Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Kanakuk official: This is not about Kanakuk, it's about the victims

Kanakuk COO Doug Goodwin, testifying during Pete Newman's sentencing today, said "this is not about us, this is about the victims," according to an article posted moments ago on KOLR's website:

According to the article, Goodman said Newman "violated the trust of the camp and as these young victims were trying to seek spiritual guidance, they were abused."

Newman's lawyer, Thomas Carver of Springfield described Newman's family as heartbroken, saying, "He has a lot of family support. A number of brothers and wife and parents are concerned and upset."

Former KOAM reporter Jennifer Denman provided KOLR's reporting.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

I do not understand why he spoke at the trial.

Anonymous said...

I wondered that too. When I read the statement from Doug Goodwin I saw the nature of it. Essentially it is an impact statement with the purpose of effecting the degree of punishment that the judge would give to Pete. If you read the statement it is clear that Doug was asking the judge to give Pete Newman a very steep punishment.

Here is a link to the statement:

http://ozarksfirst.com/images/Multi_Media/ozarksfirst/nxd_media/dox/pdf/2010_06/KanakukStatements.pdf

Amy C. said...

I am offended that Doug Goodwin's comments included two paragraphs which were a sales pitch for how great Kanakuk is. Can they not ever stop marketing themselves?

I am livid that Kanakuk issued yet another self-serving statement yesterday which touts their great work in preventing child sexual abuse. They are breathtakingly arrogant and unapologetic in their refusal to take ownership of the mistakes they've made and lies they've told.

I am a mother of two seven-year kampers.

Anonymous said...

Amy,
I really dont see how it was a sales pitch. I think your anger is clouding your objectivity. Again this was an impact statement with the purpose influencing the Judgement.

Amy C. said...

What sounds like a sales pitch to me are the statements where he 1) describes everything Kanakuk has done to support victims and their families, 2) describes Kanakuk as a place where generations of families attend, sending kids for 8-9 years, 3) defines Kanakuk as a place where families know their kids will grow closer to Christ, 4) refers to families' trust being the bedrock of Kanakuk, 5) mentions that Kanakuk is founded on a biblical principle etc.

These comments are unnecessary to make the point that Pete was a spiritual mentor to these kids. The judge isn't an idiot; Doug Goodwin doesn't need to elaborate on how wonderful he thinks his camp is to say that Pete violated their trust.

Doug Goodwin says that, "Frankly, this is not about Kanakuk," and then makes dozens of statements that could be straight off the website.

And to @7:22, taking Goodwin's statement at face value, he doesn't even come close to asking the judge to give Pete a steep punishment. He says nothing of the sort. He seems to deliberately avoid asking for that. He asked the judge to consider the moral implications of Pete's crimes and said that the sentence imposed will be a message to the kids regarding the wrongness of Pete's actions. That's as far as he goes. And this is really beside the point for me. I take exception with his glowing statements about Kanakuk when they should have reported Pete's actions in 2003 to the police and fired him on the spot.

Anonymous said...

Go Amy C. I felt the same way!

Anonymous said...

People, Pete was running around naked with kids as early as 2001. That's in the documents where parents complained and Pete was addressed about it. Stop saying 2003. They had complaints about his inappropriate behavior almost as soon as he came to work for them.

I don't really blame Joe White like I blame the Cunninghams and Sparks and others who DIRECTLY CO-LED AND TRAVELED WITH HIM. It was under their nose that Pete was leaving camp with kids. How could Joe know unless the co-leaders reported it? Joe White couldn't be everywhere, so that's why he had leaders in pairs at these camps. The Coopers and Cunninghams and Sparks and countless others in leadership were the ones who turned a blind eye. They did not ask the tough questions. They did not confront him with where the h*ll he was going with those boys. Their wives, who all knew Katie was SORELY disappointed in the marriage-relationship, showed NO leadership responsibility by keeping their mouths shut. So many in leadership knew Pete paid no attention to his marriage. They knew he chose to spend time with kids when he was given free stays at Big Cedar by Kanakuk--time that was given with the intent of him and Katie renewing their marriage-relationship. Pete never took Katie. But instead spent time with kids. Other leadership knew this. WHY didn't they confront Pete? Everybody wants to jump on the "top," but nobody wants answers from these co-leaders. Why is that? This whole thing is so screwed up, it makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

It would be nice to have answers from ANYONE at camp...I asked Will Cunningham about this issue directly to his face at a parents meeting and his response was "I can't speak to something I have no knowledge of" so there ya go! Thanks Kanakuk for being the biggest disappointment to ever hit my family and my children. If everyone there had no personal knowledge...then who counseled him and put him on probation...Someone, lots of someones, at camp are still telling lies to cover their total negligence in this.

