Since the 1970s, under the leadership of White and his wife Debbie-Jo, Kanakuk has become one of the largest Christian camps in the world. Kanakuk has continued to minimize the reality that they have allowed abuse to flourish. All statements on this page were submitted by verified survivors of abuse at Kanakuk Kamps. A petition asking Kanakuk to release dozens of sexual abuse victims and families from non-disclosure agreements has reached more than 26,000 signatures. Now, as more survivors come forward with their own horrific stories of abuse at Kanakuk Kamps, it seems apparent that Joe White and the institution he led are complicit in the alleged sexual abuse and exploitation of many dozens of children. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. A representative for Kanakuk did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but declined to comment on similar allegations late last year, and said that we continue to pray for all who have been affected by Pete Newmans behavior., Dygert relayed a message to the committee, too: One victims mother asked me, and I quote, Please let the committee know how many people this will help, that feel like they have no voice and no help from those that hurt them.. So is 55 a reasonable timeframe to push that back? What was the camps response? Claiming things like Kanakuk continues to fail on basic safety practices and protocols and stating that Kanakuk ..ignores other known perpetrators and their enablers, including those in leadership at Kanakuk to this day. They distort the truth, promote false narratives, and harass individuals who oppose them. OnSeptember 15, Newman was finally arrested. (MinistryWatch has written a series of stories about Kanakuk, found here.). Our Kanakuk Child Protection Plan, which contains over 340 identifiable and measurable protective elements, is integrated throughout our organization and has been shared with more than 600 youth-serving organizations across the country. The camp did not initially disclose the cause for Newmans termination. Kanakuk leadership has consistently said it was not complicit in the sexual abuse perpetrated by Newman and Lee Bradberry (a Kanakuk counselor who pleaded guilty in 2013 to four sex-related charges involving campers at Kanakukbefore he wasfired in 2011). According to the nonprofit child protection advocacy group. KANSAS CITY, Mo. It was the summer of 2002 and he was excitedthe Christian sports camp advertised the "best summer ever . Any victim can reach out to Kanakuk by emailing us at victimsupport@kanakuk.com or access several independent victim advocacy organizations such as ChildHelp.org or Rainn.org who can provide access to local support services, reporting assistance, and educational resources. We absolutely want to clarify this. Our CPP is woven throughout the organization and impacts almost every aspect of our operations. Hoffpauir was one of several survivors of childhood sexual abuse, including from Kanakuk and Boy Scouts of America, who testified at a House judiciary hearing Monday night in support of a bill that would extend the civil statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Kanakuk is an elaborate up-scale sports camp. Kanakuk has said these men were fired and reported to law enforcement as soon as the abuse came to light. Kanakuk abuse survivors urge Missouri lawmakers to extend statute of limitations The House judiciary committee on Monday heard public testimony on a bill that would give childhood sexual abuse survivors the ability to file a civil claim up to age 55. [Read Examples]. (KY3) - More legal trouble for a popular kids camp in Taney County. Survivors of child sexual abuse are attempting to enact laws in Missouri and Texas to change the legal landscape for Christian camps that cater to children and teens. He has also provided an open letter to victims who do not prefer to meet face-to-face. Extensive reporting on Kanakuk published in the News-Leader in May further described how Kanakuk leaders failed to act on knowledge of Newman's inappropriate sexual behavior, while detailing alleged sexual abuse by other former Kanakuk staff. Newmans accountability approach to wrongdoing had been used before. Another camper, who went to China on a Kanakuk-related mission trip, told me via text and phone interview that Newman took a disturbing video of boys on a mission trip in China. Naturally, some victims families worry about what happened with those recordings. Watch Video Victims Speak Out About Sexual Abuse at Kanakuk CBS Dallas/Ft Worth Our trained directors and staff are dedicated to facilitating fun activities and fostering a safe environment, whether your child joins us for one, two, or four weeks of fun. Newman is currently serving two life sentences plus 30 years in prison. The actions of Pete Newman are devastating to hear and stand counter to Kanakuks values and mission. To donate, click here. The bill also includes a retroactive piece, called a window or revival law, which allows cases that were barred or dismissed due to a statute