Thursday, November 26, 2009

Arkansas residents share thoughts on Pete Newman

In this report from KFSM in Northwest Arkansas, residents express their thoughts about former Kanakuk Kamp director Pete Newman, who is free on nearly half a million dollars bond after being charged with seven felony sex crimes involving underage boys:


Many who know Newman say they are shocked. Fayetteville's K-Life Director Richard Cole used to work closely with Newman, and says he never suspected anything. "I've just been around him often, so truth be told, he was a guy I admired a ton. It's hard. It's really hard. Their policies have always been very tight on how we interact with kids, especially on a physical level. I mean, it's no nonsense." Former camper and camp photographer Barkley Beers says, "it was actually a shock when I heard that. I loved the counselors. They were energetic and fun, and just great influences." Abbie Walden is currently a counselor for Kanakuk in the summer. She says, "people have been so hurt by this, because they've put, they've seen him as the Lord, almost, as God, and he's not God." Former counselor and Neuman's friend Lee Morton says, "I did work with Pete ten years ago. It was a positive experience, and so when I heard about this, it was devastating to me. I know that God has used Kanakuk Kamps in the lives of many children, and I think he will continue to do that despite the situation. It's sad that it had to affect so many people before it came into the light." But some like Beers still plan on sending their kids to Kanakuk. "Even with this coming up, I'll still send her. I mean, I had so much fun there. It was just a great experience, and I want her to have that experience." Former camp counselors say they hope that these allegations don't cast a negative light on Kanakuk Kamps, a camp they still feel is trustworthy. Kanakuk officials say they are tightening their already strict hiring policies, background checks, and personal interviews.

41 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:40 AM

    Today, I am STILL SO THANKFUL for the ministry of Kanakuk...where kids can go to learn more about God's Word, and see Christ's life and teachings lived out in it's leaders and counselors!!!!!

    Pete was ONE BAD APPLE, but he didn't spoil the whole bunch.

    Thank you, LORD, for Kanakuk today!

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  2. Anonymous5:55 PM

    The Northwest Arkansas news segment was so biased!!!! Mr Cole just married the daughter of one of Joe White's right hand men. I felt they were more concerned in this segment in promoting Kanakuk than speaking about the issues! This is more of what we have all seen, KANAKUK DAMAGE CONTROL!!!!! Sick how Joe is going on trail speaking to parents assuring them of the safety of camp when he has made little to no effort to speak to the victims families. Watch the segment again and see for yourself........Kanakuk sending out messengers to assure of how great camp is. Well as for our family, we have been devastated and it is because of an individual we became connected with through a camp that we trusted. We are devastated and look at Kanakuk as partly responsible!!!!

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  3. Anonymous6:26 AM

    My kids want to go back to Kanakuk despite this tragic occurrence. My husband and I are struggling with the issue as we feel that Kanakuk management is/was lax in the oversight, accountability of directors at the camp. Once these men get to those positions of authority are they deemed not to be sinful? Are they free to function on behalf of the camp in anyway they want? ARe they so self righteous as "men of God" that they don't need any oversight from other Christian men or women? Perhaps if there had been some accountability ( funny thing- that was what Pete was preaching to my son in his "special" Ironman bible study) - much of this would not have happened.

    Secondly, Kanakuk needs to address the statement(s) that are floating about in the community that Kanakuk "knew" of some type of inappropriate behavior with Pete in 2005-06 and gave him a slap on the wrist, made him sign a statement not to run around naked with kids anymore. Whether this is a rumor or not - I think K-management needs to either own up or state that it never happened. If not, many parents will always wonder whether they "knew" something was a little off - but didn't follow through - shoved it under the carpet, thus being an indirect participant in the victimization of these boys. Perhaps management cannot do this due to the trial or because if they did - the law suits would fly and Kanakuk would be shut down. I think Kanakuk needs to ask the Lord for forgiveness - for holding Pete as and Idol - as God - and for lack of accountability and oversight, damaging the trust of parents. If Kanakuk cannot hold their directors accountable then how can I be confident in their abilities to pick counselors that are above board to ensure the safety of my boys? If there is not true honesty and transparency with parents of Kanakuk's role/knowledge of this travesty and this is yet another coverup - then may the Lord truly convict Joe White's and other's hearts so they can own up to their sin in this tragic ordeal.