Anonymous said...

Kanakuk is between a rock and a hard place. Right now, they are attempting to get across their credibility and impact over the last 80 years. Unfortunately, it's coming across to some as self-serving. In reality, Pete Newman has put Kanakuk at risk.

It might be better for families to promote Kanakuk, and not Kanakut themselves.

Kanakuk can't publically speak of any negilegence on their part, in not enforceing the rules when it came to Pete, and in being aware of some of Pete's nude games, even, apparently, giving Pete a reprimand. Such public acknowledgment would only invite lawsuits. Kanakuk might get actions against them, but they would be foolish to invite them.

I think Kanakuk doesn't come across real good by bragging on themselves.

However, I understand why they feel they need to do it. To help people see that Pete has crippled them in this whole ordeal, along with all of his victims.

I also understand why they feel they cannot openly state their negligence. Hopefully, they can find a way to own up to their lack when it came to Pete, and still not invite lawsuits. After all, he duped them, along with everyone else.

Anonymous said...

I absoloutely cannot understand comments like 1:41. Pete Newman committed the crimes, but Kanakuk gave him the hunting grounds by not enforcing their own policies that they knew had to be put in place to protect the kids there from people like Pete. Why should families promote them knowing what we know now. If they never own up to what led to these years of vicitmization, how can we be assured they will not allow it to happen again. How can we be sure they even "get it" now since they won't acknowledge it. I just picked up my daughter from another christian sports camp, very similiar to Kanakuk (because my kids will NEVER go back to Kanakuk since they will NEVER acknowledge what led to this abuse)and the attention to enforcing policies was much stricter. It was refreshing to see some people actually do get it. And suprisingly enough people, the Lord is present in places other than Kanakuk grounds. Some of you act like that is the only place on earth your children can have their faith fed and nurtured. Open your eyes. That kid of blind dedication to man and not God is what got us all into this position in the first place.

Anonymous said...

Amen 12:46!! You stated it perfectly!

Anonymous said...

5:52, email Amanda. I did.

Anonymous said...

David Newman, since you know your twin-brother's heart so well, as you testified on Wed., then why didn't you get him help, turn him in, tell his wife, spare his daughter, spare your parents, spare Kanakuk, why did you allow your family to go into such debt on a hopeless "defense" attorney when you knew there was NOTHING to defend? WHY? Aren't you a pastor? Don't you have a responsibility beyond your personal relationship with your twin? Where is the discernment if you KNEW him so well? Answer that, Pastor Newman?

Anonymous said...

Hey Kris Cooper,

Wanna explain why you allow your 25-day-kampers to leave campus to go do "trips" or spend the day at the local amusement park...drop them off at Silver Dollar City with less than $10 for the day, and tell them they can't use the phone while there. Granted, the kids love it and see nothing wrong with it.....but when I found that my kid had done all this, I was quite unsettled by the fact that I had never given you authority to do so. On top of that, you were the most "distant" director at closing ceremonies. It was obvious you didn't have personal relationships with these kids who'd just spent 25 days with you.

Kris Cooper, you also have some explaining to do.

Anonymous said...

12:46 -Would you be willing to share the name of the camp you sent your kids this year? I'm with you...it will be unlikely that we will ever send our kids back to Kanakuk - I'm on board with all of your statements. I would love to send my kids to camp next year as they are missing out this summer because of all this mess ( and financial reasons). My oldest son also stated that some kids left the property with Pete to go to Mc Donalds after they "won" for doing something exceptional. Kanakuk has a lot of explaining to do about taking kids off property and more.

Anonymous said...

