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Global Revolution Church Protects Rifqa Bary from Honor Killing
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by Tina Kells | August 21, 2009 at 03:35 pm
1372 views | 39 Recommendations | 20 comments
Rifqa Bary, 17, and the Global Revolution Church in Florida are at the center of a controversial story of religious freedom verses parental rights. Rifqa Bary is a young Ohio girl, originally from Sri Lanka, who was raised Muslim but converted to Christianity after living in the US with her family. After her parents discovered her change of faith Rifqa Bary fled to the Global Revolution Church and pastor Blake Lorenz to seek protection.
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Father threatens 17 year old after she converted from Islam to Christianity
sourced by Tina Kells
When Rifqa Bary's father learned that she had converted from Islam to Christianity, even going so far as to be baptized in secret, he threatened to restore the honor of the family by killing her. An honor killing is committed when a family member, usually a woman, has behaved in a way that has shamed the family according to certain cultural norms.
The Global Revolution Church is sheltering Rifqa Bary and is defending her right to stay with them in a Florida court. The court must rule on whether Rifqa should be returned to her parents or whether she is free to stay in Florida under the protection of the church. The law is not on Rifqa Bary's side.
Rafiqa Bary's family now lives in Ohio and the US law is clear, she must be returned to her parents' care. The only way to keep Rafiqa from her parents is if the state of Ohio feels she is in danger in their care. The Global Revolution Church has vowed to protect Rafiqa to the best of its abilities and has refused to send her home with the threat of an honor killing over her head.
The story of Rifqa Bary is full of interesting and strange details. Rifqa's family moved to the United States form Sri Lanka in part to get Rafqi medical care for an eye condition. Eventually Rifqa converted to Christianity and even was baptized. Rifqa claims she kept her Christian conversion a secret and even went as far as to sneak out of her house to attend prayer meetings. When Rifqa's parents did discover her conversion she claims her father threatened her with an honor killing. Rifqa then went to the pastors of the Global Revolution Church whom she met on a Facebook prayer meeting. Things get even more interesting as the pastors, Beverly and Blake Lorenz, failed to report Rifqa's stay with them and Rifqa's whereabouts were only found after Ohio police tracked them down through phone records. Now Rifqa is attempting to avoid being sent back to her parents through a Florida court.
Needless to say I do not envy the judge in this case. His position is much the same as that of the judge in the Elian Gonzalez case in that the popular decision would be to allow Rafqi to stay in Florida but the law actually favors the parents in this case and if the judge enforces such laws the most likely effect will be Rifqa being sent back to Ohio. Once in Ohio Rifqa would be returned to her parents unless Ohio officials believed her well-being was legitimately threatened by her parents.
The Global Revolution Church is located in Orlando Florida and pastored by Blake Lorenz who is at the center of a controversy over a runaway teenager who converted from Islam to Christianity. Rifqa Bary ran away from home, and sought refuge with the Lorenz family who helped convert her to Christianity.
"Blake Lorenz met Jesus Christ in a dramatic, life changing encounter in January of 1980. Through Jesus' love and forgiveness, Blake fell in love with Jesus and received his call to tell the world about Jesus and to lead people world-wide to follow Jesus Christ with all of their heart. Blake has been based in Orlando in ministry since 1984 after he graduated from Asbury Seminary.
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Tina Kells
Vancouver, Canada
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Rhonda J Mangus
North Tonawanda, New York, United States
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at 16:38 on August 21st, 2009
I was hoping someone would do this story. Good. The video is excellent. I heard reports on Fox, believe it or not, where the "journalist" said that there were no reports of actual threats.
That video sounds like a "report of an actual threat". Those emotions, those feelings, are too real. This is a young woman of true independent spirit.
I had a young, Egyptian man posting at my forum who had converted to Christianity from Islam. Dead for sure if his family found out.
at 20:00 on September 3rd, 2009
The parents vociferously deny making such threats against the girl and their history as reported of tolerance appears to bear that out. None of us know, the court will decide in good faith. As in many families, Christian, or Muslim or otherwise parents may be upset at the conversion of a child to an alien religion, this is not an abnormal thing, teenagers will also rebel, this is also not an abnormal thing, sometimes a religious or political figure may have a agenda as was true in the Elian Gonzalez case and may be the case here.A minor generally belongs with his or her family unless there is a compelling case for him or her not to be such as her safety. The court can determine this and take appropriate measures. What this should not be is a political issue, or one of the politics of religion.
at 04:35 on August 22nd, 2009
Ignorant American hicks and their irrational Islamophobia.
at 05:03 on August 22nd, 2009
Hmm..