of limitation to be revived during a window of two years. Four people testified in opposition to the bill, representing business and insurance with particular opposition to the portion of the bill which opens a window for a revival of claims. We know now that we have added confusion and frustration when we have spoken on this topic. Kanakuk camp near Branson went public late Friday with a new statement aiming to redefine its relationship with people who say they are survivors of sexual abuse that took place at the Christian summer camp. Our desire is to support victims and help them in their healing journey. OnMarch 27,Kris Cooper began calling victims families to alert them of the abuse. All these fees add up. The FBI should be all over this like a glove., In an email, attorney and author Rachael Denhollandertheformer gymnast who blew the whistle on Larry Nassarand has since become a leading voice on the topic of sexual abusewrote, The level of abuse and cover-up that has taken place at Kanakuk is extreme and follows well-established patterns of organized trafficking and production of child sexually abusive material (child porn). She also wrote, A detailed investigation not just of the abuse, but of the cover-up, needs to be undertaken immediately. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. In They Arent Who You Think They Are, David and I detailed Kanakuk leaderships awareness of a series of incidents in which Newman was nude with children. The boys mother reached Neugebauer while Neugebauer was traveling on business in Europe and told him what her son had experienced. This camp helped grown their relationship with the Lord & supported their faith walk. She previously wrote for the Nevada Current, where she reported on labor violations in casinos, hurdles facing applicants for unemployment benefits and lax oversight of the funeral industry. This time it involves claims of fraud in a sex abuse scandal. No disciplinary action was taken against any of Newmans supervisors. Weve traveled the country openly sharing what happened here and the steps weve taken to help prevent this from occurring again. Dozens of additional news outlets have carried stories as well. We will respond further if or when appropriate. The family included a telling detail in the death notice, saying their son was a "Kanakuk Kamps abuse survivor" who "for years fought . In March 2021, an anonymously owned LLC created a website sharing so-called Facts about Kanakuk. Richard AuBuchon, representing American Property Casualty Insurance Association, a national trade association for insurers, and Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition, which represents business interests in Missouris litigation environment, said the bill is unconstitutional, pointing to the revival of claims portion, and said 55 years old is simply too long.. White, who has written 20 books, is a regular speaker at conservative Christian organizations, including . Between April June 2021, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation was contacted by three survivors of sexual abuse allegedly taking place at Kanakuk. We are only a small fraction of the Kanakuk survivors, yet our collective abuse experiences span from the 1950s to 2022. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? 1 priority. What Happens Now? A series of articles published by the Springfield News-Leader on May 26 tells the stories of previously silent sex abuse victims and others who say Missouri-based Kanakuk Kamps did not do enough to protect them when they were campers there. said Newmans victim count might be in the hundreds. Maybe she called someone elses mom and said, Why is your son over there? Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? Newman allegedly created pornographic materials of children. This termination . Since 1926, Kanakuk has hosted more than 500,000 campers and 50,000 staffers in Missouri and its many international locations. ", More:Kanakuk camper says she was told to apologize, denied call home after reporting abuse. Added to that those who serve must be always mindful to create management and supervisory structures on the basis of Jeremiah 17:3. Yandell and his parents reached a civil settlement with Kanakuk in 2010 regarding abuse Yandell suffered at the hands of Newman, who is now in prison on two life sentences for sexually abusing multiple children at the evangelical summer camp. A two-week session costs around $2500, but thousands of affluent families gladly pay the fee, and often not just for two weeks. Kanakuk paid $144,296 to K-Land One. Bates is a graduate of Harvard College and a member of the Report for America Corps. He pulled his camera out when that moment happened and was video taping. Ashton, 11, dressed in a green hat and gray . We want victims to know that their voices are heard and that we will never stop being sorry for the pain inflicted upon them by these perpetrators. All I was trying to do was,Hey, lets come up with a solution for you and Joe White for long-term planning, he said. Others recall being told that Pete confessed after a parent complained about inappropriate text messages to campers. Despite attempts to re-frame decades-old details to fit a modern narrative, Pete Newman was a rogue employee living a life of utter deception. And I believed this narrative for over a decade.. Jesus did not want any of this. Many of the men I served with were fathers of kids in our classroom who were happy to be with them and their age group. 