Kanakuk : Christian Sports Camp Hides Abuse, Silences Survivors

[@TeethSink]

"the camp is located in old Indian country" ...isn't like, everything in America located there?

[@Just-in-Space]

Well they mean the place they displaced native Americans for the seventh time. And then displaced them from again…

[@maryeckel9682]

😂😂😂

[@scz1770]

no because it isnt India

[@alwaysflushinpublic]

PLZ know that they cannot exist in every state as they fear arrest. They typically are from Al, Miss, Ark, East Texas

[@lunatykica5636]

yes

[@alwaysflushinpublic]

I'm 50 & was raised in IBLP. NEVER did I think all this would see the light of day. It was so awful I assumed I would not make it to 30 but here I am and grateful for your work, Jen 💚💯💚

[@EllyFLuft]

Keep on pushin'. ❤

[@agutierrez4328]

Glad you're still here with us!!! Wishing you the best

[@MaidMirawyn]

Also 50. I’m glad you’re free, that you’re with us, and that all this rot is being pulled out into the light of day! It should have happened long ago. I’m sorry for everyone who was hurt in the interim.

[@OnsceneDC]

What is IBLP?

[@agutierrez4328]

@@OnsceneDC oh boy. Short answer Institute of Basic Life Principles. The long answer is best covered by several Fundie Fridays videos but I believe there is one specifically set up to answer this question. They have done a lot of harm.

[@rottenpeach2193]

Not Joe White wearing a TOP KUK shirt, while also holding up a note saying, "I'm Third." Like, okay buddy, we get it. You like to watch.😅👀

[@valentine.58]

some serious straight pride right there

[@heavenj7]

🤭 sooo creepy this dude wtf 😳

[@JessieRenaud]

Lmaoooo dyingggggg 😂

[@Quynnd.3491]

😂 I can't breathe oml

[@isobelb4891]

Top Kuk killed me off, there is no way you are that unaware

[@valentine.58]

jen: does anyone know anything about john tesh? james: *MATERIALIZES*

[@amityislandchum]

I'm happy I can finally understand that joke in the first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

[@auntiefish4192]

@@amityislandchumI *knew* I’d heard the name somewhere!

[@Quynnd.3491]

"Are you talking about Marie Antoinette? I heard a thing or two about her..."

[@leslienope]

​@@amityislandchum I was about to comment "The devil?" lol

[@venusarachnid7641]

John Tesh always makes me think buhbuhbuhbasketball.

[@rebekahrabbit1032]

“Urban Youth” Sir, just call me a slur

[@opheliaoftheripples9472]

This.

[@jonnie7891]

Right. Urban Youth is such a lazy euphemism. Just say “the blacks” and let’s move on

[@justaladyj]

Right this is rhe PC version of the n word

[@ChristopherSadlowski]

I feel a little dirty "Liking" this comment. I wish there was an "Angrily Agree" or "This is Simultaneously Hilarious and Infuriating" button.

[@Yankee_Smoker1917]

"Hip hop style youth"

[@Soygurtt]

Swedish viewer here - kuk means c*ck in Swedish. Just felt it was important for everyone to know, sorta funny they have christian t-shirts with the words TOP KUK (pronunced kewk). Thanks for another great vid! /Scandinavian Jenonite

[@heavenj7]

Why do I feel like Joe knows this!??

[@paedreau1]

Love this!

[@valeriemeyd4874]

​@@heavenj7 I'm thinking about sending him a message telling him what kuk means in Swedish. I'd love to see and hear his reaction.

[@alwaysflushinpublic]

@@valeriemeyd4874 I'm in the Twilight Zone as I was raised IBLP & escaped at age 24. I've been in Atlanta for 24 yrs, including in 2012 when Fulton DA tried to charge PDiddy but the mayor blocked it. So the DA ran him out. My partner worked on the Bldg & Grounds at puff's house. And my late brother did a bullet in the old MDC jail. I'm just waiting on a story I have NO KNOWLEDGE of. I'm on a self imposed news black out until the election. Not like I would ever vote red anyway.

[@jillhughes9009]

Hysterical 😂

[@zekewalker1350]

“Kanukuk Haiti” just set off so many alarm bells about how many kids are just on their own out there and therefore the perfect abuse victim

[@SpecialBlanket]

aren't there troubled teen industry camps in haiti for this reason?

[@heavenj7]

Yes this!! I knew a busy working single mom who sent her son to a big not for profit after school program in nyc. He groomed mom first then the child. My husband at the time and I KNEW! Then mom told us one day what she “thought she saw” I was working CPS at the time and one day he was at her house and this “man” couldn’t and wouldn’t look any of us in the eye!! It was THE biggest red flag ever. And he stuck to her pre teens son side. I reported him mom never did and he stayed in this boys life until he was an adult 😢I tried. These type of kids are the most in danger ‼️

[@MaidMirawyn]

@@SpecialBlanketYes, there’s at least one still there: Haiti Teen Challenge. There was one where the kids sort of sailed around Haiti and landed on the island periodically. They eventually escaped from there.

[@cheyennehoopgirl]

Hoop Dancer here (the dance he was trying to do) that is a dance with a lot, A LOT, of meaning religious and otherwise. Hoop and Jingle can be very very religious for people, and there is a whole process to asking to learn, and learning them for most people. The fact that he did that dance in a spirt of halloween costume fills me with a rage that I can't articulative in appropriate terms.