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  4. Anonymous1:41 PM

    Well put, 6:26. There is documentation proving what you are wondering about. So, they will probably continue to "keep quiet" because I don't think they would lie and pretend they knew nothing.

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  5. Anonymous4:44 PM

    Not saying that Kanakuk put thousands of kids at risk intentionally, but it shows a serious lack in judgement when they had so many red flags along the way. This knowledge alone will keep us from sending our kids. I can't stop thinking that all this sorrow for these families could have been prevented had there been zero tolerance for the behavior that people are saying Pete displayed over and over. Had we known Pete had to be talked to for playing naked games, etc. or parents complaining that there son felt uncomfortable with things Pete forced him to do with his "Dare" games there would have been NO WAY we would have sent our son on trips with him, had him in bible study with him, etc.
    Serious lack in judgement that cost these boys so much!

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  6. Anonymous6:42 PM

    Kanakuk Kamp saved me... as a child who was sexually abused and raped.... going to Kanakuk and hearing that there was a God who loved me and who was bigger than all of the crap and pain... is WHAT SAVED ME... learning that God can use my pain for his glory is what changed my life and I learned that at kanakuk. I learned that I am still whole, pure and not damaged goods, or degraded by what was done to me... I learned that I could be healed by one thing and it was GOD... I pray that the children pete violated know this and that Kanakuk can continue its ministry saving people like me... so that we are not overcome by evil... so we can overcome EVIL with GOOD. God is good, I trust him.. my baby sister is going to continue attending kamp and so will my kids someday! I believe in what God is doing in the ministry of Kanakuk

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  7. Anonymous7:01 PM

    Okay, this is what kanakuk is all about....leading people to Jesus. This kid is not really saying that "Kanakuk" saved them, but that K led them to the Lord, who saved him/her.

    Kanakuk is a GREAT PLACE WITH GREAT LEADERS.

    They, unfortunately, have made some really big mistakes, which paved the way for the ONE who is guilty of causing all this pain.

    Joe White and his co-directors are really good people who sincerely love kids. But, they took a chance on Pete after they were made aware of issues and THAT RISK paved the way for this to happen.

    Kanakuk is good. Joe White is good. But the only perfect one is CHRIST ALONE.

    However, he needs to show up at these hearings, and be forthright on their website, and admit that he had been told by parents of things this pedophile had done to their kids. He needs to admit what he knew. The sin of omission is no different than the sin of commission. If he would fess up and apologize for letting his guard down, people would be way for apt to trust him and send their kids to kamp. He has to. There's documentation out there that will eventually find it's way to the public b/c that's just how things go.

    Covering up has caused many great leaders to fall.

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  8. Anonymous9:37 AM

    I totally agree with 7:01. Joe White and management are good people with a heart to spread the gospel - yet good people can still be sinful ( we all are that's why we need Jesus)- He and management need to acknowledge their own part in not taking action immediately when these things came to light in 2005/06. I would have more respect for White - and K-mgmt - if they come forward and corporately acknowledge their role in this awful tragedy. Actually I might think about sending my kids back to Kanakuk,. Do I think that God can continue to work His good at a Kamp with kids - absolutely. I am thankful that the camp showed love and compassion for the writer who had been abused - Praise God.

    But.....the future of a camp that does not have accountability for directors for unacceptable behavior - needs to have the Lord's discipline. Maybe the Lord is going to discipline the corporate mgmt of Kanakuk for the betterment of His Kingdom purposes. Just like 6:26 stated, just because these men are in positions of authority - Joe White, Doug Goodwin, etc...doesn't mean they don't need to be disciplined by the Lord. We all do We all should be. That's how the Lord helps us grow in our faith. Remember the verse about pruning of the vines....we are all a work in process!

