff and even other campers spanning decades, apparent dismissals and cover-ups of cases, and gross mishandling of reports that from the evidence available seem to prioritize protecting Kanakuk and predators over young victims and grown survivors. 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. 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). The timeline below, drawn from court documents, indicates a troubling delay between Neugebauers call to Pete Newman, the camps reporting to authorities, and Newmans arrest. Weve said it before, and we will say it again, we are forever sorry for the pain inflicted on victims and their families. "We know there are several hurdles that we will inevitably meet and were just trying to take it one step at a time to see if we can get him back on the path toward full justice.". Logan Yandell started going to Kanakuk in Branson, Missouri when he was 7 years old. Further, we will not be surprised and are also fully prepared if future publicity stunts by these groups should include protests, lawsuits, podcasts or other efforts to gain media attention or disrupt our ministry operations. @Kanakuk, its time to issue annual transparency and response reports and prioritize preventing such abuse in the future. To the best of our ability, we desire to answer accurately, compassionately, and clearly, and support victims in their healing journey. . Our hearts grieve for all victims and their families (some of whom are current or former employees) and the pain they have endured. 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. We believe that victims of abuse should be free to share their stories in support of their healing. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. In 2003, Kanakuk had used this accountability strategy with Newman after the camp discovered hed been swimming and four-wheeling nude with campers and had received parental complaints. Sadly, this represents yet another example of an organization with good intentions falling prey to false narratives so easily spread online and through social media. (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.). Sure forgive, but first toss their butts over to the cops. 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. Kanakuk supports any organization that advocates for victims of sexual abuse; however, the decision of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) to include Kanakuk in a list of Dirty Dozen without the benefit of verifying the information, including direct communication with Kanakuk, defies logic and is egregious. 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. 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 However, he continued in his efforts to help find an eventual successor to White. His sister, Elizabeth Phillips, said her brother considered the settlement blood money and felt so constrained by his NDA he worried he couldnt even talk about his abuse in therapeutic settings.. What was the camps response? In the meantime, we continue to pray for all who have been affected by Pete Newmans behavior.". Joe White, Kanakuks chief executive officer. Weve traveled the country openly sharing what happened here and the steps weve taken to help prevent this from occurring again. "Were all curious to see how Kanakuk plans on responding to the allegations that will be brought forward in this lawsuit.". Our whole society suffers because of these putrid individuals who perpetrate the crimes and the slimy co-conspirators who cover for them. For decades, thousands of families have entrusted their childrens hearts, minds, and safety to Kanakuk Kampsone of the largest Christian sports camps. We were devastated by the deceptive practices of this individual and continue to grieve with victims and their families. Since 1926, Kanakuk has. Pete, my dads standing right here, and Im going to let you go tell [your wife] and to say goodbye to your child for the last time before youll be in custody. The events surrounding Pete Newmans abuses were investigated by the Taney County Sheriffs Office and the Missouri Division of Family Services. Tragically, we live in a broken, fallen world [Romans 3:23], and saw evidence of that when former Kanakuk employees violated the sacred trust that we and our camp families placed in them through actions that stand counter to our mission and values. I dont think that person called the cops. In December 2021, The Dispatch published an article that disclosed to the Kanakuk survivor community and general public for the first time that Newman's direct supervisor, Will Cunningham, had, in fact, recommended Newman's termination in 2003 upon receiving more reports of Newman's ongoing sexual abuse of children. Many of the men I served with were fathers of kids in our classroom who were happy to be with them and their age group. Logan Yandell also is quoted in that May series, describing how he struggled with substance abuse and suicidal thoughts as a result of the abuse. Additionally, Kanakuk set out to elevate our safety practices, which resulted in the Kanakuk Child Protection Plan. A Texas victims father said Kanakuk told him a lawyer representing another victim arrived at the camp and caused Newman to confess. Four people testified in opposition to the bill, representing business and insurance with particular opposition to the portion of the bill which opens a window for a revival of claims. Ashton, 11, dressed in a green hat and gray . As soon as Kanakuk became aware of abuse, we took action, including immediate termination, and subsequently reported him to authorities. Kanakuk continues to be transparent about the events that occurred over a decade ago and the steps weve taken to ensure such deceptive behavior doesnt happen again. Tragically more than 12 years ago, one of our staff members was accused and convicted for abusing Kampers. Our hope and prayers are for the restoration and healing of victims and their families, and we will continue to seek direct dialogue in pursuit of this. 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. Experts now say the FBI should launch an investigation into possible child trafficking. Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Worked as college interns. "We believe under Missouri law that, although Logan is not suing to rescind the settlement agreement that he entered into in 2010, we do believe that Missouri law affords him an alternative recovery that would allow him to seek and recover potentially the full value of the damages that he was deprived of. We support the right of victims to share their story in pursuit of healing. We absolutely want to clarify this. 