[@ChristopherSadlowski]

I was looking for a comment like this! I've been to several...cultural events? I'm not sure what to call them if I'm being honest. But, whatever, they were hosted by several tribes coming together to exhibit their dances, songs, arts, stuff like that. I've seen real hoop and jingle dances and they're beautiful and moving. I'm not sure what to even call...whatever he thought that dance was. Actually, I just thought of a word for it: TACKY. That was some hella tacky nonsense is what that was.

[@Merrybethable]

Very disturbing, I don't think that there is any way to see that terrible approximation of a hoop dance was meant to be anything other than play acting. That man clearly sees native culture as a source of cute themes for his camp instead of a living culture.

[@smokeysapphire82]

Ec​@@ChristopherSadlowski

[@JamesDio-yu5yd]

How old are the kids and they let him talk to there kids like f

[@kyla_shae]

omg so ready for this one - I attended kanakuk every year for 12 years, went through the counselor-in-training program, and was even my tribe’s princess one year (praying those photos don’t exist anywhere on the internet because we wore full tribal headdresses). This is a hard topic for me because it was such a big part of my life and I have a huge amount of love for the people and experiences I had through kanakuk, but yeah I have lots of memories of questionable moments that I didn’t dare question until I was older and deconstructed… can’t wait for the video!

[@greencouchenthusiast]

very similar situation here. a hard watch but a necessary one - I went to kanakuk for many years; I met some of my best friends at kamp and have very cherished memories from my time there. it’s hard to articulate all my feelings rn, but above all, it breaks my heart that a place that was so good to me was a source of horrible lifelong trauma for other children… and that none of this was handled even remotely as it should have been. just makes me so sad, and so angry. do better.

[@LucyB-m5l]

Same story here! Any former campers remember Joes whites “dad hugs” during purity night and cross talk? Also would love to hear if you had a weird experience with kanacushes. Also I can’t lie, still use that coffee cake recipe.

[@LaceySawyerFincher]

Same ❤ it’s been so hard to grapple with the horrid tragedy that happened in a place that brought me so much joy.

[@AoM248]

I can only imagine. I went to Mfuge 5 years in a row, and by the last year I was so jaded it’s unreal. It didn’t help that a couple of my friends did the whole student counselor internship thing that year, and the way they were so clearly in a cult….

[@musichealseveryone]

@@AoM248oh god. I never see Fuge camps mentioned anymore. What a fever dream.

[@avaa9904]

i went to a church camp that was also very physically active for several summers. i fully believe that the physically intensive aspect is to exhaust children so bad that by the time they get the "cross talk" or something similar theyre nearly delirious and so overtired that its all so much more intense, leading to such visceral reactions. its not as much about a cross between sports and jesus, its about exhaustion and emotional manipulation.

[@lady8jane]

That's a very common tactic in cults, so you might be on to something there ...

[@introusas]

Omg, I’ve never thought about this but this absolutely fits into my experience at church camp. They would have kids running around throwing shaving cream and water balloons for hours in the hot Texas sun, and then they would take us into the church and say that “the Holy Spirit is exiting the tabernacle” (I can’t remember what that was called) and kids would cry because they “felt god’s presence” when really they were probably just dehydrated 😂

[@librerin]

​@@lady8jane The parallels to the US Navy's 'Chief Season', 🤌

[@wendymccoy1093]

It's giving Jesus Camp vibes. Gross.

[@gidgetgirl1]

💯

[@Lindsayshmoshman]

As a Missouri kid who had both parents working in a growing church - Camp Kanakuk was youth group goals! It was “too expensive” for my kind and now I’m glad it was!

[@madeline9538]

same with Camp Ozark lol

[@Magicmom1]

I agree!! Wanted to go so bad growing up. Now, as an adult, my husband works in construction and does building for them now in Branson and he says he hates when they have to go there.

[@introusas]

Parents shelling out all this money just for their kids to get abused 🤦🏻

[@alwaysflushinpublic]

Atlanta here, I've heard of MIMAL b4. Never lived in it though. IT'S ONLY A BIT OF FUN to tease Missouri/OK/90% of TX/FL as not being Southern. Honestly - I've been to Southern Ozarks & can confirm, like WV it qualifies.

[@gidgetgirl1]

Thank goodness it was too expensive. My friend went and came home and threw all of her CDs away because they were satanic and she was afraid of the devil and slept with a bible. It was so sad and damaging.

[@zoobob]

As a native kid. I wanna say any 'class' on natives that starts out with calling us 'indians' and calling our language 'indian' . You are being 'educated' by a bigot.

[@LizStaples]

Truth it is especially wild for them to speak like that being in region that was active part of Trail of Tears.

[@PokemonRules333]

@@LizStaplesthey don’t care these kind of people think they are better than the so called “savages”

[@amityislandchum]

Kamp Kanakuk: "Modesty is so important. Always keep your body parts covered." Also Kamp Kanakuk: "Here are our adult and teenage male counselors shirtless in their underwear with tiny loin cloths and racist headdresses."

[@siriuslyconfused1]

Also also Kanakuk: nude 4 wheeling is normal and not weird or a red flag at all!

[@unamejames]

I am far from a scholar of anything, but "Kanukuk means 'the loved one' in Indian" about gave me an aneurysm. Ah yes... the one indigenous American language... "Indian".