25 Feb/23. However, we couldnt report with precision why Newman finally confessed to abusing children and said so in that original story. Kanakuk wasnt a ministry, it was a very big business.. This lawsuit is being filed to hold Kanakuk accountable, and to give Logan and potentially other victims and survivors their voices back.. Kanakuk also fully supported the law enforcement investigation and prosecution of the abuser. As a child growing up in Branson, Hoffpauir was involved with Kanakuks youth ministries, and said he was abused by Kanakuk director Pete Newman from 1999 to 2003. More:It was just a thing at Kanakuk: Campers and staff say nudity was part of camp culture. Red flag. For this reason, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has named Kanakuk Kamps to the 2022 Dirty Dozen List. 2015 A federal case filed in Texas by John Doe III, originally filed in 2013, is settled because "all matters in controversy between the parties have been resolved." 2012 Former Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell, the person who ultimately prosecuted Newman, does not recall what was foundif anythingon these devices. Prior to this, no one on Kanakuk staff believed that Pete Newman was abusing or had abused kids. BRANSON, Mo., April 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new website has launched dedicated to creating greater awareness of sexual abuse that occurred at the . Its never one time, Neugebauer recalls telling Newman, insisting on the confession. In 2010, Newman pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexually abusing boys. As soon as Kanakuk became aware of abuse, we took action, including immediate termination and subsequently reported the individual involved. There are many false narratives circulating online, including one that states Kanakuk has employed other abusers. The fact is that Kanakuk has employed over 50,000 full-time and summer staff over the past 96 years. We were wrong in our understanding of the language of many of these agreements, and we failed to recognize the restrictions both real and perceived that many victims are under. Remember Harvey Weinstein. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! Ye reap what ye sow. Authorities issued asearch warrantin 2009 to seize the devices after Kanakuk had them in their possession for three months. Jody Jones, who flew from Utah to testify, was a camper at Kanakuk in 1985, when she was 8. This list places Kanakuk alongside such behemoths as Reddit, Google, Netflix, and Twitter (ironically, a platform the NCOSE uses) as a mainstream entity for facilitating, enabling, and profiting from abuse and exploitation this is simply not true and defies any semblance of common sense. Read a more extensive account of what the new investigations expose here. Neugebauer told me he did not believe that strategy would deal with Newmans predation effectively. Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia), along with other lawmakers, disagreed with those opposed. Where we have failed in this effort, we are sincerely sorry. Neugebauer proposed forming a nonprofit to buy the camp. We believe that victims of abuse should be free to share their stories in support of their healing. The goal of their efforts are still not clear, but their campaign of misinformation and defamation of Kanakuk and our amazing staff has been ongoing and unrelenting. A short statute of limitations can be lethal, as my family knows, Phillips said, later adding: I used to refer to him as a survivor. For this reason, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has named Kanakuk Kamps to the 2022 Dirty Dozen List. It is so sad! (Neugebauer confirmed the dates by combing through archived emails; Neugebauers wife, Melissa, corroborated the timing of these events by consulting her journals from that period.). According to Neugebauer, White said, Toby, get on board. Tragically more than 12 years ago, one of our staff members was accused and convicted for abusing Kampers. But he didnt survive past the age of 29, so now I refer to him as a victim, and Im trying to be his voice., Candidates' ties to Missouri reform schools facing abuse, New U.S. House Natural Resources chair opposes limits on, Missouri knew of contamination in Springfields groundwater. It is possible, considering the large number of Newman victims, that several catalyzing events occurred at generally the same time. Neugebauerbelieving the retreat would be beneficial for the boyallowed him to use his frequent flier miles to make the trip more affordable. In 2022, Kanakuk continues to