Bloggers on this site....should we be sending letters to Kanakuk - Will Cunningham, Kris Cooper etc.....in addition to talking about it here? While I think it is productive to vent....I would think it more productive if this info was actually read by the individuals that need to hear it. I wonder if any staff/mgmt is even reading these blogs. Thoughts???? I'm willing to send a few letters...

Anonymous said...

I'm not the anonymous above, but I want to say that Young Life and WyldLife have comparable programs for HALF the cost. Most states have a designated YL site, and your child travels with the rep from school. YL camps are ACCREDITED, and have very strict employment guidelines. Our YL rep USED to work at Kanakuk for several years, and now does this. My child PREFERS YL camp. There was less "pressure" and Bible studies happen throughout the day. It's not as structured in some ways, but in others is more focused on the message. They play games and have fun more than having competetion against each other.

Randy said...

To Anonymous 3:10: My website statistics indicate that quite a few readers have Kanakuk IP addresses. Whether those are the people in charge or not, I have no way of knowing, but it is a safe bet they are aware of what is being written on this site.

Anonymous said...

Hey @6:26 -

If you have something else to say about Coops, I'd encourage you to e-mail it to me. K1 is a different place, but it's one I worked at for almost a decade. I can explain the policy re: phones at trips, etc. if you'd like. and in fact, if you had a 25-day camper between 98 and 05, I likely knew him!

rosschaffin@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

4:45, Ross, you may not know that kids are taken off campus without parents' a) knowledge, and b) permission to do so.

Now, Mr. Attorney, isn't that inappropriate at least, illegal at best?

Just because you are a past camper/counselor, doesn't mean that you know everything about everything.

K-1 was sorely lacking in a LOT of areas. And isn't Mr. Cooper one of the top dogs?

Anonymous said...

3:07

We are from Texas and the camp the kids are going to(one has already been and the other is there now) is T Bar M in New Braunfels. I was very inpressed. Exact same concept as Kanakuk but it seems to be more strict about policies and security. At least one of the directors and some staff are from Kanakuk but I was very comfortable with the structure and the policies. For example, staff all wear name tags, day campers are checked in the gates in the morning and are not released until an approved adult picks them up at the end of the day. They take their temperature before they enter the gates each day to prevent illness. Same kinds of things in place at the over night camp. Kids are met in their vehicles on their way in on opening day to check their temperatures before they ever enter the gates. Security measures in place. They seem to have a grasp on the level of responsibility they have with our kids in our absence and leadership takes it serious...but they still manage to have FUN! To 3:10. I agree with you speaking directly to camp leadership is the ideal way to address these questions...if anyone ever gets a response from them please share. I have stated on here before that I spoke directly to Will Cunningham at a parents meeting in the fall regarding "rumors" that there had been issues with Pete several years ago prior to these charges being brought against him and that Camp had even "counseled" him on it and his response was simply "I can not speak to something I do not have personal knoweledge of" I also e-mailed Joe White and asked very specific questions along these lines and his response we something along the lines of "We did not have knowledge that he was a pedophile" To me neither of these is a straight answer of what was actually known when and what exactly was done about it. And to Ross, I can appreciate your unshakeable dedication to Kanakuk and its staff, as I have a family member who was a long time staff member who did not want to believe any of these when it first came to light, but I also have a son who was taken off camp property, alone, by Pete DURING his camp term. That was not what I paid nearly $2000 for and it is not what I signed my then 11 year old son up for either. One more wake of victims left by this whole thing is families that are struggling because they are divided between what some of us believe was negligence on Kanakuks part and blind devotion. The impact is really immeasurable.

Anonymous said...

5:24 -

I went on every trip you're complaining about. Silver Dollar City is a heavily-supervised trip provided as a treat to the older kids in Kamp. Some of the best times I had as a camper and counselor were on these kinds of off-campus trips. Kids weren't allowed to make phone calls because it is a fight to combat homesickness as it is! If a kid comes back from the trip and tells a fellow kid about calling mom, you have a regular epidemic on your hands! That's my "camp" analysis.

And as an attorney, the waiver that you sign on the application, legally, is more than enough permission for kanakuk to take kids on these types of trips. It's well-known that "Big Deal" and "Super Deal" trips are off-campus. You at least have inquiry notice of this.

I'm not a blind supporter of Kanakuk. I, too, want to know what folks knew. But bringing this issue up is, um, silly.