[@amityislandchum]

Using Ks to replace Cs is one of those "technically not racist, but..." things.

[@tonyplaysthemambo]

Same as when they say "urban" instead of what they really want to say.

[@karitompkins]

It DOES go in unfortunate directions for the KOA campgrounds.

[@sleepyspacegremlin]

That's what I thought!

[@northernlights9684]

It’s called a dog whistle

[@serendipity1237]

It is?! In what way?

[@60oh]

i died at the BOB LE PONGE written on the envelope.

[@valeriemeyd4874]

@@60oh me too. I was laughing out loud so hard. I had to hit the pause button while I rolled around on the floor laughing (and I'm 58-1/2 years old, so yes, people around me were concerned) so I wouldn't miss one word. I'm sorry that Jen made me laugh because there's nothing funny about it, but Bob Le Ponge was too good).

[@PetitPoneyDuVercors26]

Bob l'éponge is the french name of the tvshow I died too

[@sixthsenseamelia4695]

Same 😆

[@atomicgoblin]

As an indigenous person... what in the mayonnaise-american nonsense is going on at this camp? 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️

[@conchagoblin389]

Seriously, it’s sooo bad 👎🏽

[@renee3883]

literally…it’s horrendous

[@AtomicMama42]

It's crazy I went to a camp called Cadicasu, there was a small amount of influence from indigenous people, but NOT ONCE did they make us pretend and act out stereotype bullshit

[@heavenj7]

This? Needs to be a shirt!!

[@ndrew7707]

unfortunately i think this is fairly common. i went to an all girls camp in NC that sorted us into tribes, too 😒

[@livosimms]

I went to k-kountry when i was 8 because just about every single person in my small Oklahoma town went to kanakuk it was like a rite of passage to the community…i don’t remember a lot maybe as a trauma response idk but i just remember the vibes being incredibly weird and there was one night where we had a huge worship gathering and they turned the lights off in the giant warehouse they packed us in and told us to raise our hands like we were “reaching up to our daddy saying hold me daddy please” while a live band played horrible christian alt rock…i was bawling my eyes out the whole time because i was so freaked out and i wanted to go home so bad but everyone thought i was just REALLY feeling the power of christ

[@kate4781]

I'm sorry you went through that, but the end of your post ("REALLY feeling the power of Christ") made me laugh out loud. It brought up a memory: I attended a different Christian camp as a kid and have a clear memory of a candlelight vigil/service... for no reason in particular other than that the theme that year was "A small light will do a great deal in a very dark place." There were probably some people saying how great Jesus is, but that part seemed normal to me at the time. We lit candles and just kept singing those words over and over again. A lot of people started completely bawling. I kept asking what was wrong because I thought they were homesick or injured or something because we were just holding candles and singing a song. Everyone responded by acting like I was crazy because, "Everyone always cries at candlelight services."

[@Siures]

@@kate4781Actually that’s kind of true. In Europe we have Taizé in France. Normally you’re there for a week, group teaching in the morning, free time in the afternoon, in church at least three times a day. Because the Easter week with the candle lights was so popular they’re now doing it every week on Friday I think. Research chants of Taizé these are simple, repetitive songs with one or two phrases of text so they can be learned very easily even if they’re in a foreign language. I have to admit it’s a great emotional experience to sing together with young people from all over the world, from conservative polish or South American catholics to the queer, progressive university groups from Germany. Yes, tears are quite normal with hundreds of young people singing songs with simple but variable harmonies and appealing texts at night with candlelight. I was there twice, once with a youth group, the second time with friends, before I lost my faith completely.

[@Aelffwynn]

You guys are so effective at presenting facts and figures alongside sensitivity and compassion. I listen to stories like this a lot, and they do get to me emotionally, but this struck me particularly hard. Hearing you list off the names and facts about the people who hurt kids just drove home how badly it needs to change. They MUST be held accountable for this.

[@PokemonRules333]

As well as any other place that abuses kids and gets away with covering it up

[@Sarahwalkee]

My dad was hurt by religion and ended up taking his life. He would have loved your video. You’re helping people!

[@maggiephilson1667]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

[@theMMAdhatter]

VIDEO OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IS NOT PORN. IT IS EVIDENCE OF A CRIME.

[@Curlykid24]

OOOO I LOVE JEN!!!!! I attended Kids Across America for several years and even was a counselor for a summer. - that summer changed my life. I realized it was not a place of love. It was a place of judgement and breaking down children to the point they had no choice but to surrender to the institutions beliefs… I was disciplined (as an adult) for going against their “script.” Thank you for covering this Jen, I’ve been watching you for years now, but this one touches my heart and I feel so heard.

[@madelinegrace7295]

I've been waiting for this one. I was a 10-year camper and a 3-year staffer, so this one hits home really close (my last year was 2020 I still don't understand why I still agreed to go honestly). Thanks, Jen, for covering this place. Maybe fewer parents will send their kids to Kanakuk.

[@sallywalden4317]

My mom used to send me there for a month at a time for 2-3 years. I’m locked tf in on this video.

