Authorities in Iowa have eliminated 88 kids from a Bible examine summer time camp as a part of a wide-ranging human trafficking investigation, stories the New York Publish.The operation occurred over the weekend on the Shekinah Glory Camp, run by the Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation in Columbus Junction.Deputies from the Louisa County Sheriff’s Workplace, working with the Iowa Division of Well being and Human Companies, the Iowa Division of Legal Investigation, and Columbus Junction Police, executed a number of search warrants. The kids have been taken to the close by Wapello Methodist Church, the place they met with little one safety officers, and have been then positioned in momentary foster care.The Iowa Division of Well being and Human Companies stated the kids will stay in state custody till they are often safely reunited with mother and father or guardians. The camp had been scheduled to run from June 8 to 29 and drew members from throughout the USA.The household working the camp has denied all wrongdoing. Victor Bawi, whose mother and father based the ministry in 2018, stated the group helps each kids and adults battling dependancy to medication, alcohol, or nicotine. “What we attempt to do is, we deal with adults and kids who’re below the affect of medicine, alcohol, nicotine,” Bawi informed native outlet WQAD8. “The adults and kids, we deal with them, we offer meals for them. The kids we separate from the adults. We separate the girls and boys. We take care of them, we offer for them.”Bawi stated a teen from Texas referred to as authorities as a result of he didn’t need to be on the camp. “We by no means harmed that little one. We liked him,” he stated. “We purchased him like $400 sneakers, clothes, all the pieces.”He additionally stated the camp includes not simply Bible examine, however actions like volleyball and soccer. One other location in Fredonia, the place the ministry reportedly helps folks with housing, was additionally searched by deputies.The church is led by two pastors initially from Burma, now Myanmar, and belongs to the Chin ethnic minority. Many Burmese refugees in Iowa work at an area Tyson Meals plant, which slaughters about 2% of the nation’s hogs every year.