    Stand up Joe White and Mgmt. Be truthful, honest and acknowledge your own participation. Maybe you were naive to issues of sexual abuse - but I doubt it. And if so...you should have a licensed counselor/social worker on staff educating everyone about this subject and others in order to avoid this again. Any professional in counseling/social work would never recommend that a person sign a document stating that they will not engage in inappropriate behavior. It's like asking the alcoholic to sign a paper to stop drinking.!

    I would say it is more than a seriously lack of judgment. God will expose - may the men and women of K-mgmt be moved by the Holy Spirit to do the right thing - honesty and integrity and transparency. Then....we as parents can start the process of forgiveness and building trust again.

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  9. Anonymous5:40 PM

    It was LONG before 2005/06 that they warned him, sent him off for "counseling", reprimanded him, and had him sign the agreement to change his behavior.

    AS IN YEARS BEFORE.....!

    There are documents out there with Pete's signature proving this. They should go ahead and admit they knew and that they dropped the ball. But, maybe they think hiding this will prevent it from coming into the light. Probably what ol Peterphile thought too!

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  10. Anonymous8:16 PM

    I don't know who I can trust anymore because of this.

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  11. Anonymous8:24 PM

    Where were the Sparks/Cunninghams when Pete was leaving campus with boys?

    Where were the counselors?

    What about security?

    Did no one ever ask?

    Are these co-directors being asked any tough questions? Are they not responsible to some level? Is it "okay" if they say, "Well duh, we were clueless about him! We thought he was a rockstar like everyone else."

    What about Kanakuk staff who knew that Pete hardly ever spent any quality alone time with his wife. Shouldn't that have been a red flag?

    Surely they're not ALL stupid and irresponsible!! All of them??????????????????? Or was it yet another case of being so politically correct that you never question anything so that you keep your own "good standing" with authority???

    BLOOD IS ON A LOT OF HANDS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  12. Anonymous5:24 AM

    Kanakuk is a money making machine. If they are so "religious" as everyone states, then the camp should be free. It is there for one purpose, to make money, so happens religious stuff sells to the fickle.

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  13. Anonymous6:27 AM

    I think K families need to write Joe White and Mgmt expressing many of these views above - requesting that they own up and acknowledge their wrongdoing, etc..... that they knew about Pete's behavior a long time ago. Maybe lots of pressure from K-families will work to move this "cover up" into the forefront. May the Lord use it to bring justice to this situation and create a "New Kanakuk" that is accountable and honest to the families that support them! - their salaries! I doubt any of the mgmt are reading these blogs so maybe they are thinking they can continue to put one over Kamp families.

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  14. Anonymous7:20 AM

    To the individual who commented at 5:24:
    Your comment couldn't be more ignorant! Just because an organization is Christian doesn't mean they don't need money to continue their services. Do you think that the Christians that work there work for free? Do you think that putting on such an amazing program costs nothing? It's ridiculous that Christian organizations, etc. are expected to be free! We Christians need to make a living just like the next guy. The only difference is we try to do it with integrity. Not saying we are perfect at it, but we have an example we continually look to to model for us what walking out this life looks like.

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  15. Anonymous7:31 AM

    Joe White defended his pilot a few years ago in Taney County when it came out his pilot had been sexually molesting his (pilot''s) daughter for years. His pilot admitted to this and Joe continued to support him. To the extent that in the courtroom Joe White addressed the courtroom and told the judge he would trust his own grandchildren with the pilot. This was in front of the poor girl who had been molested and her mother!!!!!!

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  16. Anonymous7:43 AM

    7:31, if you are correct with these facts, that says a lot about how uninformed he is with regard to sexual addicts/addictions, etc. We can not afford to be so naive today, especially if we OWN an organization ministering to so many thousands of young children.

