Bible camp bust: 88 children removed in Iowa raid; teen's calls sparks human trafficking investigation
Authorities in Iowa have removed 88 children from a Bible study summer camp as part of a wide-ranging human trafficking investigation, reports the New York Post.
The operation took place over the weekend at the Shekinah Glory Camp, run by the Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation in Columbus Junction.
Deputies from the Louisa County Sheriff's Office, working with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Columbus Junction Police, executed multiple search warrants. The children were taken to the nearby Wapello Methodist Church, where they met with child protection officers, and were then placed in temporary foster care.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services said the children will remain in state custody until they can be safely reunited with parents or guardians.
The camp had been scheduled to run from June 8 to 29 and drew participants from across the United States.
The family operating the camp has denied all wrongdoing. Victor Bawi, whose parents founded the ministry in 2018, said the group helps both children and adults battling addiction to drugs, alcohol, or nicotine. 'What we try to do is, we take care of adults and children who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol, nicotine,' Bawi told local outlet WQAD8.
'The adults and children, we take care of them, we provide food for them.
The children we separate from the adults. We separate the boys and girls. We care for them, we provide for them.'
Bawi said a teenager from Texas called authorities because he didn't want to be at the camp. 'We never harmed that child. We loved him,' he said. 'We bought him like $400 shoes, clothing, everything.'
He also said the camp involves not just Bible study, but activities like volleyball and soccer. Another location in Fredonia, where the ministry reportedly helps people with housing, was also searched by deputies.
The church is led by two pastors originally from Burma, now Myanmar, and belongs to the Chin ethnic minority. Many Burmese refugees in Iowa work at a local Tyson Foods plant, which slaughters about 2% of the country's hogs each year.
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