claim that it is the "safest place to be," 2 due to its longstanding history of hosting children and the Kanakuk Child Protection Plan that they developed in-house. This petition makes three simple pleas in line with longstanding best-practices for responding to policy breaches and abuse allegations: 1. shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson pete newman kanakuk wife. Elizabeth Phillips traveled from Texas to testify on behalf of her brother, Trey Carlock, who reached a settlement with Kanakuk after being abused by Newman, and died by suicide at age 29. According toguidelines posted by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, The Sunshine Law requires a custodian of records to respond to a records request as soon as possible but no later than three business days after the custodian receives it. Current Taney County prosecuting attorney William Duston responded in a timely manner and explained that pulling the files and reviewing them will take approximately a month.. . My perception was that Joe was camp first, victims second. We had several fights where I begged, pleaded and demanded he do the right thing.. Clara Bates covers social services and poverty. A host of new allegations against Kanakuk have surfaced due to more survivors and witnesses speaking out. On April 19 , one victims father attempted to obtain this information by officially submitting a Sunshine Law request regarding the contents of Newmans devices. One counselor told me that camp director Collin Sparks explained Newmans absence by saying some overly sensitive families who didnt get who Pete was had complained and caused Pete to have to take a little time away, but hell be here soon.. I've just received this press release initiated by the Turley Law Firm. Kanakuk Kamps has responded to only one investigation report, and they didnt even recognize their role in allowing the abuse to continue. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Newman was a camp counselor and director of father-son retreats at Kanakuk Kamps. The events surrounding Pete Newmans abuses were investigated by the Taney County Sheriffs Office and the Missouri Division of Family Services. We are humbled and grateful when we can have direct conversations. Abuse happens in many contexts. Although there have been multiple alleged and known abusers at Kanakuk Kamps dating all the way back to the 1950s, the most publicly known and detailed account of abuse is that committed by Pete Newman. Additionally, Kanakuk set out to elevate our safety practices, which resulted in the Kanakuk Child Protection Plan (the CPP) The CPP, which contains over 340 identifiable and measurable protective elements, is integrated throughout the Kanakuk organization and has been shared with more than 600 youth-serving organizations across the country. And excuses were made because as Christians we must forgive. I asked Joe White about Neugebauers account on April 12, but neither White nor his attorney were willing to provide information. Kamps, Berlin: See 59 unbiased reviews of Kamps, rated 3.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #2,764 of 7,413 restaurants in Berlin. Phillips said the non-disclosure agreement Carlock had to sign in the settlement left him scared to speak about his abuse even in therapeutic settings, and that a short statute of limitations can cause survivors to be rushed into civil litigation and burdensome settlements, as she said her brother experienced. Many of the allegations in these and previous articles involve incidents from the 1990s, 2000s and early 2010s. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. Reexamining Kanakuk's Abuse and Struggling to Forgive. For more than a decade, the camp has been under scrutiny for reports of sexual abuse. One survivor we spoke with said that finally at age 70 he was sharing what happened to him for the first time when he was a young counselor at the camp. Ill never forget that call, Neugebauer said, saying he knew the 13-year-old child to be honest. Our hope is that every single one would leave Kanakuk with a desire to live the Im Third lifestyle, placing God first, others second, and themselves third. Some of the greatest people I know have worked there., Neugebauers involvement in the camp increased to the point where he says he discussed a plan with White to extend the camps legacy, provide a retirement plan for the Whites, and help find White a successor. We support the right of victims to share their stories in pursuit of healing. Newman confessed after a Texas Kanakuk father confronted Newman and threatened to call the FBI. Apr 09, 2021, 11:06 ET. @Kanakuk, acknowledge your complacency in the sexual abuse that went on in your camp. Neugebauer also said White argued that if Neugebauers family or the boys family went against Kanakuk, they would be doing the devils bidding., They always used the same line, he said, that I was doing the devils bidding.. But I was shocked at the amount of money Joe wanted the nonprofit to pay him for the camp, Neugebauer