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  17. Anonymous1:44 PM

    What EXACTLY is Kanakuk doing for these victims and their families?

    Are they appearing at all these legal hearings as a show of support for them and to show Pete that they're prosecuting him? Are they present? Are they hiring investigators to help the prosecution's case? I sure hope so, because if they say they're providing support to these families but are failing in these areas, then what kind of support is that? Maybe they are. Just asking.

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  18. Anonymous7:46 AM

    Okay, enough warm and fuzzy from the easily duped church crowd.

    Who posted the monsters bail? How did this pedophile who desecrated every holy place in this camp come up with half a million American dollars for bail?

    I think the answer will end the discussion as to whether you should continue to send your kids to this camp.

    It's a repeat of the Catholic Church sex scandal. It may run deeper than we know. It was covered up once that we know of.

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  19. The online court records indicate that Pete Newman's bail was posted by his father this time.

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  20. Anonymous11:34 AM

    To the poster who is questioning where his bail money is coming from. Just because his bail is set at a certain dollar amount doesn't mean that's what he actually pays. It's usually around 10% of the actual amount. So, I'm guessing that Pete has used all of whatever savings he had built up/cashing in 401k/parents savings. My guess is the money will run out sooner than later...assuming more charges come.

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  21. Anonymous4:53 AM

    @ 5:24...congrats, yours was the dumbest comment I've seen on this blog yet. Because a program is "religious" it should be free???? Good Lord...

    @7:46, you're not far behind.

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  22. Anonymous8:48 AM

    Just because Richard Cole married Kris Cooper's daughter doesn't make him "biased." It's actually refreshing - usually someone that close to the situation wouldn't make a statement. Richard did.

    Also, as one who has been to Kanakuk, let me just say the "culture" varies so much from camp to camp. Of COURSE someone, like Richard, who has worked exclusively at K1 knows nothing about what Pete was doing at K-Kountry. I'm more interested in what folks who worked closely at Pete's particular camp for years knew.

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  23. Anonymous10:09 AM

    WHO would defend a child molester???? WHO!!!!!!

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  24. Anonymous8:36 PM

    would it change any of your opinions if you knew that pete had also been molested/abused by a christian worker when he was a child?

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  25. Anonymous9:02 PM

    8:36: Oh, here we go!

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  26. Anonymous10:03 PM

    Sooooooo!!! Sorry that happened, but does that make what he's done OKAY?!?!?!?!?! Are we back to an "eye for and eye" mentality?!!!?!?!?!?!?

    Are you saying that whatever "happened" to him FORCED him into these actions? That defies common sense! That's ridiculous.

    Why is it that pedophiles think that if they say that they were once victims that somehow they're justified in their actions. I work in a counseling office and know many many people who were molested/abused as children AND THEY HAVE NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER even had thoughts of abusing anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    So freaking what if something happened to this queer! He's become an ANIMAL and now you think that if you throw this out there, the kumbaya people are going to break out their violins!!!

    HELL no!

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  27. Anonymous5:32 AM

    8:36, that's what they all say. They all want to start whining AFTER they've done the unthinkable. Well, if something happened, why didn't he say he had a problem, get help, etc. way back then....or since?

    What an absurd assertion!

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  28. Anonymous10:31 AM

    I just went to the missiouri court site and there is another date Dec. 17 for an arraignment??? Also it looks to have a new judge....ANy digging would be helpful! THANKS!

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  29. Anonymous10:35 AM

    NO on the question what if it happened to him! Nothing would make this right!!! IF it did he should know completely it is WRONG!

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  30. Anonymous10:52 AM

    "would it change any of your opinions if you knew that pete had also been molested/abused by a christian worker when he was a child?

    8:36 PM"

    WHAT DO YOU MEAN? ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT (IF) THIS HAPPENED TO HIM, THEN HE WAS SOMEHOW HELPLESS TO REPEAT THE SAME ABUSE TO SCORES AND SCORES OF CHILDREN???

