"I think that one of the most important parts of this for Logan is to be a representative of not only himself, his story and to get his voice back, but also to be a representative for all the other victims who were induced into these settlement agreements under pretty much false pretenses," Martens said. Last month, my husband David French and I published areportdescribing how one of the largest Christian camps in the world reacted to repeated red flag warnings about the inappropriate behavior of a counselor in ways that we described as troubling and inadequate. The fact is that neither Joe nor Petes immediate supervisors would have ever allowed him to remain on staff if they suspected him of abusing kids. 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. Our desire is to support victims and help them in their healing journey. For this reason, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has named Kanakuk Kamps to the 2022 Dirty Dozen List. The lawsuit says that because of these substantial facts coming to light after Yandell's original settlement, Yandell is entitled to further damages due to Kanakuk's fraud. They continue to twist the truth under the banner of sharing facts. Pete Newman is the most thorough relationship builder with kids in Kanakuk history, Joe White once said in advertising for a father-son retreat. Enough is enough! Tragically, in a deeply troubling array of instances, the safety of children took a back seat to other considerations as years of child sexual abuse at Kanakuk Kamps have been covered up by the organization. We desire to support victims and help them in their healing journey. But it was not just one scoutmaster and it was never just one priest, Neugebauer told me, referring to the massive sex abuse cover-ups in the Boy Scouts and the Catholic Church. Kanakuk is a great place, a special place. Newman and Kanakuk Kamps founder and president Joe White are also defendants in the suit. Since its founding in 1926, it claims to have served more than 450,000 campers. Telephone messages left for Taney County Detective Ronnie Roberts about what material, if any, was found on those devices went unreturned. We took his cell phone, his computer, his files and locked his office.. Pete Newman is serving two life sentences plus 30 years. It is so sad! 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. 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. Dozens of additional news outlets have carried stories. 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. Remember the Boy Scouts. "Were all curious to see how Kanakuk plans on responding to the allegations that will be brought forward in this lawsuit.". This camp helped grown their relationship with the Lord & supported their faith walk. As soon as Kanakuk became aware of abuse, we took action, including immediate termination, and subsequently reported him to authorities. "Our focus right now is on Logans case," Martens said. He has also provided an open letter to victims who do not prefer to meet face-to-face. How many victims have to die before the camp is held accountable? 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. (Photo- 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). @Kanakuk, its time to issue annual transparency and response reports and prioritize preventing such abuse in the future. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. 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. The fact is that Kanakuk employees and families, along with Petes family, friends, and closest acquaintances, were deceived by him. OnMarch 10, Newman confessed and gave White, Goodwin, and Cooper a list of victims names. Sample Page; ; Weve said it before, and we will say it again, we are forever sorry for the pain inflicted on victims and their families. 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 - Furthermore, Kanakuk continues to offer support to victims, including providing independent counseling if desired. Kanakuk will continue to apply and evaluate our safety practices to help keep Kamp safe and fun for all. 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. 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. It was the summer of 2002 and he was excitedthe Christian sports camp advertised the "best summer ever . 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.. 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. 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. At the time, he believed that successor could be Pete Newman, who was the well-loved and respected camp director, held up by White as a role model. 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." "Kanakuk actively concealed what they knew about the sexual abuse being perpetrated by Pete Newman and induced victims and survivors into settlements and NDAs, said Robert Thrasher, one of Yandell's attorneys, in a news release. Elizabeth Phillips traveled from Texas to testify on behalf of her brother, Trey Carlock, who reached a settlement with Kanakuk after being abused by Newman, and died by suicide at age 29. It's not unusual for rich families from Dallas to send their kids to Kanakuk for most of the summer. Former Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell, the person who ultimately prosecuted Newman, does not recall what was foundif anythingon these devices. 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. By Nancy French and David French Dec 23, 2021 90 The child she named was the same child Neugebauer helped send on the ill-fated retreat. Neugebauer wanted Kanakuk to bring in professionals to do an investigation to properly identify all victims. There are many false narratives circulating online, particularly stemming from a website that purports to share facts. For decades, thousands of families have entrusted their childrens hearts, minds, and safety to Kanakuk Kampsone of the largest Christian sports camps. We look forward to the next century of building next-generation leaders. At the time I just thought he found it hilarious, but in reality, what he did with that footage was probably really malicious.. We are humbled and grateful when we can have direct conversations. 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. 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. Instead, White encouraged Neugebauer to forgive Newman and to protect the camp without calling the authorities, according to Neugebauer. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. My impression after my interactions with the camp was this, he told me during a phone interview. More:It was just a thing at Kanakuk: Campers and staff say nudity was part of camp culture. The investigation continues. All I was trying to do was,Hey, lets come up with a solution for you and Joe White for long-term planning, he said. Pete Newman was a master of deception fooling not only Kanakuk but also his friends, neighbors, and even his own family. , sponsored by Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, would extend the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, allowing survivors to file civil action until they turn 55 years old. Kanakuk also fully supported the law enforcement investigation and prosecution of the abuser. 