WAYNE AARUM. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. I can honestly say no., Aarum added, Did someone contact them before MinistrySafe did? Weve asked for any information they can give ustheyve given us nothing, Aarum said. Editor's note: There are descriptions of alleged sexual abuse and opinions about survivors of alleged abuse that may be triggering to abuse survivors. A detailed report written by Norris to State Children and Family Services officials was given Sunday to the 21 women who came forward. Earlier this week, Circle C Ranch staff members said the camp is open to house Afghan refugees arriving on U.S. soil after fleeing the Talibans takeover in the country, according to the story from WIVB in Buffalo. A Christian minister with ties to a Getzville megachurch and a popular Cattaraugus County youth camp stands accused of sexual misconduct with teen girls -- but he denies the allegations. https://terrace-healthcare.com/news/generic-cialis.html. Some members defended Camardos handling of the situation, including an unidentified board member in the meeting who pointed to the Catholic Diocese of Buffalos troubles in recent years for sweeping all of this stuff under the rug.. It matters in cities. Sometimes he would grab her from behind and pull his pelvis tight to her body, she said. OPTION 1: Bring your Youth Group. Little id any of us realize what a blessing that would be, as the Winter Snow Camps have brought in thousands of campers with hundreds of them accepting Christ.. Mr. Petereson was willing to sell the land for the price of the mortgage $14,800. Aarum has denied any wrongdoing, and he told his congregation in April that he never intended to offend anyone with his remarks or actions. Chelsea Carnahan told The News that Aarum stroked her back, hair and legs during one-on-one counseling sessions when she was a Pioneer High School student from 2006 to 2010. The 75-page transcript, which was posted online at the Circle C website, reveals rifts within the congregation, with members pressing Camardo for details about the investigation of Wayne Aarum and the resignation of Wes Aarum. After hearing a report of abuse by a former staffer at the Circle C Ranch, The Chapel hired Ministry Safe to conduct an investigation. Some of the allegations date back to 1990s, when Aarum ran a ministry program for high school students at the Chapel. investigation by USA TODAY Network New York State Team reporters Sarah Taddeo and Georgie Silvarole, These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, How emotional, spiritual abuse creates lasting trauma, Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago, the camp announced a change for how it will operate this summer, Christian camp Circle C announces changes to summer program after abuse allegations surface, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. For his part, Aarum denies the claimsand defends his conduct, saying in an email, "I have never touched anyone with any inappropriate motive.". The smart way to start your day. If I have offended you, I will apologize, he said during a church service in April. Click here to read a copy of the MinistrySafe report submitted to state officials. Wes Aarum preaches at Kingdom Bound at Darien Lake in 2012. DeKalb suggested that the allegations were part of a campaign by Chapel leaders to acquire the youth camp. But the allegations are from a small percentage of the young people Aarum has worked with over the years. "Due to Covid Restrictions we have decided to pour all of our resources into our family camp weekends," the website reads. There was a problem saving your notification. Call our office at: (716) 492-3687. Click here to read the statement from Circle C Ranch. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial, according to the court filing. Judge Rules That Michigan Public University Violated the Rights of Christian Student Group, Citygate Network Seeks Greater Diversity in National Rescue Mission Leadership. What else might develop? MinistrySafe, the Texas organization hired by The Chapel to investigate the claims, stated that 27 people came forward to corroborate some of the alleged behaviors, though Aarum denied the allegations. Last week's investigation by USA TODAY Network New York State Team reporters Sarah Taddeo and Georgie Silvarole is just such an example. Please consider becoming a digital subscriber. It finally became a reality when in 1968 he found the property where God wanted him to start that camp. When the camp went to pay Bob back he made it a gift to the ministry. I still dont know, although they have accused me and pretty much condemned me, I dont know what Im accused of, Aarum said. (Both boys are college graduates and are now full time in the ministry working with college as well as public and high school students.) He previously has said that Chapel leaders were not seeking to take control of the Circle C Ranch board or the camp property. During his tenure at The Chapel, pastors spoke to Aarum multiple times about his conduct with girls in the youth group, according to excerpts from Aarums employee personnel file at The Chapel. In response to that written statement, Kimberly Norris, one of the founders of MinistrySafe, and the attorney who did The Chapel investigation provided the following information: "Neither the Circle C board (or its parent corporation, Living Waters Ministries) has ever contacted me, MinistrySafe or the law firm of Love & Norris. It's vital people describing trauma or harm be listened to with sensitivity and patience; coming forward is often an act of courage. Nothing happened. It is very difficult to do this kind of work successfully from across the room. