Latest news with #Bawi
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Iowa Police Take 88 Children From Church Camp Over Abuse Allegations
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Authorities in Iowa removed 88 children from a church camp as part of what they called a child safety operation. The children were removed from the Shekinah Glory Camp run by the Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation in Columbus Junction last week, the Louisa County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that was provided to Newsweek. Victor Bawi, whose family runs the camp, denied that any children at the camp had been harmed in an interview with local news station KWQC. Newsweek has contacted the Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation for further comment via email. The Context The Shekinah Glory Camp had initially been scheduled to run from June 8 to June 29. The website of the Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation, which was founded in 2018 and is run by its pastors, says its mission is to aid individuals "in breaking free from addiction through God's Word, offering food and shelter to those in need, and supporting individuals during fasting and prayer." A stock photo of a police vehicle A stock photo of a police vehicle iStock What To Know The sheriff's office said it conducted the search at two locations in Columbus Junction in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Health Human Services), Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Columbus Junction Police Department between June 12 and June 13. The operation was in response to reports of child abuse and endangerment, the sheriff's office said. During the search, authorities took 88 children from the camp and brought them to the Wapello Methodist Church to meet with multiple child protection workers. They were then reunited with their parents and guardians or placed in temporary foster care until they could be reunited with their families, the sheriff's office said. Bawi told KWQC that a 15-year-old from Texas who was at the camp had called authorities because he did not want to be there. He said the camp is for Christian teenagers from all over the country. "We never harmed that child. We loved him," Bawi said. "We bought him like $400 shoes, clothing, everything." What People Are Saying Victor Bawi told local news station WQAD: "If they want to investigate, they can investigate. We're innocent. They're not going to find any abuse or anything like that. We never abused anyone. You can ask any of the children as well. They were having a fun time." He added: "We hope that the children are well and that they can come back." What's Next No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed. The sheriff's office said the investigation is ongoing.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Bible camp bust: 88 children removed in Iowa raid; teen's calls sparks human trafficking investigation
(Source: X) 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.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Cops remove 88 children from a Bible study camp in Iowa as part of a human trafficking investigation: officials
Deputies raided an Iowa church and removed 88 children participating in a Bible study camp as part of a sweeping human trafficking investigation, police said Monday. The youngsters are now in protective custody of local agencies after they were taken from the Shekinah Glory Camp run by Kingdom Ministry of Rehab and Recreation, according to police and local reports. Deputies executing search warrants removed the children over the weekend and took them to nearby Wapello Methodist Church to meet with child protection workers, deputies told KWQC. 3 Police removed 88 children from a Bible study camp in Iowa. Shekinah Ranch Camp The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services placed the children in temporary foster care until they could be reunited with their parents or guardians, deputies added. The Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation, founded in 2018, was hosting the summer camp from June 8-29. The family behind the ministry that runs the camp in Columbus Junction denied the allegations, according to WQAD8. 'What we try to do is, we take care of adults and children who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol, nicotine,' Victor Bawi, whose parents run the ministry, told the outlet. '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.' 3 Police launched a human trafficking investigation at a church in Iowa where they removed 88 children. Shekinah Ranch Camp Bawi told KWQC that a teen from Texas called authorities because he didn't want to attend the camp. Bawi said no children were ever in danger or harmed. 'We never harmed that child. We loved him,' he said. We bought him like $400 shoes, clothing, everything.' Christian teenagers from across the nation attend the camp, he added. Bawi told WQAD8 that when the children aren't studying the Bible, they have fun playing volleyball, soccer and other outdoor activities. 3 Deputies removed 88 children from a church camp under investigation for human trafficking in Iowa. Shekinah Ranch Camp Deputies executed search warrants at several locations — one where the camp was taking place in Columbus Junction, and another less than two miles away in Fredonia, where the church helps people find housing. The Louisa County Sheriff's Office said the operation took place in coordination with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Columbus Junction Police Department, according to WQAD8. The investigation remains ongoing. The church is run by two pastors from Burma. They are members of the Chin, an ethnic minority, according to an Iowa cultural organization. Iowa has resettled thousands of refugees fleeing the longest-running civil war in the world. Iowa has one of the largest Burmese populations in the Midwest, and Columbus Junction had a significant number in the area. Many of the refugees are poor and work in the Tyson's Food Inc. meat packing plant, where the company has translators on premises. The plant is responsible for 2% of the hogs slaughtered each year in the nation. Burma, also known as Myanmar, is one of the countries added to the controversial list of countries banned for entry to the US by the State Department on June 16.
