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.”
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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.
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