[@Quynnd.3491]

I'm guessing it was a sense of obligation that you still had to go after all those years... thats just my guess tho. wow that's crazy, I used to think summer camps ypu stayed at for weeks were only in movies. 😅

[@Izzy-cp8yt]

​@@Quynnd.3491 I live pretty rurally, and it's not super uncommon here in New England, USA. I worked at a 6 week camp where we had some kids stay all six weeks, and there are others that are similar or even go longer. They're particularly popular with parents/families who don't have summer childcare and need to work. Sending their kids to a weeks-long camp ensures they're taken care of and supervised (at least, in theory) and having fun without parents having to worry that they're running the streets with friends causing trouble.

[@madelinegrace7295]

@@Quynnd.3491 they had a saying that was “let your yes be yes and your no be no” essentially meaning you agreed to work for us so make good on your word. I guess it holds some merit but man were we on edge summer 2020

[@feralhomunculus]

​@@madelinegrace7295Y'all went to a camp in the summer of 2020? We were still basically in lockdown. That's wild

[@emtrovert]

“Bob L’Éponge” I’m dyingggggg

[@Mama_Bear524]

Omg I was only half paying attention because I was getting ready for an appointment. I didn’t make that connection 😂

[@virtualtransientvagrant]

Can you explain it to me? I don't get it 🫣

[@emtrovert]

@@virtualtransientvagrant “L’Éponge” is French for, “The Sponge”, so, “Bob The Sponge”, like, “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

[@virtualtransientvagrant]

@@emtrovert oh 😂😂😂 thank you

[@emtrovert]

@@virtualtransientvagrant happy to help, I’m glad you can take part in the joke now😂😂

[@butterbreacan]

As a Cape Girardeau kid, I was always so jealous that my step-sister got to go to Kanakuk and I didn’t. Thank you for healing that part of my trauma by making me REALLY happy I didn’t get to go. Editing to add: the company my dad worked for (and me 15 years later) made that Men at the Cross website 😅

[@mollyjosie5835]

Sorry but when you said “he writes a personal email to every person who attends” I was like red flag 🚩

[@jaymondallie]

PLEASE JEN - as a Springfield Missouri native - PLEASE look into YoungLife - Clearwater Cove - it is a children’s Christian camp, I went as a girl. It was cheaper than Kanakuk, & I do believe predominantly ran by preds.

[@timothywall9595]

I agree. I was in a Christian internship in Orlando ran by a guy who used to be a bigwig at young life. Dude was creepy as hell

[@-alyssa-marie-]

My ex took me to young life when we were both 18 and I found out a year later that he was a pedo and cheated on me with a 14 year old😀

[@stella-vu8vh]

younglife has been known as a pred heavy org for ages if you paid attention or were tangentially involved and had eyes and knew the signs

[@maxv08]

oh my god almost every christian in my high school did YoungLife. I know they have camps but also they have youth groups that these kids would try to “recruit” everyone else for and it creeped me out as someone who was raised non-religious because of how hard they came on about it

[@alxndria1]

My best friend’s sister went to a Kanakuk camp in Texas but only stayed for a few days. Their mom called the camp to ask about mailing a word search book to her, and was told that secular books were not allowed. She picked her up the next day! Also, I’m from the south, but we learned about Mr. Mimal to remember which states the Mississippi River borders.

[@1WEareBUFO1]

"Secular books are not allowed" so we're circling campers' names in this Bible to keep track of them. We have at least 5 Jacobs.

[@floatingsmiley]

A word search is secular? lmao

[@JustinWO-31]

I'm a child abuse survivor so hearing so many churches just hide this kind of stuff is sickening to me. As a Christian myself, covering up abuse is unacceptable

[@kddicks5115]

Michael talking about giving while he’s sitting on a PRIVATE JET! These grifters are the worst! So much money they could use to actually HELP…buy a block of apartments and use it for homeless families or DV victims, food banks with food that really feed our kids instead of lots of carbs and sweets. Maybe a day shelter for those in need with a soup kitchen or paying for meals for kids who can’t afford school lunch. So many things that could truly help BUILD UP communities and people. Thanks for what y’all do, Rev! Without you and James, I might feel like the “odd one out”, especially here in Texas!!😘❤️

[@angelamaryquitecontrary4609]

Those are all excellent suggestions.

[@PokemonRules333]

Some pastors unironically practice the sin of greed

[@madisonbunten3082]

Girl, YOU WROTE A BOOK!!!! Gawddamn!! All Hail Rev. Jenn!

[@BeccaH74]

This is incredibly enlightening - but geez it is PAINFUL to learn about the depths of racism, sexism, cultural appropriation, and pedophilia (amongst other horrors) Kanakuk engages in the name of supposed Christianity. As a Christian, I’m horrified at the way religion is turned into the absolute antithesis of Christ’s command to LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR without any hesitation. It makes me feel sick. Thank you for doing a thorough job with this difficult (but important!) topic.

[@ritadyer9295]

Wickedness has been hiding in religion for more years than you know. Religion is used as a cover for politics and Kkk and a host of other things. Some of the “heroes” of the faith in Pentecostalism were in deep as was Billy Graham, some presidents and many others. It’s hard to comprehend. I haven’t watched the video yet. I was scrolling the comments first. It will take me several days to watch this as I don’t have much time when my kids aren’t listening or leaning over my shoulder.

[@dustinthedamned]

I wish I could watch this, but the subject matter is so infuriating and causes nightmares, so I just left a like. Keep exposing the crap out of these kinds of places, though. ❤ You and your husband's content rocks.

[@agutierrez4328]

Good on you for taking care of yourself!