And again, if you'd like to discuss this further, I'd invite you to e-mail me personally. rosschaffin@gmail.com. Kris Cooper has never had any supervisory role over Pete Newman and bringing up his name seems a little strange. In my experience, Kris's leadership style was one that empowered staff (like me) to be the ones who were the "stars" of K1. That should be refreshing in light of the person (Pete) who is most deserving of criticism in this thread.

Anonymous said...

Ross,

I have been watching your comments on here and it seems like you have kind of placed yourself in a position as an official/unofficial Kanakuk spokesperson so I would like to ask you for clarification on just a few things:
1. Did the waiver we signed give Pete permission to leave camp property alone with my son because that is what happened, and according to a conversation I had with Joe white, it was absolutely against camp policy for pete to do that.

2. What part of these parents concerns do you find silly, and don't you think in light of what has happened calling any parents concerns silly is kind of inconsiderate.

3. Considering that a blog is a public forum for people to share, why do you keep insisting people contact you at your personal e-mail address rather than sharing on here for public view. Thanks for the time you spent mentoring kids at Kamp...I will say that 99.9% of the conselors there were fantastic with the kids and I have not heard people on here question that...my bigger concern and what I believe other people are questioning is the leadership decisions.

Ross I seriously doubt you have a child that has been affected by a situation like this, and I pray to God that you never have to see your children hurt in this way.

Anonymous said...

I just read on another thread that Will Cunningham resigned from Kanakuk and has now also disappeared from their website...HHMMM. Anyone know what is up what that or is that going to be one more big unanswered question...

Anonymous said...

7:14, I second that. Ross, you are seriously lacking in sensitivity.

Anonymous said...

Where IS Will?

Anonymous said...

I think you said it best Ross when you said Kris C. made you feel like a star at K1 when you worked there. Ross, buddy, you better be glad it wasn't Pete that made you feel like a star...you better be counting your lucky stars!!! 7:14 p.m. is right about you. You obviously can't speak to victims and their families. You are modeling the same loyalty to Kanakuk that will not be repeated again by those who got so hurt and damaged.

Anonymous said...

Ross, sounds like you just need attention.

Who do you think you are, posing as their spokesperson? Or acting as if you know all the facts about what goes on there? Or even presuming to counsel these families of victims?

The reason you put your name on here is not because you are so concerned with not hiding behind anonymity, but b/c you like attention.

You act like you're best friends with everybody at Kanakuk, but you're not.

Anonymous said...

Oh yawn. No one has e-mailed me. I'm defending Kris Cooper and the SDC type of trip, not Pete Newman and not Kanakuk. There was one parent who questioned the Silver Dollar City trip, and I answered. I don't work for Kanakuk. I haven't in a long time. It's certainly inappropriate to take kids off-campus for one-on-one without parents permission.

If anyone read my comment re: K1's silver dollar city trip to have ANYTHING to do with Pete Newman, please read them again.

And please, if you're going to be ad hominem, do it through my e-mail address, which you have, and I'll give you again: rosschaffin@gmail.com. There I'll listen if you really have a problem with the way this comment was written.

Otherwise, you're just trolling for a response, and it's a silly thing to do when there's such a serious issue here.

Anonymous said...

@7:14

Could you cite where I "act as if you know all the facts about what goes on there" or "act like you're best friends with everybody at Kanakuk" or was "posing as their spokesperson"? I did none of these things. Someone criticized Coops for a basic K1 trip. I have been on many of these trips, and they are authorized by Kanakuk applications.

It's really easy to be hateful when there's no consequences for the words you say. Please stop being hateful. Because even though your identity isn't known to me, there are eternal consequences for what you type online, under anonymity. I like the accountability of posting my e-mail address because it keeps me from being hateful towards others.

If one or more of you really have a problem with me, I'd love to discuss it in a way that isn't such a public tomato-throwing party. Even if it means you create a "fake" e-mail to do it.

rosschaffin@gmail.com

Amanda Tackett said...

It's disappointing that the people who have attached their names and contact information to their comments are being slammed.

I don't agree with some of Ross' opinions, but that doesn't mean I can show civility to him. He's been very open with us in answering things on the inside workings of camp, something that Kanakuk isn't willing to do for us.