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. This new information adds to the alreadysubstantial body of evidencethat camp leaders sought to downplay evidence of wrongdoing, even if doing so added to the trauma of those whod been abused and made additional camper abuse more likely. For more than a decade, Evan Hoffpauir believed the camp director who sexually abused him at the Branson-area Kanakuk Kamps had acted . Branson-based Kanakuk Kamps and its associated ministries area multi-million-dollar global enterprise that includes the largest evangelical sports camp in the world. Another camper, who went to China on a Kanakuk-related mission trip, told me via text and phone interview that Newman took a disturbing video of boys on a mission trip in China. White and Cooper were concerned enough to write a corrective action memorandum that outlined a series of limits on Newmans activities, including requiring him to spend considerable time with one of his supervisors, Will Cunningham. This termination . Are we only to have women serve in childrens ministry? In both instances, Kanakuk fully supported the law enforcement investigation and prosecution of the abuser. Any victim can reach out to Kanakuk by emailing us at victimsupport@kanakuk.com or access several independent victim advocacy organizations such as ChildHelp.org or Rainn.org who can provide access to local support services, reporting assistance, and educational resources. There also seems to be a problem with recruitment screening. Pete Newman is the most thorough relationship builder with kids in Kanakuk history, Joe White once said in advertising for a father-son retreat. A series of articles published by the Springfield News-Leader on May 26 tells the stories of previously silent sex abuse victims and others who say Missouri-based Kanakuk Kamps did not do enough to protect them when they were campers there. Former Pastor Accused of Rape Resigns from Churchome After TRR Investigation; Church Official Makes False Claims, Arkansas Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty to 13 Counts of Sexual Assault, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Shamed, Excommunicated Mother for Refusing to Take Back Child Abuser, Days-long Revival Sweeping Asbury University in Kentucky, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Covered Up Pastors Sexual Abuse, Witnesses Say, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthurs Church Supported Convicted Child Abuser & Pedophile, Records Show, Dante Bowe Posts, Then Removes, Apology for Behavior Causing Split with Maverick City Music, Matt Chandler Steps Aside After Admitting Inappropriate Online Relationship, John MacArthur Pulls Out of Ligonier Conference, Pastor Resigns From Houston Megachurch After Admitting Affair, Televangelist Creflo Dollar Renounces Past Teachings on Tithing, But Questions Persist. Imagine being sexually abused as a child and being forced to never speak about it with anyone. Red flag. No disciplinary action was taken against any of Newmans supervisors. Shockingly, as a source of information, the NCOSE relied upon a website (run by an anonymous LLC) that claims to share facts but buries the following notice on their Contact page: The material [on this website] is for informational purposes only and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date., Unfortunately, incomplete information on this anonymous website, coupled with inaccuracies reported by several authors and bloggers, have allowed the NCOSE to make the monumental leap from Kanakuk having reported an employee for abuse, to declaring Kanakuk as a mainstream entity for facilitating, enabling, and profiting from abuse and exploitation this is simply not true. In 2011, the CPP plan enabled Kanakuk to swiftly identify a second abuser, terminate his employment, report him, and coordinate with law enforcement. Our problem wasnt a lack of information, it was an abundance. At least two men have gone to prison for crimes committed while they were Kanakuk counselors. On Monday night, when he and other survivors of childhood sexual abuse testified at a public hearing of the Missouri House Judiciary Committee, Hoffpauir said hes come to believe there was someone else responsible: Camp leadership, including Kanakuk CEO Joe White, who remains in charge. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter. She added, A few days before my brother died, he told a therapist, They are always going to control me and Ill never be free, she said. I also have a copy of the lawsuit that I understand is currently being filed- the defendants include They continue to twist the truth under the banner of sharing facts. 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. Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia), along with other lawmakers, disagreed with those opposed. Read more and take action below! The boys mother reached Neugebauer while Neugebauer was traveling on business in Europe and told him what her son had experienced. After serving more than 30 years in the K-1 ministry at two different churches I saw tremendous value in males serving our children. 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 knowledge of other sexual abuse allegations involving disgraced counselor Peter D. Newman. For years, a former staffer at Kanakuk Kamps, one of the country's most popular Christian summer camps, abused dozens of boys. Its a critical necessity for their healing and restoration. Would you impugn the reputation of every male volunteer because of the evil actions of the few. Yeah, I think so.. 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. It too enjoys a "50 year lease with a 50-year option." According to John Jensen, the Chief Business Officer for Kanakuk Ministries, "All the land tied to this lease [with Kukorp] will revert to Kanakuk upon the death of Joe and Debbie-Jo White." Dozens of additional news outlets have carried stories. Among the new details: Lets start with the most frequently asked question stemming from our original article. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. For years, a former staffer at Kanakuk Kamps, one of the country's most popular Christian summer camps, abused dozens of boys. 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. The Asbury Revival Is Over. One counselor told me that camp director Collin Sparks explained Newmans absence by saying some overly sensitive families who didnt get who Pete was had complained and caused Pete to have to take a little time away, but hell be here soon.. 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. Another was a dad of young boys who was abused as a kamper while a young teen. Since the publication of our first article, I have learned more from sources who have come forward dailyeven hourlywith additional details. Neugebauer told me he did not believe that strategy would deal with Newmans predation effectively. These actions were against Kanakuk policies, and the individual was immediately terminated, reported to authorities, and ultimately convicted of abusing campers. Kanakuk Kamps, headquartered in Branson, Mo., begins camp terms next week and plans to host 20,000 children this summer. A camper immediately reported the suspicious actions of the staff member in accordance with our Child Protection Plan camper training. A short statute of limitations can be lethal, as my family knows, Phillips said, later adding: I used to refer to him as a survivor. Hi. Kanakuk abuse survivors seek to extend statute of limitations. Our CPP is woven throughout the organization and impacts almost every aspect of our operations. 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