[@Sarahbetho]

Making me super nervous about starting this during my bedtime wind down 😢. Hoping the best for you and glad you’re taking care of yourself

[@coriroo9323]

Oooh I knew a big one was coming when you were quiet for two weeks. Thank you, Jen and James. It's really important to tell these stories.

[@Tattooedmommy1847]

Anyone else getting the vibes of "Camp Chipawa" from Addams's Family Values?

[@FennecTheRabbit]

OMGGGGGGGGG

[@S.A.White...]

It's been around long enough for this to be intentional...

[@Arch-CherieaStrachan]

Yes

[@amityislandchum]

​@@S.A.White... I don't think it's a specific reference to Kanakuk. The fact is that MOST camps in the US and Canada use this Native American "theming" for whatever (racist) reason.

[@ivanovskameow999]

❤ Oh, so it's not just me? 😂

[@FreshmenThesis]

The amount of times this camp info talks about physique and physical prowess is ….unsettling.

[@HopeGardner3amed]

Omg I am not at that part yet but my dad does that.

[@maryeckel9682]

The way that dude's hips were moving as he beat on the cross was... unsettling

[@amityislandchum]

"It's like Las Vegas, if it were run by Ned Flanders." -- Bart Simpson about Branson, MO

[@stephaniesingleton7980]

I’m from that area and can affirm this.

[@louhortonsculpture]

😅

[@ChristopherSadlowski]

Well, that's all I need to know to make sure I stay out of Branson. 😊

[@savagerampage69]

The lack of a Wikipedia is wild

[@Grace-er9ep]

Can't help but wonder how they managed that

[@bobthemonitor9697]

Jen just basically wrote the Wikipedia page, she should send it to someone for formatting and just...create the page herself

[@scramerArt]

​@bobthemonitor9697 i bet money that any time an edit is made to make the page another editor scrubs it. They do the same thing for politicians during elections. Only down side of a publicly edited platform.

[@lenapawlek7295]

A page was just made a couple days ago! Its new so you have to look it up directly through wikipedia - or at least I did

[@kkturtle12]

Jen is a journalist fr

[@SpecialBlanket]

PSA re SA/virginity-- if you were a CSA/SA victim, you can still ID as a virgin (I'm not going to pressure someone to see it that way if they don't though). It's a social concept that's supposed to refer to sex, as in consensual voluntary sex, not being molested or SA'd which is hardly the same thing as a normal sexual encounter (which I feel very qualified to say).

[@larissabrglum3856]

I don't remember the movie, but there's a quote like "I think losing your virginity is when you make love for the first time," and I think that's a good way to look at it

[@charlottewillis5653]

A core thing I learned from the Fundie Friday's Cinematic Universe is that fundamentalist men should not have access to chainsaws.

[@retrosimmery]

😱😱😱😱😅

[@MaidMirawyn]

None of them know how to use on properly, either.

[@LeynaJohnson-p1f]

That Kenneth Copeland magazine will find you even if you move and Do Not put in for a change of address .. it took an out of state move to outrun that subscription 😂

[@rosesaavedra5266]

it wasn't a kenneth copeland thing but i used to work at a realtor's office and some church group had our fax number. NOBODY else faxed us, we just kept it because it was part of the copy machine. every wednesday and friday you'd hear the fax machine come to life and print out a pamphlet that we always put in recycling. we moved office and changed the fax number, but still got those pamphlets 😭😭

[@S.A.White...]

My college FINDS me. One of my friends jokes that we need a crime show that goes to a college to track down a suspect because they ALWAYS know where you live.

[@jougjimmadome]

@@S.A.White... my college finds me but half the time they're using the wrong name. I thought surely the legal name change would get them off my tail

[@brainst3w]

they sound more persistent than some debt collectors

[@l.a.gothro3999]

Virginity is just a concept, not an actual physical condition.

[@orionsbow9898]

Joe White came to my college in 2018 or 2019, and I talked with him after his presentation and he told me that I am a bride of Christ and spiritual virgin after suffering sexual abuse. Seeing that he allowed abuse to happen in his own camp disgusts me and I shiver with nausea every time I think of him

[@KatieLong-xw7wz]

We lived in Branson for 16 years….the blasé attitude and refusal on the part of very influential church leaders to call out or hold Joe White/Kanakuk accountable when all this horrible shit started pouring out was a major reason I stopped attending church there. No one who should care seems to care. Also a good friend was a personal assistant to Joe White for a few years and her stories were *strange* to say the least.

[@miabarth6332]

Missouri is a special place for me. It gets hot as hell and way too fucking humid, but it has some of my favorite things. My grandparents and mother’s side of the family, Chappell Roan, and Fundie Fridays are all there/from there. The icing on the cake is that my grandparents had moved there in the 70s because they’re Mormon and believe that the Garden of Eden is in Missouri and moved there for the second coming. Missouri is a weird conglomeration of things I love

[@Ambwosia]

Lived in Branson for most of my life. I get this so intimately.

[@cambowsher0613]

Ong your grandparents moving here for the second coming is hilarious

[@justinrandall9550]

I used to work at a t shirt printing place and man we hated kanakuk! They always put in orders super late or would need extra shirts printed in the hundreds. Which doesn’t seem like a lot but when it’s 90 degrees outside and you’re in a factory with heaters and dryers making it low 100’s it sucked. All that to say kanakuk sucks!