So, please give him a break. I can't stress this enough when people are typing on blogs, we tend to read them in a certain way...assigning a "tone" or motive, or hidden meaning to what they say. Ross is kind of a serious "dry" guy, that's my take. I don't think he's "trying" to be "mean." Ross doesn't have kids who were impacted like some of us were, but don't forget...this impacts him in a different way. Just my opinion, but it looks like he was trying to be helpful (like I did, and faced similar commentary).

And, non-believers and OUR KIDS are reading this stuff (they know how to google...) Let's let the way we treat each other here be an example for them. Discussions = Good. Attacks = Bad.

Anonymous said...

Ross,

I was the first 7:14 post (there were two 7:14 posts very close together) I do not believe I attacked you in any way, thanked you for the years you worked with kids at Kanakuk actually, I just asked some legitimate questions that I would hope you would answer or give an opinion on. Also you know what the situation is with Cunningham leaving?

Anonymous said...

4:47 - The second one was the big issue. To answer your earlier questions - 1) No. 2) The concerns about Kris Cooper and Silver Dollar City were all I characterized as "silly". Totally off-topic and unrelated to Pete in any way. These were big, traditional, well-staffed trips that were well known to returning campers and parents. Certainly there are many, many concerns, many of which I share. 3) I don't mind people sharing anonymously, but it provides no accountability for what are, increasingly, personal attacks against an identified person (Coops, Me, Amanda) by people who aren't willing to stand by those comments (second 7:14, "Hey Kris Cooper" 6:26).

I like Will Cunningham. I don't have any kind of relationship with him, and I have no insight as to why he left camp. But I certainly hope for the best for he and Cindy, Peter and Wes.

Anonymous said...

Will and Cindy are moving to Denver, CO where he will be Dean of students at a Christian school. The timing of their move does seem a little odd.

Todd said...

Very sad situation... devestating for so many people. So frustrating for so many people that Kanakuk can't just openly discuss all the details, but that's, of course, not realistic and very probably unneccessary in most cases, though we all feel entitled to know everything we want to know. Every one certainly has the right to 'vote' agasint Kanakuk by sending thier kids elsewhere. It is, of course, true that the Lord is present at other camps, as well as one blogger said. There are lots of good Christian camps out there and Kanakuk supports, helps, promotes a ton of them. None of them are infalible, though. Just like Kanakuk proved not to be. There's a reason that Kanakuk is the standard, though. Notice that most people's endoresement of other camps includes, 'they have people there who worked at Kanakuk' very strong endorsement for a reason. I worked at Kamp 20 years ago. One of the first people I met was a guy who's dad was a director at T-Bar M. He and his brother had been coming to Kanakuk for years and he was working as a counselor at Kanakuk that summer. I asked him why he and his brother were at Kanakuk when thier dad was a director at T Bar M... his answer was 'that no place else is Kanakuk' He's right, by the way. I sent my kids to a great camp this summer closer to home and they had a blast. It's a great place, but it was a far cry from Kanakuk. They were doing thier best to do things like Kanakuk, but were light years away. Kanakuk is the standard for so many things and I would be willing to bet, for safety measures, as well. Mistakes obviously happened. Trust was misplaced. I'm sure changes have been made, but it will never be enough. As great as Kanakuk is... and it is greater than most people can understand.... it's still not Heaven... it's still located in a fallen world and run by imperfect, broken people. The bottom line is that this is just sad and more devestating than words can describe. I'm sorry for/to everyone effected... mostly the victims and thier familes, definitely Pete and his wife and family, certainly everyone at Kanakuk, especially anyone who was directly responsible for this. Can't imagine the burden this has been for all of them. I will continue to place the trust of my kiddos in God's hands and not man's. I'll do my absolute best to make sure they are safe and when I trust them with someone else for a period of time, I'll pray like crazy and trust God to protect them, while still realizing that this is a very scarey place, this planet we inhabit. Aren;t you glad this is not our final destination?

Todd said...

