88 Children Removed from Iowa Bible Camp During Investigation of Child Abuse Allegations: Police

Iowa authorities removed 88 children from a church camp after a 15-year-old placed a call pleading for help. 

The incident happened at the Shekinah Glory Camp of the Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation, which is located in Columbus Junction.

The camp was set to run from June 8 to June 29, per their website.

According to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, on Thursday, June 12 and Friday, June 13, the agency, along with the Iowa Department of Health Human Services (Child Protection Services), Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Columbus Junction Police Department arrived at the property with search warrants.

Officials were responding to reports of child abuse and endangerment, the LCSO said in a press release shared to their Facebook account.

During their search, 88 children were taken from the property and brought to the Wapello Methodist Church to meet with multiple child protection workers. 

Many were also reunited with their parents or guardians while others were placed in temporary foster care.

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State Rep. Taylor Collins, who represents Louisa County in the Iowa State House, said all children involved had been reunited with their families, KCCI reported on Monday, June 16.

Victor Bawi, the son of a minister at the church, claimed to KWQC that a 15-year-old from Texas called authorities because he didn’t want to be there.

He denied that any of the kids enrolled at the religious camp were ever harmed. 

“We never harmed that child. We loved him,” Bawi told KGNS. “We bought him like $400 shoes, clothing, everything.”

Bawi said he was disappointed about the situation.

“Of course I’m upset,” he said, adding, “Hopefully this can be resolved soon.”

During the interview, Bawi said the children were interviewed by authorities, but he and his father had not been.

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“If they want to investigate, they can investigate. We’re innocent. They’re not going to find anything,” Bawai told WQAD. “Never abuse anyone. You can ask the children as well, they were having fun. During the scene where they took away the children, they were crying. One of my sisters, they had to give her oxygen. She wasn’t breathing. She was sad.”

The mission statement of the Shekinah Glory Camp of the Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation is to aid in “Assisting 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.”

As of Monday, June 16, the investigation remains ongoing, and no arrests have been made.