said. Two members of Neugebauers family have corroborated the details of his account and tell me they were told of his efforts contemporaneously: his wife and his father, who is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Since its founding in 1926, it claims to have served more than 450,000 campers. Yandell's attorneys say the family became aware in December 2021 thanks to reporting published in conservative online news outlet The Dispatch that Newman's direct supervisor, Will Cunningham, had recommended Newman be fired in 2003 based on multiple reports of child sexual abuse, but White overruled the recommendation and later promoted Newman to camp director. Read more and take action below! Kanakuk Kamps, headquartered in Branson, Mo., begins camp terms next week and plans to host 20,000 children this summer. We have endured child sexual abuse, extortion, silencing, physical abuse, harassment, aggressive legal tactics, public denial of said abuses, and much more, all at the hands of Kanakuk Ministries and its affiliated entities, and all while under your familys leadership. A new lawsuit has been filed against Kanakuk Kamps. I dont think that person called the cops. This petition is a companion to the Hold Kanakuk Accountable petition, which invites you to join survivors of Kanakuk abuse in demanding that Kanakuk admits to known failures, releases victims from their NDAs, and invites an independent investigation.Support survivors and their pleas with your signature! Christ inverts them where we are all servants of each other. The Asbury Revival Is Over. Since the publication of our first article, I have learned more from sources who have come forward dailyeven hourlywith additional details. I also have a copy of the lawsuit that I understand is currently being filed- the defendants include More than 600 organizations have been trained in the CPP to date. Morgan says the incident involving the camper preceded Newmans confession. And Tom, I stand corrected. He was a master of deception fooling not only Kanakuk but also his friends, neighbors, and even his own family. Newman confessed to his superiors at the camp, and Kanakuk later fired him. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. This was and is a violation of trust, and ultimately a failure of leadership. A different victims parentin a police statement dated July 2, 2009said Newmans supervisor Kris Cooper. Martens said Yandell is leading a successful life now but must still deal with the traumatic effects of being sexually abused as a child. Summer Camp since 1926 - Kanakuk Begin Your Best Summer Ever! The prosecutor who oversaw the case later estimated the actual number of victims could be in the hundreds.. A Kanakuk employee told me an attorney recorded a phone call with Pete during which the counselor made incriminating statements. By Nancy French and David French Dec 23, 2021 90 I believe in summer camps, he told me in a phone interview. Sorry to you innocent types just wanting to be a good teacher or minister. Like a robber just came in and took everything in the vault, Should I go to the prison and tell him he ruined my life, And that what he did to me will make it hard to find a wife, My Son Was Abused in 1994 and Joe White Knew, It seems a little late in 2003 to be training counselors when they already had problems with counselors before 2003, Joe White referred to my son as a drop of water. They say they speak for all victims, ignorant of the fact that many victim families continue to support Kanakuk and in some cases, have chosen to work here. A short statute of limitations can be lethal, as my family knows, Phillips said, later adding: I used to refer to him as a survivor. Corbie Dale Grimes, who worked at Kanakuk in the 1970s and '80s, is serving a life sentence for abusing a boy in Texas in 1999. I took Pete to New York with [Newmans wife]. We absolutely want to clarify this. Tragically more than 12 years ago, one of our staff members was accused and convicted for abusing Kampers. I remember hearing about Pete doing something inappropriate toward [name redacted], she told me in a phone interview. We immediately began conversations with identified victims and their families and notified parents of current and former campers. and are interested in counseling, legal resources, or to connect with other survivors, First Baptist Church West Plains breaks ministry partnership with Kankauk over evidence of harm to children, Watch Kanakuk leadership testifying in depositions for the Pete Newman trial making it clear they knew great harms were being committed against children for several years, Survivors, ex-employees say Kanakuk Christian camp ministered to its sexual predators, Read a more extensive account of what the new investigations expose here, USA Today investigative series lead piece: "Survivors, ex-employees say Kankuk Christin camp 'ministered' to its sexual predators, History of Correspondence between NCOSE and Kanakuk, Decades of child sexual abuse reports show that Kanakuk Kamps ignored or covered