{{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Youth pastor, Christian camp director accused of inappropriately touching teen girls, 21 women who alleged Aarum touched them inappropriately, Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve; top-line winger's status is uncertain, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone. Aarum, whose late father, Wes Aarum Sr., founded Circle C Ranch in 1968, previously worked as a youth pastor at Buffalo-area megachurch The Chapel in the 1990s. Report stated 21 women have made allegations. information shared on its website on Monday. Some former staff said Aarum typically targeted specific girls who were pretty, slim, emotionally fragile or those who had father issues and that girls complained to staff asking for help in avoiding [Aarum]., In a March statement, The Chapels board and pastoral leadership said both their leadership and MinistrySafe have found the allegations to be credible.. They have been a team that Gdo brought together. READ THE FULL INVESTIGATION:These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, Lasting trauma:He was my identity: How emotional, spiritual abuse creates lasting trauma. That investigation found more than 20 women who said Wayne Aarum touched them inappropriately or fostered inappropriate and abusive relationships with them, both at The Chapel in the 1990s and later at Circle C Ranch, according to a report prepared by MinistrySafe investigator Kimberlee Norris. New York, and the operator of Circle C Ranch youth camp in Delevan, New York, stands accused of sexually assaulting at least twenty-one girls in the 1990s. Chapel leaders say they began hearing troubling allegations about Aarum in October 2019 and again in February 2020. Some things have changed but these three things will never change! 10451 Ashcraft Rd Delevan, NY 14042 One of America's most exciting Christian Camps. Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. To make a donation,click here. More: Christian camp Circle C announces changes to summer program after abuse allegations surface. At one point in the meeting, Randy Fancher, a former trustee of the Circle C Ranch, said the camps board hired an attorney more than a year ago to investigate an allegation against Wayne Aarum. The lawsuit alleges that leadership of The Chapel have become aware of the growing value of the camp property and that Camardo has sought since 2019 to dig up dirt on Aarum, with the aim of hurting his reputation and creating a more favorable board of directors to control the Circle C Ranch camp and the use and disposition of its land.. "Circle C Ranch would ultimately determine the initial allegations were false through its own internal investigation. I, myself, personally 20 years ago sat down with Mr. Wes (Wayne Aarums father) and said, I love Wayne with all my heart, but I saw him interact in a way that was just inappropriate. , Fancher said he also has heard firsthand accounts from women who are truly victims.. https://terrace-healthcare.com/news/generic-cialis.html. On week ends there would be scores of men donating their time to help build the camp and Wes wife Marge was kept very busy feeding all these volunteers. Aarum has denied the allegations and continues to serve on staff at the camp. To more or less prime the pump?. But 7 Eyewitness News spoke with a former employee at the youth camp who said she has spoken with one of the alleged survivors. Wayne S. Aarum, who runs the Circle C Ranch in Delevan, claimed in a defamation lawsuit filed this week that The Chapel and its executive pastor, John Camardo, engaged in a sustained campaign of false and malicious accusations against Aarum that hurt his reputation. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Percy, as he wanted to be called, was considered by many as the founder of the Christian Camping Ministry. I dont want any more children to be affected. That always raises the risk that someone will find the teacher to be too close for comfort. But the allegations are from a small percentage of the young people Aarum has worked with over the years. Im not anonymous, she said. And of course if you have any questions please email us or call the office at info@circlecranch.org or (716) 492-3687. Im not the type of person to spread things around just to ruin someone, she said. Now God would go to work and make this camp a reality. But in 2020, something changed. The longtime director of a Christian youth camp in Delevan is refusing to step down despite complaints that he inappropriately touched young women and girls at the camp and when he was a youth pastor in the 1990s at one of the areas largest churches. It is a credit to Taddeo's and Silvarole's reporting that they did everything humanly possible to find out more about what has occurred over the years at Circle C. Ranch. In late 2019, allegations of abuse began picking up momentum when Carolyn McDonald, a former Circle C Ranch staffer who worked there in 2006, shared her story with leadership at The Chapel. An email to Wayne Aurum, and a call to attorney's in Williamsville who are representing Aurum in the defamation lawsuit were not returned Monday. I still dont know, although they have accused me and pretty much condemned me, I dont know what Im accused of, Aarum said. He assured them they wouldnt see this behavior again, she said. Specifically, in a portion of the story about Circle C's legal counsel having recommended at a meeting that Aarum resign, they took these steps: "The USA TODAY NETWORKreached out to Wayne Aarum, his son Josh Aarum, andboard members Daryl Dekalb and Wes Aarum Jr.for comment specifictothis matter. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Laura Snell, 22, of Alexandria, Virginia, previously spoke about her allegations against Aarum as part of a USA TODAY Network New York investigation in June, which detailed claims of sexual and emotional abuse against Aarum from 16 women over two decades. Oh, and if you have a good story tip, on any subject, please let us know. As Ross Barker said, without Marge we would have never made it. How true! My evaluation of credibility is based upon 30 years of past experience interacting with fact witnesses and abuse survivors. People brought this to his attention. INVESTIGATION: These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, 'He was my identity': How emotional, spiritual abuse creates lasting trauma, More: Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. 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. Whether you are a loyal D&C reader or a new one, please know that stories like this are possible because of subscribers like you. Tight hugging. Some Chapel members expressed anger and frustration over how leadership handled the investigation of Aarum, who was popular with many people connected to the church. It would have board-walks, hitching rails, a Sheriffs office with two cells, an old country store, a dining hall, a chapel, cabins that could accommodate 192 campers plus 32 counselors, a swimming hole (pond) and a corral that contained a herd of horses. Call our office at: (716) 492-3687. At 18 years of age he was the lifeguard at Pine brook, a very unique teen camp in Pennsylvania whose founder was Percy Crawford. Weve asked for any information they can give ustheyve given us nothing, Aarum said. Last week, Aarum filed a civil lawsuit against The Chapel alleging defamatory statements. Carnahan had attended First Baptist Church of Arcade, where Aarum is pastor, and volunteered at the Circle C Ranch in the winter, she said. In its response to Norris report, the Circle C Ranch board suggests that the volume of complaints against Aarum was related to the work he did, often with troubled teenagers. If I have offended you, I will apologize, he said during a church service in April. For his part, Aarum denies the claimsand defends his conduct, saying in an email, "I have never touched anyone with any inappropriate motive.". 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Wayne Aarum, a former senior high minister atThe Chapel at Crosspointin Getzville, New York, current pastor ofFirst Baptist Churchin Arcade, New York, and the operator ofCircle C Ranchyouth camp in Delevan, New York, stands accused of sexually assaulting at least twenty-one girls spanning decades. Aarum recently tested positive for Covid-19 and was seriously ill. 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. Aarum and the Circle C board members did not respond when asked how thisinvestigation was conducted and who conducted it. 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. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Other inappropriate behaviors allegedly occurred during his time as Circle C Ranch director since 2000, although none of the complaints related to behavior within the past five years. In October 2020, they hired MinistrySafe founder Kimberlee Norris, who completed her investigation in December 2020. Youth pastor, Christian camp director accused of inappropriately touching teen girls. "Circle C Ranch is aware of allegations raised against our President. Nothing happened. But Dekalb defended Aarum as a "true Christian" and said he had done nothing wrong. It's vital people describing trauma or harm be listened to with sensitivity and patience; coming forward is often an act of courage. Click here to read the statement from Circle C Ranch. Furthermore, Taddeo and Silvarole included what could be learned about how camp leaders dealt with complaints made about Aarum: "Circle C Ranch wouldultimately determinethe initial allegationswere false through its own internal investigation. 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