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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. "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. As a family we love Kanakuk. In March of 2022 the NCOSE shockingly included Kanakuk on its Dirty Dozen List, without the benefit of any direct conversation with us. As soon as Kanakuk became aware of abuse, we took action, including immediate termination and subsequently reported the individual involved. 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. 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. The survivors, family members, and advocates who testified in favor of the bill argued that childhood sexual abuse survivors can take years to come forward and that evidence of institutional wrongdoing that would spur civil action can take years to come to light, too, necessitating a higher cap on the age limit. We were devastated by the deceptive practices of this individual and continue to grieve with victims and their families. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. New Evidence Emerges: Kanakuk Kamp Blocked an Effort to Fire an Employee Later Revealed To Be a Serial Child Abuser Pete Newman's supervisor recommended he be fired in 2003, according to sources. Branson-based Kanakuk Kamps and its associated ministries are a multi-million-dollar global enterprise that includes the largest evangelical sports camp in the world. And excuses were made because as Christians we must forgive. A representative for Kanakuk did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but declined to comment on similar allegations late last year, and said that we continue to pray for all who have been affected by Pete Newmans behavior., Dygert relayed a message to the committee, too: One victims mother asked me, and I quote, Please let the committee know how many people this will help, that feel like they have no voice and no help from those that hurt them.. Logan's family says from age 9 to 13, he was sexually abused by Pete Newman, a Kanakuk counselor, and later, camp director. In March 2021, an anonymously owned LLC created a website sharing so-called Facts about Kanakuk. As soon as Kanakuk became aware of abuse, we took action, including immediate termination and reporting him to authorities. pete newman kanakuk wife pete newman kanakuk wife (No Ratings Yet) . In 2009, Kanakuk counselor Pete Newman was arrested and ultimately confessed to sexually abusing more than a dozen campers, though prosecutors said the number is likely far higher. 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. Kanakuk has been serving kids and families for more than 96 years. Since 1926, Kanakuk has. Survivors, ex-employees say unreported abuse at Kanakuk camps in Branson spans decades. In 2011, the CPP plan enabled Kanakuk to swiftly identify a second abuser, terminate his employment, report him, and coordinate with law enforcement. He tells us that he confronted Pete Newman directly and afterward had a series of disturbing conversations with Joe White. It has since put on child protection training seminars. Sadly, their tactics are in opposition to true healing; instead they appear intent on stirring old painful emotions and attempting to convince survivors that they have been deceived by Kanakuk. 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.. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. Watch Video Victims Speak Out About Sexual Abuse at Kanakuk CBS Dallas/Ft Worth If a person youd employed to take care of children actually abused them, you would be the one who calls the police on Pete. 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.. Kanakuk abuse survivors urge Missouri lawmakers to extend statute of limitations The House judiciary committee on Monday heard public testimony on a bill that would give childhood sexual abuse survivors the ability to file a civil claim up to age 55. 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. Kanakuk also fully supported the law enforcement investigation and prosecution of the abuser Pete Newman. 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). (MinistryWatch has written a series of stories about Kanakuk, found here.). Warren Cole Smith is president of MinistryWatch.com, a donor watchdog group. We told Pete he could no longer work at Kamp and that he needed to leave Branson that day, Cooper said. A two-week session costs around $2500, but thousands of affluent families gladly pay the fee, and often not just for two weeks. And Tom, I stand corrected. Kanakuk Kamps, headquartered in Branson, Mo., begins camp terms next week and plans to host 20,000 children this summer. 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. We are only a small fraction of the Kanakuk survivors, yet our collective abuse experiences span from the 1950s to 2022. Kanakuk wasnt a ministry, it was a very big business.. Newman. She also wrote about vocational education for Democracy Journal. We have attempted to engage in constructive conversation with NCOSE [Read Kanakuk Letter to NCOSE] and will continue to explore opportunities to do so. As soon as Kanakuk became aware of abuse, we took action, including immediate termination and reporting him to authorities. More:It was just a thing at Kanakuk: Campers and staff say nudity was part of camp culture. Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia), along with other lawmakers, disagreed with those opposed. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. He was a camp director at Kanakuk Kamps, one of the largest Christian camps in the world. They reflect the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of other survivors or No More Victims, LLC. USA Today has a print and digital daily readership of approximately 2.6 million. This petition makes three simple pleas in line with longstanding best-practices for responding to policy breaches and abuse allegations: 1. No More Victims LLC. Kanakuk leadership maintains that they had no advanced knowledge of his behavior, and Newman was a master of deception., [Leadership] stated they fired Newman as soon as they were aware of his abusive behaviors, and that he acted alone, Hoffpauir said. 