Rifqa is Going To Ohio: There Is Still Room For Optimism, And The Continued Need Of Your Help And Prayers!

14 October 2009:    Judge Daniel Dawson of the Orange County Circuit, in Orlando, Florida, ruled yesterday (13 October 2009), that Rifqa Bary, the 17 year old Christian girl from Ohio, will be transferred back to her home state and put into foster care there, until her custody issues are decided. Although many would have preferred to keep this case in Florida, there is still tremendous room for optimism here.

Members of One Nation Under God U.S.A. did attend the trial, along with other God-fearing, concerned people (many carrying their Bibles); some from as far away as Kentucky.

Bailiffs only allowed 10 visitors into the main courtroom with Rifqa. Everyone else was asked to file into an overflow courtroom to watch the proceedings on color T.V. monitors. We had all come, as we had in Pensacola, expecting to stand in front of the courthouse.
 
It was a pleasant surprise, when we discovered we could observe the court from the comfort of air conditioned benches inside!
Judge Dawson ruled that an Ohio court had legal jurisdiction over the case, but impressed many of us in attendance by refusing to relinquish the State of Florida's emergency jurisdiction over Rifqa, until the immigration status of Rifqa and her family could be determined.
 
Judge Dawson, who had twice previously ordered Rifqa's parents to provide the court with the family's immigration documents; again asked for the family to comply. He told Rifqa's parents, listening remotely from Ohio, that it was not a request, but a court order; and reminded them they could be held in "contempt of court" for violating his order, regardless of what happened to Rifqa.
Rifqa's Guardian Ad Litem, Krista Bartholomew, was deeply concerned that Rifqa could be forced to return to Sri Lanka, and told the judge, "As it appears right now, there is a high chance that this child is not legally in this country and has not legally been in this country for quite an extensive time frame."
 
Rifqa's attorney, John Stemberger, told the judge,
"The reason that Rifqa left (Ohio) is, because her parents threatened to send her back to Sri Lanka and this is the issue that nobody wants to talk about... but apostate killing is a very real thing."
 
This illumination of the real dangers Rifqa was, and still is facing, brought a quick reaction from the attorney representing Rifqa's parents: "Objection judge! At this point we are going into the anti-Muslim bias that's been basically dragging this through the last three months already."
 
Judge Dawson noted the objection, and allowed Mr. Stemberger to finish expounding on the dangers that do exist for Rifqa.
 
"It's a very real thing. If she's sent back to Sri Lanka, it's probably the place she's most at risk of being killed  or harmed or put in an insane asylum. And so this immigration issue is very, very, critical."
 
Judge Dawson agreed with Rifqa's attorney and said he also had grave concerns as to why the Bary family in Ohio had not provided the court with passports, immigration documents, visas and other information, when they had been ordered to do so months ago.
The Judge gave the parents another 10 days to comply with the court's order before they would be held in contempt.
Judge Dawson also expressed concern, that in addition to his not wanting Rifqa's immigration status to cause her potential harm, he was deeply committed to having Rifqa continue with her Florida education, until such point that Rifqa could receive proper and transferable credit for her studies back to the Ohio schools.
 
Rifqa sat alert, with a pleasant smile frequently appearing on her face during the proceedings. She read from her Bible, and appeared to be confident in the fact that God would continue to watch over her, wherever she is sent.
 
"And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee;   He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither will He forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
 

It was our true honor to give such a brave young lady one of our One Nation Under God T-shirts.
 

Rifqa, we respect you, and the stand you have made in Jesus Christ more than you can know. Thank you for encouraging so many others who must also walk in your path!
 
We ask that you please continue to PRAY daily for Rifqa, that her faith will not require her physical life, and that you also PRAY for those good people who she is now surrounded by.
"Pray for me that I would not deny Jesus Christ in the face of death." - Rifqa Bary, just before fleeing Ohio
 
Please join us in taking this matter confidently to our Heavenly Father:
We ask that you PRAY that Judge Dawson, Attorney / Guardian Ad Litem, Krista Bartholomew, Attorney John Stemberger, and all those others who will soon be involved in the State of Ohio, in Rifqa's future welfare, will be granted wisdom to make the best decisions for Rifqa's sake.
 
Please PRAY for Pastors Blake and Beverly Lorenz, of the Global Revolution Church in Orlando. They are continuing to undergo persecution and trials from those who seek to do them harm, unbelievably both from within the body of Christ and from without. The Lorenzes met Rifqa through a prayer group on Facebook, and despite Rifqa being a total stranger to them; the Lorenzes agreed to house Rifqa, and even contacted the authorities on Rifqa's behalf, - when they were told by Rifqa, that she feared her family would hurt her, kill her, or send her back to Sri Lanka for even worse treatment. The Lorenzes are responsible for having Rifqa put into protective State custody, and just may have saved her life! During a previous court appearance in Florida, attended by Mr. Bary; Rifqa became hysterical, and immediately bolted for the protective presence of Beverly Lorenze, at the mere sight of her father.
 
PRAY that if it is God's will, Rifqa will be issued a "green card", once she gets to Ohio, so that she will be permitted to stay in the U.S. permanently; and prevent her deportation back to Sri Lanka, despite her parent's wishes.
 
Please PRAY that God will provide a great Christian foster home and family for Rifqa, in the State of Ohio, until her custody issue is decided.
 
PRAY for Rifqa's parents and family; members of the Noor Islamic Center, a Columbus mosque, Imam Hatim Hamidullah and other members who attend the Islamic Society of Central Florida, and all the other Muslims around the world who have heard about, or had some involvement in Rifqa Bary's situation... that they, as well as all of us, will come to really know just how much God truly loves ALL of His children, ...and that we together can come closer to the point in human history - when every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that only Jesus Christ is our true Lord and Savior.
 
A Special Thank you to the thousands of you out there who have told us you are praying for Rifqa! Let's keep it up!
God is doing a GREAT job of bringing up the next great generation of God-fearing disciples in this country!
 
For God and My Country,
 
Bob Brown
One Nation Under God U.S.A.
www.onug.us
 

"America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of the Holy Scriptures."                - President Woodrow Wilson
 

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