I remember looking at my friend in pure terror., This woman said that at times Aarum would corner her in the camp and that one time, when she was 15 years old, he told her, youre just so beautiful and guys are going to want to be with you and have sex with you because youre so beautiful., She said, the staff all knew about it. Aarum also said in a video posted to the Circle C Ranch website this summer that he never received complaints at the time the alleged abuse occurred about his behavior in either positions he's held at The Chapel or at Circle C Ranch. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Its all lightweight stuff theyre bringing up anyway, Dekalb said. 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. People brought this to his attention. She said upon receiving the letter that was sent by MinistrySafe to survivors on Sunday, she has been sick to my stomach ever since.. 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. ContactSarahat STADDEO@Gannett.com or (585) 258-2774. The Chapel in Amherst said it cut ties with the Circle C Ranch following an internal investigation by a Texas lawyer that found Wayne Aarum hadengaged in a pattern of inappropriate behaviors, such as stroking the legs and touching the clothed breasts and genital areas of young women and teenage girls. Circle C Ranch was started in 1968 by Aarums father, Wesley Aarum Sr. Wayne Aarum, 55, ran a ministry program at The Chapel for high school students in the 1990s, before taking over operation of the ranch in 2001 and becoming pastor of First Baptist Church of Arcade in 2002. Through all this, Aarum remains as the Circle C camp president today. My evaluation of credibility is based upon 30 years of past experience interacting with fact witnesses and abuse survivors. The owner of this property was George Peterson who was a board member of the Bible Conference Wes directed. A friend of Ross & Wes was a man named Bob Lowe who was a very successful businessman. Few of the women who came forward during the investigation knew other; the behavior complained of spanned DECADES. The membership was advised that the independent investigation credibly confirmed a pattern of inappropriate interaction with young women involved in The Chapel's student ministry in the late 90s and also uncovered ongoing inappropriate interaction with young women not associated with The Chapel who had been involved in the previously referenced local youth camp over the last two decades, The Chapel said in its statement. 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. An alleged victim who is now 25 and who said she was heavily involved at Circle C said, He would sit next to me and put his hand on my leg and rub my inner thigh and outer thigh. as part of a USA TODAY Network New York investigation, These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, Pastor accused of abusing teens sues Buffalo megachurch The Chapel for $2.5M, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In investigative journalism, it's vital reporters show their efforts to confirm facts and to reach people. Now God would go to work and make this camp a reality. Two other days, July 3 and 31, are designated as "Family Fun Days," according to the website. Multiple women told the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team that Aarum would sometimes touch intimate areas and would grab their bra straps. The accounts of the women, describing incidents involving Wayne Aarum that took place when they were Circle C Ranch campers, are troubling and concerning. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) Three days after sexual misconduct allegations were raised about a Cattaraugus County youth camp director -- allegations the camp director denied -- additional women. The letter says 27 individuals offered corroborating evidence for the 21 victims, including former Circle C employees, church leaders, and volunteers who witnessed inappropriate behaviors. My byline has run in the Ithaca Journal, USA Today, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and the New York Times. Neither I nor MinistrySafe (or any representative of the law firm) have ever offered information for payment to Circle C or Living Waters Ministries. I dont want any more children to be affected. It matters in suburbs. The case has cracked a small window into the inner workings of the Chapel, one of the areas largest and most influential nondenominational Christian churches. I dont want anyone else to have to go through what I went through. 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"So much so, we are changing our traditional schedule to give your family the chance to experience everything we are offering this year.". youth camp in Delevan, New York, stands accused of sexually assaulting at least twenty-one girls spanning decades. Aarum and his supporters have maintained that he is unable to properly address claims being brought against him because he doesnt know who has made them. Check the lists below! 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. Holding a crusade in a town nearby Wes was introduced to a man named Bill Daily who worked construction and was also a master stone worker. all you can eat pancakes, eggs, juice, and coffee. More history on Circle C Ranch can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_C_Ranch. I pledge to you this:TheD&Cteam will do its best to serve Greater Rochester and each of our readers every single day. Keeping his hands on their bodies way too long when it wasnt necessary at all.. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. 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. Prior to becoming director of Circle C Ranch, Aarum worked as a youth pastor atBuffalo-area megachurch The Chapel in the 1990s. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) Three days after sexual misconduct allegations were raised about a Cattaraugus County youth camp director -- allegations the camp director denied -- additional women have come forward to say that they either witnessed or experienced as teenagers inappropriate sexual contact by Wayne Aarum. For his part, Aarum denies the claimsand defends his conduct, saying in an email, "I have never touched anyone with any inappropriate motive.". It would have all the mystique of the Old West and it would look like a town in the 1800s. Wes said none its for the Lord. Read their stories. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. In October 2020, they hired MinistrySafe founder Kimberlee Norris, who completed her investigation in December 2020. 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. Its a thrill to see what God has done over the years. According to a report released by Ministry Safe. 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. That's a Christian camp for young people nearDelevan, New York, a village southeast of Buffalo and southwest of Rochester. Amherst Police officials did not respond to an inquiry by 7 Eyewitness News, but Daryl DeKalb, a board member at Circle C Ranch, said none of that is true and defended Aarum. Reach him at mkilian@gannett.com. They have been a team that Gdo brought together. This website was created for residents in order to provide you with more convenience and opportunities to share ideas and information; get news and announcements; access an online resource center for important association documents and forms; join discussion forums; utilize the member directory; and much more. It matters in cities. Circle C Ranch Director Wayne Aarum filed a $2.5M lawsuit against The Chapel the same day the USA Today Network reported abuse allegations by former camp staffers. I can honestly say no., Aarum added, Did someone contact them before MinistrySafe did? Email us at: info@circlecranch.org. At this age, he began to take care of his health. Circle C stands for "Christ Centered" which is the purpose and continues to be the. He wanted to give his last years to the Lord and became the head man of the construction of the town. Campbell declined to comment further when contacted by The News. In addition to his duties at Circle C Ranch, Aarum also currently serves as a pastor at First Baptist Church of Arcade in Wyoming County. A few months later Wes realized he needed $10,000 more. Oh, and if you have a good story tip, on any subject, please let us know. They travelled over 100 miles one way every weekend until the job as done and then they donated all the fixtures as well. Miracle after Miracle, God has provided for Circle C Ranch and as long as God continues to provide, we will continue to serve Him! Call our office at: (716) 492-3687. This was maybe 12 or so years ago. The attorney advised that Aarum step down as president and camp director, but the board didnt follow through on that advice, said Fancher, who no longer is on the camps board. Aarum left his role at The Chapel in 2000. Wes had been a youth pastor, pastor, evangelist, leader in Youth for Christ and director of a Bible Conference. That always raises the risk that someone will find the teacher to be too close for comfort. Georgie Silvarole/USA TODAY Network New York People reported his alleged behavior to camp officials and church leaders over 20 times since 1997. I found each of the women to be credible, one attorney who investigated the reports of abusetold our two reporters. But Carnahan said she has made clear on social media who she is and what she alleges Aarum did. A copy of the report, which was obtained by 7 Eyewitness News, stated: In the course of the MinistrySafe investigation, these behaviors were communicated: -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", The report stated that 27 people came forward to corroborate some of the alleged behaviors, including hand rubbing inside of thighfailing to honor preference NOT to be touched and meeting 1/1 with girls late into the night.. Hannah Buehler reports. Speaking the truth to a difficult situation can be met with hostility, fear, and a wide variety of other responses., The boards own investigative report also suggested that the unidentified women cited in Norris report may have misinterpreted Aarums gestures of good will because of a common type of trauma in their past that makes them ultra-sensitive to certain kinds of verbal Bible teaching or certain physical actions such as hugs that are entirely appropriate and not at all offensive to other women in the same circumstances.. The details, the word choices and the extra effort to confirm facts and reach difficult-to-reach people all matter greatly. After Bible School, University and Seminary Wes went full time into the Lords work. Time and again, even as the local news industry has been buffeted for a quarter-century by change, reporting by trained professionals continues tobe a catalyst for positive change in our communities. Aarum, 55,remains in his position as director of Circle C Ranch. Another woman wrote that the hugs were so bad that he proceeded to rub my back and hug me for an uncomfortably long time, and did not let go when I tried to pull away.. Circle C Ranch opened in the late 1960s on a 315-acre wooded parcel in rural Cattaraugus County. Wes said he didnt know. "Circle C Ranch is aware of allegations raised against our President. The camp was founded by Wayne Aarums father Wes Aarum Sr., and both Wayne and his brother, Wes Aarum Jr., serve on the board. I remember a lot of hugs lasting a little too long.. In an interview in March with WKBW-TV, Aarum said he had "zero recollection" of touching anyone inappropriately. information shared on its website on Monday. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. "Due to Covid Restrictions we have decided to pour all of our resources into our family camp weekends," the website reads. In late 2019, allegations of abuse against Aarum 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. It matters in small towns. Mr. Barker became the Vice-president and chairman fo the Circle C Ranch Board adn has worked with Wes in that capacity up to this very day. However, this effort on behalf of Afghan refugees is an initiative launched and overseen by Circle C Ranch's. Aarum is seeking $3.1 million in damages. 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?. 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