Kingdom Ministry Iowa camp investigated, 88 kids removed amid abuse claims
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Authorities in Iowa said they removed dozens of minors from a church camp earlier this month after receiving reports of alleged abuse.
What we know:
The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa said 88 children were removed by Child Protective Services from a church summer camp earlier this month.
Authorities conducted a safety check and issued search warrants at two locations in Columbus Junction, Iowa, on June 12 and 13, after receiving reports regarding child abuse and endangerment.
What we don't know:
The sheriff’s office didn’t say what the abuse claims were, or why the search warrants were served.
Investigators also did not say how old the kids were, or give any additional information about the camp. Though authorities gave the name of the camp - the Kingdom Ministry of Rehab and Recreation and the Shekinah Glory Camp.
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Kingdom Ministry of Rehab and Recreation
Dig deeper:
The Kingdom Ministry of Rehab and Recreation church serves southeast Iowa’s Chin community, which are people from the Chin state in Burma who are mostly Christians.
The Des Moines Register reported that county property records show both properties that are involved in the investigation are owned by David Cung Nuam, who is listed as a minister on the Kingdom Ministry website.
The other side:
President of the Iowa Chin Community, Alex Thawng, told the Des Moines Register that the camp is being misunderstood and that it aims to help struggling families in the Chin community.
What they're saying:
Thawng said some of the minors at the camp were there because their parents, many of whom struggled with alcoholism, were staying at the ministry.
Victor Bawi, whose parents run the ministry, provided more information about the camp to WQAD-TV.
He described the camp as a bible study camp that takes care of adults and children who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol or nicotine. Bawi said the children and adults are separated, and that the kids play and do various activities in their free time.
Bawi denied any allegations of child abuse or endangerment. He and his family believe they know where the report originated from but didn't want to say on camera, WQAD reported.
Big picture view:
No charges have been announced and the investigation remains ongoing.
The kids have been reunited with their parents or guardians, or placed in temporary foster care, the sheriff’s office said.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from a June 16 press release from the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, and from conversations had with people involved with the church and the church member’s family, as reported by various local news outlets. This story was reported from Detroit.