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? According to a report released by Ministry Safe, Wayne Aarum engaged in the following illicit activities: -stroking legs (outside clothing and on bare skin), -touching vaginal area- outside clothing (in shorts or jeans), -touching, rubbing and stroking breasts, outside clothing, -stroking from hips to breasts, clothed, on the side of the body, -pressing penis into back of girl (hugging from behind), -rubbing penis repeatedly in a girls presence, -extended hug of a partially dressed girl. information shared on its website on Monday. Kens wife Joann was an R.N and she worked in a local hospital to help support them while the camp was being built. Pine brook was a great soul-winning camp and that summer hundreds of teens accepted Christ. It makes a difference to people of all backgrounds and life experiences. Does public speaking or speaking in a group make you nervous? He wanted to give his last years to the Lord and became the head man of the construction of the town. She also said Aarum on occasion grabbed her from behind and pulled his pelvis tight to her body. Read their stories. . In May, New York set COVID-19 rules and restrictions for summer camps to operate after sleep-away camps were forced to close last year. Aarum left his role at The Chapel in 2000. We believe in the Divine Inspiration of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, the creation of man by the diret act of God, the Incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His vicarious atonement for the sin of mankind, His death, burial, resurection, and His coming again bodily to take His saints to be with Him forever. I found each of the women to be credible, one attorney who investigated the reports of abusetold our two reporters. In her lawsuit, Snell accused Circle C Ranch and its parent organization, Living Waters Ministries, of negligently retaining Aarum on staff and thus allowing him unfettered and unsupervised access to minors on the campgrounds and during other activities, according to the court filing. Camardo did not respond Friday to a voicemail and email seeking comment. Aarum, 54, denied the allegations and has refused to step down as camp president. Circle "C" Ranch is a christian youth camp about an hour south of Buffalo New York, the setting is very unique in the fact that it is themed in the 18 See more I have never had any sexual interaction with anyone other than my wife. I dont want any more children to come through his camp.. Finally, the notion that the allegations were planted or suggested by counselors or social workers is patently absurd.". When told it was for a youth camp, Bob wrote out a check for the amount needed. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Circle C Ranch'sboard of trustees said they did their own investigation. He met Margaret Stevenson who had been born on a farm in Pennsylvania (which would prepare her for life at the Ranch). In the interests of fairness, the two reporters pursued interviews with supporters of Aarum. Its common for women as they get along in lifeto see how their lives are not going well and when they sit down, like with a social workerand they start hearing stuff from a social worker that says to them, Well, have you ever had something in your life where maybe this is set off, the condition that youre in now?. Reporters also tried to contactRonald Snell,a longtime friend of Wes Aarum Sr. andCircle C board member for a short period, whowas also present at the meeting. In a letter to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Norris outlined dozens of alleged incidents connected with the youth group and the camp, including Aarum touching girls intimately, saying intimate things to them, and entering cabins while girls were changing clothes. The camp was going to be a western town called Circle 'C' Ranch (Circle 'C' standing for Christ centered) and it would be legally owned by the . The USA TODAY Network New York found that concerns about Aarum's behavior with girls were reported to leadership at both The Chapel and Circle C Ranch, and also to Aarum himself, at least 20 times since 1997, according to excerpts from the employee personnel file and interviews with youth group members at The Chapel, Circle C staff and pastors in the Western New York area. "This is why we're suspicious of these charges. When you are a leader of a church and somebody comes to you and says somebody on your staff abused kids while he was on your staff, what would you expect him to do? the speaker said. Aarum, 55,remains in his position as director of Circle C Ranch. Just after the story published, the camp announced a change for how it will operate this summer, emphasizing the presence of families there and not individual teens. Its all lightweight stuff theyre bringing up anyway, Dekalb said. Leaders at The Chapel said they, through MinistrySafe, also reported the allegations to law enforcement. I think she and other survivors felt responsible to bring it to light., The former employee said she never recognized Aarums interaction with girls as inappropriate while she worked there as a teen. To reach young people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that they may know that they are born again. She said upon receiving the letter that was sent by MinistrySafe to survivors on Sunday, she has been sick to my stomach ever since.. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Are you looking for a friendly forum where you can practice and develop your For an overview of the site and a few ideas as to how it can help save you time and get you connected with your community, click About Our Website under the Home button. The work poses many challenges. Daryl Dekalb, a Circle C Ranch Board Member, appeared to place blame on the women who have come forward, even though leaders at The Chapel have described them as credible and courageous. The Chapel first hired MinistrySafe in 2019 to improve its policies after unrelated sexual abuse allegations at its Lockport worship site were reported by The Buffalo News in 2019. Cattaraugus County Sheriff's officials confirmed that they are investigating the matter. Our Goal: "To reach young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, to encourage godliness in their lives, and to send them out as equipped witnesses for His kingdom." 7 Eyewitness News has also heard from more than a dozen people who have reached out to defend Aarum. Or more of the women to be determined at trial, according to circle c ranch ny allegations ministry a! Was being built Mission Leadership would prepare her for life at the Chapel 2000! Had been born on a farm in Pennsylvania ( which would prepare her for life the., dekalb said of Jesus Christ so that they are born again ran a ministry program for school. Head man of the following steps was for a youth camp, Bob wrote out check! After sleep-away camps were forced to close last year interests of fairness, the two reporters pursued interviews supporters! To State officials grab her from behind and pull his pelvis tight to her body, she.! 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