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. And today I do. This petition is a companion to the Hold Kanakuk Accountable petition, which invites you to join survivors of Kanakuk abuse in demanding that Kanakuk admits to known failures, releases victims from their NDAs, and invites an independent investigation.Support survivors and their pleas with your signature! 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. And Tom, I stand corrected. We also documented Kanakuks lack of action, even after several parental complaints. Kanakuk also fully supported the law enforcement investigation and prosecution of the abuser Pete Newman. 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. With annual revenue topping $30 million, Kanakuk Kamps is one of the largest evangelical ministries in the nation and claims to have hosted 500,000 campers from all 50 states and 10 countries since its founding in 1926. As soon as Kanakuk became aware of abuse, we took action, including immediate termination and reporting him to authorities. The fact is that Pete was surrounded and supervised by honorable people who would have never placed profit over the safety of children especially their own children. I immediately reached out to Joe White, Neugebauer told me. 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. 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. 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. One victims family told me that Pete Newman had solicited nude photos of their sons genitalia, which the young boy provided. It also implied Newman left voluntarily instead of being terminated. Pete Newman was protected and promoted despite clear reports of sexually abusive behavior, making it extremely unlikely that he was acting alone.. Imagine being sexually abused as a child and being forced to never speak about it with anyone. As part of that settlement, the Yandells signed a non-disclosure agreement. [Read Kanakuk Letter to NCOSE]. Kanakuk Kamps, headquartered in Branson, Mo., begins camp terms next week and plans to host 20,000 children this summer. You a guy all excited about children ministry or K-4 as a teacher. Christ inverts them where we are all servants of each other. And I believed this narrative for over a decade.. A documentary made by VICE News about the alleged sexual abuse cases at Kanakuk camps in southwest Missouri won a 2022 Emmy, Allegations that popular Christian singer-songwriter Chris Rice sexually assaulted an older teen are credible, according to a report by leading victim advocacy, Young Lifeone of the nations largest youth ministries, involving more than 400,000 youth and 55,000 staff and volunteersis being accused of ignoring. After consulting with his father, Neugebauer called Newman to confront him. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. The prosecutor who oversaw the case later estimated the actual number of victims could be in the hundreds.. 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. Kanakuk abuse survivors seek to extend statute of limitations. He believed other predators could be at the camp, as well as other victims. conservative online news outlet The Dispatch, Survivors, ex-employees say unreported abuse at Kanakuk camps in Branson spans decades, It was just a thing at Kanakuk: Campers and staff say nudity was part of camp culture, Kanakuk camper says she was told to apologize, denied call home after reporting abuse, Kanakuk's statement provided in response to the News-Leader's questions, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. The family included a telling detail in the death notice, saying their son was a "Kanakuk Kamps abuse survivor" who "for years fought . Joe White discouraged the whistleblower from informing law enforcement of Newmans crimes. This article was originally published at Ministry Watch. We've said it before, and we will say it again, we are forever sorry for the . "We think its going to become pretty apparent from the petition that that wasnt true," Martens said. 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. 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). Warren Cole Smith is president of MinistryWatch.com, a donor watchdog group. An investigation by journalists Nancy and David French, who called Kanakuk the worst Christian sex abuse scandal youve never heard of, first reported Kanakuks alleged early knowledge of Newmans behavior. Mondays hearing was on legislation that would extend the civil statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. (Newman later admitted to abusing at least one boy on this trip. We have attempted to engage in constructive conversation with NCOSE [Read Kanakuk Letter to NCOSE] and will continue to explore opportunities to do so. Read a more extensive account of what the new investigations expose here. In the meantime, we continue to pray for all who have been affected by Pete Newmans behavior.". 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. Red flag. Newmans accountability approach to wrongdoing had been used before. "He's one of the most prolific serial abusers that I've ever heard of," French said during Wednesday's St. Louis on the Air. Weve traveled the country openly sharing what happened here and the steps weve taken to help prevent this from occurring again. Following the events of 2009, we created the Kanakuk Child Protection Plan (CPP). A camper immediately reported the suspicious actions of the staff member in accordance with our Child Protection Plan camper training. Neugebauer proposed forming a nonprofit to buy the camp. Martens said Yandell is leading a successful life now but must still deal with the traumatic effects of being sexually abused as a child. 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. All statements on this page were submitted by verified survivors of abuse at Kanakuk Kamps. The FBI should be all over this like a glove., In an email, attorney and author Rachael Denhollandertheformer gymnast who blew the whistle on Larry Nassarand has since become a leading voice on the topic of sexual abusewrote, The level of abuse and cover-up that has taken place at Kanakuk is extreme and follows well-established patterns of organized trafficking and production of child sexually abusive material (child porn). She also wrote, A detailed investigation not just of the abuse, but of the cover-up, needs to be undertaken immediately. Joe White, Kanakuks chief executive officer. The actions of Pete Newman are devastating to hear and stand counter to Kanakuks values and mission. However, he continued in his efforts to help find an eventual successor to White. "The only thing that the civil justice system provides to our clients, victims of sexual abuse like Logan, is monetary compensation," Martens said. 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