[@pixie7349]

The “turning my kid around” comment he made about Newman is absolutely haunting because kids who are abused sometimes try to “be good” so it doesn’t happen again. Especially kids who feel guilty about “sinning”. Heartbreaking.

[@_Strict9_]

Hello! A Bransonite here. Born and raised in Branson, MO. A couple of tidbits of information for you. While growing up my grandparents had lived across the lake from the camp and when my sister and I would be at their house playing during summer we would see the kids be released for free time and most would head down to the lake area where they had the "blob," the big inflatable in the water, and the slide. My sister and I had said one day that we wish we could go to the camp cause it looked like so much fun and my grandmother(RIP) quickly and semi-seriously replied "you don't want to be there because it's not what you think it is." We were confused by that, but you just didn't question what your elders said. You are now explaining in this video why she said what she said. Also, later in school, around high school, the running joke was the kids that go to the KKK camp whenever you would see the camp busses driving through town to the camps. So, yes, we were all VERY aware of the 3 K's! Or at least my group of friends were, should I say.

[@dalitablair]

Algorithm. This needs to be seen by so many more people. Those poor children, I can't stop crying.

[@anerdbyanyothername]

The bit with the camp directors introducing themselves and then talking for their wives was very unsettling

[@isabelleanderson3618]

Do you know the time stamp for this?

[@lizzybeary]

57:10

[@lizzybeary]

​@@isabelleanderson3618 57:10

[@anerdbyanyothername]

55:20 ​@@isabelleanderson3618

[@astridquarry1248]

​@isabelleanderson3618 just watching now and it's at 55:19

[@wickette7398]

I’m midway through this piece, but just wanted to thank you for your always thorough, compassionate, well-paced and -presented work! You do such a great job pulling it all together and making it all approachable and humorous while never losing sight of the deeply problematic and abusive underpinnings of this world. Thank you so much for all you do!!!

[@AllegedlyRyn]

the cross talk montage felt like a hallucination

[@SpeakMoew]

I went to kanakuk in like 2009 and I still hate that place like it was just yesterday. Edit: Jen, you will always get mail from them now. My parenta STILL get mail!

[@Auburritos]

Holy shit 3 hours what a beast!! Reverend Jen I have no words this is some incredible work

[@helenr4300]

Sorry - the poor people got their own inferior camp sites?? Why on earth. Bad enough that urban sponsored campers are not mixed in with regular camping weeks; but at least give them a week at the existing facilities...

[@ClassicEber]

Going mad watching this, how can you be so irresponsible with children!?!? Very well researched and produced as always.

[@bermo6066]

Nobody gonna point out there's exactly 3 Ks in Kanakuk? It's just me on that? Alright.

[@lenapawlek7295]

Thinking that when I heard K Kamp as well idk

[@agutierrez4328]

And Kanakuk Koffee Kake (yes I know they didn't have it that way in text but as soon as he said it in the clip my brain arranged it like that)

[@MaidMirawyn]

Oh no, I saw that. I would give it a pass as coincidental, except for all the other Ks…

[@MaidMirawyn]

@@agutierrez4328Yes, I immediately saw it that way in my head!

[@LucyB-m5l]

Former Camper of 6 years here (and winner of the infamous “I’m third” award for anyone wondering). While I loved my summers spent at kamp, it’s honestly hard to look past many of these things. Thought I’d give some background as my experience there! The biggest thing I really remember was the cross talk. This night got increasingly more intense as I got older (K-kounrty, K-west, and K-7). In high school I remember crying so hard with everyone around me late at night towards the end because of how graphic and emotional this night was. At the time I assumed it was the holy spirt, knowing what I know now, it was simply an emotional response to what everyone was feeling. Joe white would also sit in the front of his atv and offer “dad hugs” lol. Next up purity night. Joe white tried to make this like a super intense moment giving everyone purity rings and selling his booked called “pure excitement” which I did bye. Super strange book, if anyone is interested I will give some quotes lol. He talked a lot about like SA and stuff but it’s hard to remember now. Another random thing they did was creation night which is literally just everyone in the camp sitting outside learning about how dinosaurs weren’t real and that there was a great flood. I loved camp but you seriously can’t look past the crazy stuff that went down there. I am open to answer any questions if anyone has them!!

[@manyyoumas]

lets GO reverend jen and king james!!!! on top of this project youve been working so long on i see you’ve also hit the milestone of 400k!!! love u guys!🎉🎉🎉💜💜💜

[@amandablack2912]

Every college student I know who worked at these camps sounded like they joined a cult and I was basically in a cult at the time. It's wild.

[@youcancallmedoctor]

The Kannakuk camp activities... I'm half Choctaw and in the words of my full blood cousins (that have dedicated much of their time to keeping tribal traditions alive) "Them headdresses are War bonnets. They were worn into battle. So sure. Wear it. And square up!"

[@FurbyFullyLoaded]

‘this is the capital, that’s where they take away our rights’ TOO REAL JEN but on a brighter note, I read recently that 2 of the judges that tried (and failed) to keep the MO abortion amendment from making it to the ballot this November (Kelly Broniec & Ginger Gooch) are up for re-election, so here’s hoping MO voters can oust them ❤

[@spockezri]

humansville is a wild ass name for a city you didn't even have to mention there's a fucked up christian abuse camp there for me to just assume

[@nhuprich]

As a former Kanukuk camper I’ve been anxiously awaiting this episode. *presses play*

[@nhuprich]

I’m pretty sure I still have my kanukuk blanket stored somewhere 🥴

[@akatfeez]

I’m so glad you made a video about this! This was a normal thing for kids at my school to go to every summer. I remember when Covid was raging and they refused to adhere to any guidelines, and soon had like a 95% covid rate at camp.