up this evidence. Kanakuk issued the following statement on Friday after the lawsuit was filed: "Kanakuk received this lawsuit only this morning, apparently after others had received copies of it. No One Knows. Another was a dad of young boys who was abused as a kamper while a young teen. The survivors, family members, and advocates who testified in favor of the bill argued that childhood sexual abuse survivors can take years to come forward and that evidence of institutional wrongdoing that would spur civil action can take years to come to light, too, necessitating a higher cap on the age limit. Imagine being sexually abused as a child and being forced to never speak about it with anyone. This planning came to a halt in 2009, when Newman invited one of Neugebauers sponsored children to a Kanakuk-related retreat in Alabama. So we didnt. Are we only to have women serve in childrens ministry? "Kanakuk actively concealed what they knew about the sexual abuse being perpetrated by Pete Newman and induced victims and survivors into settlements and NDAs, said Robert Thrasher, one of Yandell's attorneys, in a news release. Ironically, their Contact page discloses that their information is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date. Sadly, in todays 24/7, monetized news industry, copy-paste journalism allows for this type of misinformation to be spread quickly and without merit [Proverbs 17:4]. 11 Springfield News-Leader. Many lives exposed to the Gospel. Kanakuk will continue to apply and evaluate our safety practices to help keep Kamp safe and fun for all. Our hearts grieve for all victims and their families (some of whom are current or former employees) and the pain they have endured. It has since put on child protection training seminars. Newman. Pete, my dads standing right here, and Im going to let you go tell [your wife] and to say goodbye to your child for the last time before youll be in custody. In 2009, former director Pete Newman was convicted for abusing children. In 2011, the CPP plan enabled Kanakuk to swiftly identify a second abuser, terminate his employment, report him, and coordinate with law enforcement. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Reed Martens, another one of Yandell's attorneys with the law firm Monsees and Mayer, said Yandell feels it is important to speak out against Kanakuk's handling of sexual abuse cases despite the 2010 non-disclosure agreement. He was silenced to his grave. Four witnesses who say they were abused at Kanakuk Kamps, a popular evangelical camp outside Branson, Mo., testified before Missouri . For decades, thousands of families have entrusted their childrens hearts, minds, and safety to Kanakuk Kampsone of the largest Christian sports camps. Former Pastor Accused of Rape Resigns from Churchome After TRR Investigation; Church Official Makes False Claims, Arkansas Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty to 13 Counts of Sexual Assault, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Shamed, Excommunicated Mother for Refusing to Take Back Child Abuser, Days-long Revival Sweeping Asbury University in Kentucky, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Covered Up Pastors Sexual Abuse, Witnesses Say, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthurs Church Supported Convicted Child Abuser & Pedophile, Records Show, Dante Bowe Posts, Then Removes, Apology for Behavior Causing Split with Maverick City Music, Matt Chandler Steps Aside After Admitting Inappropriate Online Relationship, John MacArthur Pulls Out of Ligonier Conference, Pastor Resigns From Houston Megachurch After Admitting Affair, Televangelist Creflo Dollar Renounces Past Teachings on Tithing, But Questions Persist. Are many false narratives, and harass individuals who oppose them dailyeven hourlywith additional details many narratives! 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Summer staff over the past 96 years occurring again aspect of our staff members was accused and convicted for Kampers. To help our journalists report the truth and restore the church wanting to be correct, complete, or to. Past 96 years abusing Kampers, Neugebauer recalls telling Newman, insisting on the basis Jeremiah... Hear and stand counter to Kanakuks values and mission and being forced to never speak it! Who have come forward dailyeven hourlywith additional details continued to minimize the that... Only a small fraction of the report for America Corps for this reason, the National Center sexual. That moment happened and was video taping Cooper began calling victims families worry about what happened and. International locations the sexual abuse allegedly taking place at Kanakuk Kamps to the 2022 Dirty Dozen List 20,000. And was video taping so in that original story relationship with the &. Several catalyzing events occurred at generally the same time 96 years new lawsuit has been filed Kanakuk. A sex abuse scandal demanded he do the right of victims to share their stories pursuit.
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