    ARE YOU CONSIDERING THE DECEPTION HE OPERATED UNDER? WHO OPERATES UNDER THAT KIND OF DECEPTION UNLESS THEY INTEND INTEND INTEND TO GET AWAY WITH SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW IS WRONG?

    AND IF HE COULD GO TO SUCH EXTENTS TO DECEIVE, THEN HE DID IN FACT, HAVE CONTROL OVER HIS ACTIONS, DIDN'T HE??

    AND WHY WOULD HE HAVE NEVER TOLD ANYONE THAT THIS HAPPENED TO HIM AS A CHILD? OR GOTTEN HELP? MAYBE HE KNEW IF HE KEPT THIS SECRET, THEN HE COULD "USE" IT LATER AS SOME SORT OF EXCUSE??

    HE IS JUST A PATHETIC, COWARDLY, WEAK, DISGUSTING, EXCUSE OF A "MAN" THAT THERE EVER WAS. WHAT A GROSS WASTE OF OXYGEN! WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY ON THE TAXPAYERS TO HAVE TO FEED THIS MONSTER WHILE LOCKED UP.

    WHAT AN OBJECT OF SO MUCH HATRED.

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  31. Anonymous2:14 PM

    Think this was asked before but don't remember an answer-------Is his wife and little girl still living with him? Is she going to stand by him and with him in this? I knew she'd signed for his bail, so I'm assuming she's still saying he's innocent???? Is this correct? Anybody know? Sounds like all the Newmans are standing by him in this. Maybe they just don't believe all these allegations.

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  32. Anonymous3:01 PM

    I think the family has seen the light of day. Also again if this happened to Pete as a kid it does not justify anything AT ALL! I know a family who had their husband/father murdered, but they have not gone on a killing spree lately! IF he did this he will get his just punishment on this side of heaven and will have to answer to God about that he has done! Forgiven or not forgiven. You don't mess with God's children, it is better to have never been born.

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  33. Anonymous5:58 PM

    AMEN, 3:01 !!!

    What makes you say his parents/wife has seen the light of day? Do you think they believe HIM or these allegations?

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  34. Anonymous6:43 PM

    from 3:01

    just what I have heard not online or anything. Starting to believe allegations from what I hear.

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  35. Anonymous6:37 AM

    How can they NOT believe them? How could ANYONE not believe all this? The word on the street is that this prosecutor has many more charges that he can bring forth at any time. Little-peter is heading for his kind of fun behind bars.

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  36. Anonymous6:46 AM

    GOOD RIDDANCE peter-PHILE!

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  37. Anonymous2:43 PM

    Does anyone know why the charges have been deleted on casenet https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchDockets.do? Does that mean they've been dropped? Have been hearing new rumors that the allegations were conjured up by a gay kid that had come out to his parents, and they are the ones who started it all. sounds crazy to me because how would that explain the 8-page confession letter that everyone keeps saying is out there. but still, the charges are no longer listed on the court site and that has me worried. can anyone shed any light on this???

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  38. Anonymous6:11 PM

    don't worry 2:43.........they're still coming....and probably many more......your "gay kid" rumor is not true

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  39. Anonymous2:39 PM

    6:11 -
    how do you know? how can you be sure? i want so much to believe that this is an open-and-shut case, but i'm so worried that he'll get off on some crazy technicality. it's crazy to me that he's still pleading not guilty and that merrell hasn't made any plead offers yet. we're looking at a long, expensive and painful trial....

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  40. Anonymous7:42 AM

    There still are two charges listed on Casenet. Both are statutory sodomy - second degree.

    Might these fewer charges indicate a plea agreement is in the maknig?

    Or, as Casenet says, it does not mean all the charges are listed.

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  41. Anonymous12:16 PM

    That site should not be your only source for info...peter is not in less trouble; but more.

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