[@kmcd2797]

So glad you are covering Kanakuk and summer camps like this in general. Kanakuk is VERY popular among people from Dallas, and appropriation of Native American culture is widespread in Texas summer camps. For white middle/upper class Christian girls in Texas, Christian summer camps are a must

[@IntrovertedBear]

What...what does smoothie king have to do with putting others second?

[@FundieFridays]

I was wondering the same lol

[@FreshmenThesis]

“I’m mad at Joe White for being the way he is…” the tagline of this video

[@oliviawolcott8351]

Joe White's eyes are wrong. its like they're blank, like nothing is inside. which is strange because he's got smiling eyes, but his eyes don't smile with the rest of him.

[@amityislandchum]

He has those Kenneth Copeland eyes. So many of these creepy evangelical leaders have those eyes! It's kind of ironic to me, because if I were an evangelical and actually believed in things like demons, I would absolutely see demons in those men's eyes.

[@skgreen222]

wow. the bravery of those young Black men speaking up about abuse is so moving. always and forever loving and supporting survivors everywhere.

[@kingxcannon]

I cannot say enough how impressed I am with the level of research and effort you put into to these deep dives. thank you for all you do and for bringing light to these institutions that allow abusers to go unchecked and take advantage of people who truly think they are following the lords will.

[@Blackjackel1138]

I went to Kanakuk twice as a kid. My family has lived in the Branson area for decades, and I was allowed to attend last minute through their alternates program, which fills the spot opened by a last-second cancellation with a local kid at a big discount. When I went to K1, one of my counselors kept doing things that would be considered "reckless" or "immature". He ingratiated us to him by bending the rules, sneaking us into places that we weren't necessarily allowed to be. He let us climb onto the roof of our cabin and sunbathe, and when some of the boys stripped down completely naked (not me), he didn't correct them. The clearest memory I have is when he flew into a rage because some of his college homework got some water on it when we were using squirt guns in the cabin. He started throwing things and screaming. Another time, I was alone with him and vulnerable after getting my ass beat at a wrestling match (never had done wrestling in my life and they paired me up right away with a kid twice my size and experienced). I know I could've been exploited right there if that had been his intention, but it's not like Kanakuk did any meaningful background checking or profiling for these people they hired to look after kids or anything. I don't know if he was actually an abuser, and I don't remember his name, just the nickname we called him. But I know that I was at risk, my sisters were at risk when they went, and that we all look back on the problematic practices of this organization with disgust. My grandmother helped found Woodland Hills, and my siblings went to Trinity. We are very very lucky that, as far as we know, we were never targeted.

[@twistysunshine]

6 hours of basketball a day is either gonna make you perfect at basketball or explode your knees by age 21.

[@larissabrglum3856]

It sounds like a recipe for Osgood-Schlatter syndrome

[@SamMcGee-kv8ot]

You’re being so funny in this video I LOST it at the walugi comment omg

[@frankiebabieee]

My family went to Kanakuk when I was in elementary school. I’m very glad we went to the family camp because if our parents weren’t there I fear what might have happened to me and my brothers.

[@StLouchet]

Everytime KAA kept saying "Urban Youth"; i'm sitting here like "Can y'all just say "The Negroes" and call it a day???" I'd rather they call me a Negro than "urban youth" or "urban female" or whatever smh Also, awesome work Jen!! I'm from STL, MO (314 baby!!) And i had *never* knew or heard of Kanakuk in MO. Now i do and I'm hopeful that this organization goes down

[@alittlenomadic]

Thank you, Jen, for bringing light to such a disgraceful organization. And for elevating the voices of those who cannot speak about the abuse they experienced. Keep on keeping on, friend!

[@twistysunshine]

Dude they have a separate camp for all the "urban" children that is in a totally different location and staffed with cops bc of the "danger" and in their cross talk the black guy running it gets whipped- which does not happen at the white cross talk. I mean like from the hints early on I knew this was gonna get real racist but all this plus cosplaying native tribes and pretending they're all fantastical people?? Like. Dude

[@spockezri]

this guy is so dedicated to being as racist as possible 😭

[@halfpintrr]

It’s staffed with cops?!

[@ih8mp]

I almost spit out my food when you said 'Bob Le Ponge' that's amazing.

[@naoisecarson266]

congrats on 400k queen. I would literally die for you

[@jaymondallie]

I live in MO. There were a group of nepo baby, girls at my school who did this summer camp every summer & acted like they were hot sh!t because their parents could afford to send them. Mine couldn’t, but I never wanted to go. I’m glad I didn’t. This is sickening

[@nomollyshere]

So glad that you showed the pics AND names of every predator…they have zero right to privacy!!!

[@soapforthesoul]

THANK YOU NOT ENOUGH PPL TALK ABOUT THIS SHIT PLACE. I know SO many people who are personally a part of this camp and it’s heart wrenching to know what they support

[@SamVanZam]

I was absolutely not prepared for Cross Talks! That was an amazing compliation, I appreciate your hard work on this and I'm only 30 minutes in, Lol Thanks Rev Jen!!