This phobia is mutual. Radical islamists too are so scared of certain ideas like eqality of sex, freedom of expression, intolerance towards different ideas and other religions. They are too much vocal also, producing much higher decibels.
We all need two hands to make that clap.
at 19:33 on August 22nd, 2009
I hope the judge rules in Rifqa Bary's favor. If he dosen't, I bet he hypothetically will have blood on his hands. From what I have heard, Islam is supposed to be a religion of peace, then I hear that Muslims are supposed to kill the infidels(anyone who isn't a Muslim). I am not going to get into a debate between Christianity and Islam, but, Judge, please do the right thing to protect this young lady in her new Christian faith.
at 19:39 on August 22nd, 2009
I think it is a shame this girl has decided to deny a messanger of God, ie Mohammed, she has free will though.
It says in the Quran to cut off and abandon one who has abandoned Islam, not to kill them. Arguably this applys to drug dealers and pimps who are not treated as harshly by their communitys as they should be.
The website of this church describes the girl as having discovered christ. She knew the true Jesus before.
Israel is My son, even My first born. (Exodus 4:22)
Also I will make him (David) Myfirst born, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalms 89:27)
He (Solomon) shall be My son, and I will be his Father. (1. Chron 22:10)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. (Matt. 5:9)
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. (John 3:1)
How many sons has God had ? Zero, or loads?
at 10:17 on August 23rd, 2009
Sputnic, if you adopt a child, do you not call that child your "son"?? THAT is what is meant by God calling all those people "sons"....His one and only "begotten" (biological) son IS Jesus Christ, through the immaculate conception. ALL of us are God's children, through His adopting us through our belief and faith in Jesus, including you. You have the choice to accept that or reject it.....it's up to you. If you sincerely accept, in your heart, Jesus as the Son of God and put your faith and trust in Him, you ARE a son of God; if you don't, you're not. It's as simple as that.
at 11:31 on August 23rd, 2009
If this is true it is very sad but I can't help shaking the feeling that something is not quite right with this story. Something does not add up. But, maybe I don't want to think that they are so above the law that they can do honor killings in the USA.
at 14:03 on August 24th, 2009
So, then, snooky, why does Jesus refer to himself as the son of man 81 times in the Bible?
No honour in killing.
at 07:39 on October 1st, 2009
Sputnic,Jesus Christ referred to himself as the Son of Man because he was born of the Holy Spirit (being the Son of God) and of a human woman (Son of Man). It is a reference to Jesus' humanity, and it is not a denial of His deity. By becoming a man, Jesus did not cease being God. The incarnation of Christ did not involve the subtraction of deity, but the addition of humanity. Jesus clearly claimed to be God on many occasions Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} (Matthew 16:16,17; John 8:58; 10:30). But in addition to being divine, He was also human (see Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Philippians 2:6-8 ). He had two natures (divine and human) conjoined in one person.
at 23:25 on August 24th, 2009
@Michael Bonham " From what I have heard, Islam is supposed to be a religion of peace, then I hear that Muslims are supposed to kill the infidels(anyone who isn't a Muslim). "speak what you know confirmly or which have some prove. @Snooky , do you mean god possess simillar qualities as human being?
at 09:33 on August 25th, 2009
Over the last year or so I have read several, completely unrelated books that I thought would just be an interesting read each involving some Islamic aspect. As I finished the last book I started to get a chill down my spine about Islamic laws and how the men carry them out against women ....I have 2 beautiful girls, both teenagers, & I thought I would never be the kind of mother that told them to never marry a such and such, but I have already warned them both NEVER to marry a muslim. It is too dangerous, obsure and ancient and very oppressive to women. Almost like the mafia, once your in you can't get out. In fact, remember the man that CUT HIS WIFE'S HEAD OFF last year and it happened in NYC! I'm not sure but we never heard any more about it and I think the NY Giants Football player Plaxico Burress received more jail time for shooting himself in the leg than this idiot did for cutting his wife's head off with a knife. Women should be very concerned when getting into these situations.
at 08:36 on August 31st, 2009
Dugard was allegedly held captive for 18 years by a christen sex offender who fathered the girls. A father allegedly threw his four-year-old daughter off a bridge in front of the girl's two young brothers and scores of motorists during rush hour in Melbourne today. Witnesses said Arthur Phillip Freeman a christen man, 35, suddenly stopped his family car – which also had his two young sons inside – and, with young Darcey Iris in his arms, walked to the side of the West Gate Bridge, just after 9 a.m. He then allegedly dropped his young daughter over the railing and into the water, 190 feet below.