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. Former camper suing Missouri-based Kanakuk claiming 'fraudulent' abuse settlement Jody Jones, who flew from Utah to testify, was a camper at Kanakuk in 1985, when she was 8. Both USA Today and the News-Leader are owned by the media company Gannett. In May, a camp director told Kanakuk employees that Newman was dealing with hyper-sensitive parental complaints about hugging but would return soon. We absolutely want to clarify this. According toguidelines posted by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, The Sunshine Law requires a custodian of records to respond to a records request as soon as possible but no later than three business days after the custodian receives it. Current Taney County prosecuting attorney William Duston responded in a timely manner and explained that pulling the files and reviewing them will take approximately a month.. This site operates behind anonymity, and freely spreads defamatory statements and information taken out of context, while attacking anyone who supports Kanakuk. Based on civil suitsKanakuk President and COO Doug Goodwincouldnt even guesshow many had been filedwe knew there were more victims. It wasnt one time. Authorities issued asearch warrantin 2009 to seize the devices after Kanakuk had them in their possession for three months. A camper immediately reported the suspicious actions of the staff member in accordance with our Child Protection Plan camper training. Abuse happens in many contexts. It's not unusual for rich families from Dallas to send their kids to Kanakuk for most of the summer. By: Clara Bates - February 14, 2023 1:35 pm The goal of their efforts are still not clear, but their campaign of misinformation and defamation of Kanakuk and our amazing staff has been ongoing and unrelenting. She said a counselor named Chuck Price abused her, but it took decades for her to come forward. Weed out the disgusting things and put fear in the hearts of pedophiles and perverts vs making excuses when someone comes forward. 25 Feb/23. Patriarchal Christianity provides the perfect environment for committing and covering up sexual abuse. Newman pleaded guilty in 2010 to seven counts of sexual abuse, and the prosecutor said Newmans victim count might be in the hundreds. 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. 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. Survivor advocates also say that the consequences are still playing out today. 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. A petition asking Kanakuk to release dozens of sexual abuse victims and families from non-disclosure agreements has reached more than 26,000 signatures. 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. Newman eventuallyadmittedto fondling campers, having them manually stimulate him, and other behavior related to nudity and hot tub jetting.. 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. Now, as more survivors come forward with their own horrific stories of abuse at Kanakuk Kamps, it seems apparent that Joe White and the institution he led are complicit in the alleged sexual abuse and exploitation of many dozens of children. Our problem wasnt a lack of information, it was an abundance. In They Arent Who You Think They Are, David and I detailed Kanakuk leaderships awareness of a series of incidents in which Newman was nude with children. 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. 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. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. 2023 www.news-leader.com. Pete Newman is the most thorough relationship builder with kids in Kanakuk history, Joe White once said in advertising for a father-son retreat. By Nancy French and David French Dec 23, 2021 90 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. #ProtectChildren #ListenToSurvivors. Ye reap what ye sow. The true fact is that this group is not interested in anything more than furthering their agenda. [Letter From Joe White]. (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.). In my experience, a person learning of it [for the first time] wouldve had a different reaction, he said. The child she named was the same child Neugebauer helped send on the ill-fated retreat. This lawsuit is being filed to hold Kanakuk accountable, and to give Logan and potentially other victims and survivors their voices back.. , 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. We were wrong in our understanding of the language of many of these agreements, and we failed to recognize the restrictions both real and perceived that many victims are under. No disciplinary action was taken against any of Newmans supervisors. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Martens said Yandell is leading a successful life now but must still deal with the traumatic effects of being sexually abused as a child. Pete Newman is serving two life sentences plus 30 years. In both instances, Kanakuk fully supported the law enforcement investigation and prosecution of the abuser. 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. For more than a decade, Evan Hoffpauir believed the camp director who sexually abused him at the Branson-area Kanakuk Kamps had acted alone. Many lives exposed to the Gospel. 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. More:Kanakuk's statement provided in response to the News-Leader's questions. 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