Very sad situation... devestating for so many people. So frustrating for so many people that Kanakuk can't just openly discuss all the details, but that's, of course, not realistic and very probably unneccessary in most cases, though we all feel entitled to know everything we want to know. Every one certainly has the right to 'vote' agasint Kanakuk by sending thier kids elsewhere. It is, of course, true that the Lord is present at other camps, as well as one blogger said. There are lots of good Christian camps out there and Kanakuk supports, helps, promotes a ton of them. None of them are infalible, though. Just like Kanakuk proved not to be. There's a reason that Kanakuk is the standard, though. Notice that most people's endoresement of other camps includes, 'they have people there who worked at Kanakuk' very strong endorsement for a reason. I worked at Kamp 20 years ago. One of the first people I met was a guy who's dad was a director at T-Bar M. He and his brother had been coming to Kanakuk for years and he was working as a counselor at Kanakuk that summer. I asked him why he and his brother were at Kanakuk when thier dad was a director at T Bar M... his answer was 'that no place else is Kanakuk' He's right, by the way. I sent my kids to a great camp this summer closer to home and they had a blast. It's a great place, but it was a far cry from Kanakuk. They were doing thier best to do things like Kanakuk, but were light years away. Kanakuk is the standard for so many things and I would be willing to bet, for safety measures, as well. Mistakes obviously happened. Trust was misplaced. I'm sure changes have been made, but it will never be enough. As great as Kanakuk is... and it is greater than most people can understand.... it's still not Heaven... it's still located in a fallen world and run by imperfect, broken people. The bottom line is that this is just sad and more devestating than words can describe. I'm sorry for/to everyone effected... mostly the victims and thier familes, definitely Pete and his wife and family, certainly everyone at Kanakuk, especially anyone who was directly responsible for this. Can't imagine the burden this has been for all of them. I will continue to place the trust of my kiddos in God's hands and not man's. I'll do my absolute best to make sure they are safe and when I trust them with someone else for a period of time, I'll pray like crazy and trust God to protect them, while still realizing that this is a very scarey place, this planet we inhabit. Aren;t you glad this is not our final destination?

Anonymous said...

This may never be read, as I am coming across this thread years later. To set the record straight on Will Cunningham, on multiple accounts he requested the firing of Newman. Once Cunningham heard of "naked streaking" he implored for the firing of Newman. There are many articles to be read recounting this claim. I cannot stand by and let mistakes by others taint the name of Will Cunningham, a man after God's own heart. His decision to move with his wife away from Branson was made after months of seeking the Lord in prayer and sensing the Holy Spirit saying it was time for a 15+ year stint as a Kanakuk Director to come to an end. But let's be honest, wouldn't you also resign from a job that didn't listen to your wisdom to remove Newman from his position of leadership.

As I look back on events years later I'm reminded of one thing above all else. Satan is a like a lion prowling around seeking for someone or multiple someones to devour or anyone to devour. How sad it is to watch us brothers and sisters in Christ allow Satan to devour us as well as we give in to bitterness and the devouring of each other. When we see phenomenal leaders like Newman fall from the pedestal we (myself included) put him on, the first thing we should realize is that every one of us (once again myself included) is capable of any depth and breadth of sin. We should be humbled and run to the feet of Jesus asking Him what He is teaching us in this instead of immediately going on the manhunt for our own justice. Psalm 37 talks about how when we "commit our way to the Lord and trust in Him, He will act. He will bring forth our righteousness as the light and our just as the noonday." HE WILL ACT!!! HE WILL BRING FORTH OUR JUSTICE!!! I know I don't often allow Him to do this in my life because I so quickly try to bring forth my own justice. It's then, after we truly trust Him to act, that His wisdom will lead us toward the Godly route of pursuing justice over miserably heartbreaking events such as this.

Lastly, HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD! To hear news in the past few years of a man living in Jefferson City Correction Center named Peter Daniel Newman who is living a repentant life in pursuit of his own healing in the Lord. To hear news of the exuberant light of Jesus seen in Newman's eyes. OUR GOD IS GREATER!!! The Lord isn't limited to moving in people's lives that are outside of prison walls only. Somehow the God of the universe seems to have snuck through a crack in the concrete and is bit by bit making Pete Newman more and more like Jesus. Come to think of it, I feel the God of the universe may have snuck in through my garage and is at this very moment, bit by bit making me more like Jesus. I sure pray this is happening. I so badly wanna be more like Jesus and less like myself tomorrow morning when I wake up.