[@KariAnnRutushin]

I was pulled out of public school by my mom who signed me up for the trinity homeschooling program my sophomore year…it was an absolute joke! when I went back to public the next year, my school accepted very little of my credits and I had to make up them up through summer school. lol I cant imagine if I had ended up graduating from there how hard it would have been to get into college. This would have been early 2000s

[@catht9653]

A "prep school" is a preparatory school, meaning a high school that is rigorously academic to prepare students for college. "Post-grad" refers to post COLLEGE graduation. So they don't have a "prep school" and they aren't working with "post-grads."

[@kimthegrey]

Prep school refers also to schooling for (typically elite) youth that teaches them how to act and carry your self 'properly' and prepares them for a life in high society. In the video's context I imagine it refers to schooling preparing youth to go out in the world as proper christians and disciples.

[@catht9653]

@@kimthegrey hi, yes but the "prep" is "college prep".

[@Libraryofmaking]

Thank you for this video, former 'kamper' here so grateful to receive this important information from such an empathetic channel. Great work, y'all

[@fralanasko2900]

Like the restless sea we are pounded by an enemy

[@melaniebrylow3900]

Definitely expected some laughter from Jen after that line 😂

[@MaidMirawyn]

That made me double take even seeing it written in the comments 😂

[@violentinsides]

Jen, you rock, well done for getting through that, your empathy shines. Love, healing, peace

[@LocaPorLosAngeles]

"Father Figure" playing, sped up with a zoom into "Top Kuk?!?!" I love you both 😂😂😂❤❤❤

[@denisekeeran9883]

I so appreciate Jen's humanity and not holding back emotion. Soooo appreciate that.

[@savyy4minnie]

I'm from Dayton Ohio, his version of that plane crash story is very suspicious.. the whole he had nowhere to crash but the house immediately made no sense to me. If you know anything about the area especially in the 50s (when this happened.)

[@amityislandchum]

Not to mention the whole, "He was told 3 times to bail out, but he didn't!" All pilots know that you only bail out if your aircraft is headed for a "safe" (aka no people/homes) crash site. That's the risk you take as a pilot. You don't bail out and potentially kill dozens of people just to save yourself. That's still manslaughter.

[@MaidMirawyn]

I have family from the Dayton area. Tell me more about this!

[@smartpeepsks]

Yeah, I live right out side of Wright Patt, and I have never heard anything about this story, and my Grandparents were living here and this isn't the kind of story that wouldn't be passed down.

[@jessieirving5707]

Thank you for all the work you do! Appreciate every video you and James put out and have been here since forever! I hope y’all are excited for the last What We Do In The Shadows season!!

[@ElijahFrenchsoccer]

Nancy French, a writer, has uncovered so much horrible stuff about this camp. It’s despicable.

[@lolztina13]

Im so glad I found this channel when I did it has been such a pleasure to watch this channel grow! ❤️❤️ Thank you for talking about difficult but necessary topics! And I always learn something new from this channel! ❤️

[@kandyjo]

I grew up steeped in conservative evangelical christianity, and I've never heard of Kanakuk....but here you are, blessing my eyeballs with THREE HOURS of an in-depth report on all of their heinous wrong-doing. Y'all are doing seriously good work out here exposing these creepos. Also, am I missing something? Does Missouri not have mandated reporter laws? I'm a teacher and I am required by law to report abuse. HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW are they still operating???? Where's even a hint of oversight???

[@57K]

As an ex Christian, it's so embarrassing to know I sat through events that looked a lot like the ones shown here. It's so weird!!! I can't get over how weird it all clearly is.

[@melissastory1993]

I used to think I just didn’t get it because I wasn’t raised religious, but the more I listen to personal testimonies of religion from ex-religious people, the more I’m like “Oh, yeah, it is weird. It’s not just me missing something” 😅 I even tried reading the bible twice and (we just had one laying around, probably from a relative) and I couldn’t stop thinking about how much more I’d rather read any other book because it was like reading fantasy novel, but without the fun parts 🙃

[@eon6274]

I was raised christian as well, and I remember them getting all the kids into a room to watch animated cartoons of noah's ark and other stories. Always thought it was stupid. Even as a kid I was questioning how cultish it was before knowing the definition of a cult. You're going to expect me to believe this stuff after I just got done in school, learning about genetics and world religions, then put this garbage in front of me and expect me to eat it with a smile on my face? By the time I was a teen I'd put my parents through the wringer with my goth and atheist phase to the point I broke my mother out of the cult and my dad left. Mom gets to spend time with the grandchildren while dad sits alone in the middle of nowhere with his trailer ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ get fucked dad

[@kyobias]

Ok so it’s completely off topic but Jen!!!! That color of pink is so pretty on you!! You look so good in this video 😭

[@reynaolvera7526]

Yeah her shirts cute

[@jessmarie2692]

I can’t hear “coffee cake” the same 😂😂😂😂

[@transientdaydreams]

Your deep empathy for the victims of this horrible organization shines through. I appreciate that it isn't just about punishing bad people, but ultimately that the most important thing is seeking justice and healing for those who were harmed by them. While the former attitude is understandable, it's the latter that will truly make the world a better place. I know this video must have been incredibly difficult to research and make, but thank you for getting this important information out there. Sending hugs to you both from another red state