at 14:17 on August 25th, 2009
Plenty of sickos kill their wives, plenty of wives kill their husbands too. Islam is a strict religion for men as well as women. And that thing about killing the infidel is rubbish, that verse refers to killing the pagans of the time of mohammed, the pagans that were trying to kill the early muslims, it was a matter of self defence just like moses killing in self defence
at 07:45 on October 1st, 2009
while you may be right, and the verse referring to infidels was ment for a time long gone, people still take it to heart today. There are people in the middle east and in Africa who are waging jihads in the name of Allah to rid the world of infidels. My friend and her family was killed by one such war in Pakistan. I can tell you about many people (168 to be exact) that I and my family know that were killed by radical muslims in Allah's name because they were "infidels", in just this past year alone. These are people that I personally know about. It is no longer a matter of self defense. It is now out right murder. It is also what Rafiqa is now facing. If she is still alive.
at 22:35 on September 1st, 2009
I'm afraid I have to agree with most of you altogether. Extremists exist in all religions and their respective underlining actual faiths, where applicable. Extremists are not always the wrong ones. In fact, they usually aren't. The ones who are problems are the psychopaths (actual definition or general layman interpretation both apply frequently) and the brainwashed and/or lonely, hurting followers who imprint upon them for a sense of purpose, resolve and belonging. It all usually comes down to filling your life and your purpose with something OTHER than god, be it the shield of religion us fallible humans have constructed as a shield to protect ourselves from the harsh unarguable simplicity of faith and truth, to the exercise of power to caress the mind of the depraved. My heart goes out to all those oppressed in the name of "religion", which may be a word used in translations of collections of texts like the koran and the bible, but it is a device invented by humans to soften the sharp edge of the truth. I has been time to wake up for 1,900 years or so, therefore I doubt many would start listening to a message like this now... I can't possibly be the first to voice it. (Sidenote, the quote from Ex4:22 is used out of context. Anyone who cares might as well do the research there, but don't let that detract from my main message.) I must say I am happy that the comments in here are staying away from the normal online practice of defamation and meandering of the subject of the article. I thank you all for making my world a little less frustrating.
at 09:36 on September 3rd, 2009
The concept of Honor Killing is a cultural thing. It's not a religious thing. True it is spoken of in Islam and in the four main schools of Islmic thought but that doesn't mean someone can just shoot a person or stab a person in the name of religion. To know the meaning behind the words in the quran or bible it should be done by scholars who know the history and the story behind the theory or instruction. Just because there were honor killings before by other fathers it does not mean Mohomad is going to do the same thing to his daughter. The threat she fear of was planted into her brain by someone outside. People should check out the groups "Global Revolution Church" and "Xenoid Christian Fellowship". They claim that even the normal christian isn't good enough unless he comes and follow them. What sort of christianity is that? Do we need diversions in christianity?
at 09:38 on September 3rd, 2009
For more accurate information see
at 05:19 on October 16th, 2009
isnt this called child kidnapping since Rifka was and still is under 18? those in deffense of the global revolution churhes actions what will they do if an islamic religious group did the same to their christian daughter? please post
at 05:34 on October 28th, 2009
Rifqa Bary was not kidnapped. She fled to the Pastor and his wife voluntarily, in fear of her life. She chose Florida, because it was the farthest she could flee from her father and the community, both of which she knows wants her dead. Her father and community want her dead in order to restore honor to her family.Rifqa's father is lying. It is called al-Taquiyya, which is lying for the sake of Islam, or lying to protect Islam. It is an acceptable and often-used Islamic practice.Jan. 1, 2008, Amina and Sarah Said, 17 and 18 years old, were killed by their Muslim dad in an honor killing because they were dating non-Muslim boys. They had stained the honor of their family by becoming too "Westernized," so therefore their dad killed them in order to bring back honor to the family. This happened in the United States, in Texas. Their father is wanted by the FBI, but he has not been found, and he likely fled back to his home in Egypt.Rifqa Bary's "crime" is far worse than what Amina and Sarah Said did, however, In countries under Shar'ia law, it is a capital crime, punishable by death, for a Muslim to convert to any other religion.From the Qur'an:(An-Nisa 4:89)They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Auliyâ' (protectors or friends) from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allâh (to Muhammad SAW). But if they turn back (from Islâm), take (hold) of them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Auliyâ' (protectors or friends) nor helpers from them.From the Hadiths:Sahih Bukhari Book 52:260Narrated Ikrima: Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn 'Abbas, who said, "Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, 'Don't punish (anybody) with Allah's Punishment.' No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.' "