FOX 35 recently spoke with the couple who welcomed runaway convert Rifqa Bary to Florida and provided her a place to stay for two weeks.
“There was recently on FaceBook, there was a sign-up, ‘Kill Rifqa Bary’ and 120 supposedly Muslims apparently signed up to do this,” said Pastor Blake Lorenz. “It’s been documented, but FaceBook took it off.”
One of the first points the pastor makes is that he and his wife, Beverly, are clearly determined from the very beginning to prove they not only housed 17-year-old Christian convert for two weeks, but helped her flee her Columbus, Ohio home, all because they truly believe her life is in danger.
“She said, ‘Would you please pray for me that I do not deny Jesus’ name in the face of death?’ Those were her exact words to me,” said Beverly describing the night she received an online message from Bary asking to talk on the phone.
Through a mutual friend, Beverly tells FOX 35, the two had chatted a few times online about Bay’s conversion from Islam to Christianity and her fears. Beverly had told her that she was praying for her.
Beverly messaged the teen her phone number, and said when Bary called her in a panic.
“Now, I’m replaying the conversation over and over in my mind.... and I said ‘Oh my goodness, this girl is asking that she not deny Jesus’ name in case she gets killed.”
Beverly said the next morning, another online friend asked if she and her husband would allow the girl to flee to their home in Orlando.
“I said, ‘We definitely will help her. We’re ministers, that’s what we do, we help people,’” said Blake. “But I also said, ‘I don’t know. I have to talk to a lawyer. She’s a minor. She’s in Ohio.’ So I called a lawyer. He said, ‘if she comes down of own free will...if she’s fleeing for her life.’”
“Would you return someone to a place where they believed they would be killed?” asked Beverly. “We talked to Muslims, ex-Muslims that became Christians, six organizations of persecuted Christians ... everyone told me within 24 to 48 hours this girl would be killed.”
Former FBI agent says FDLE report is flawed
A former agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigations who has evaluated the Florida Deparment of Law Enforcement’s report on Bary says it’s flawed. John Guandolo, who was in the FBI for 12 ½ years says the FDLE may have underestimated the threat she faces. FDLE was tasked with conducting a criminal investigation into whether there were credible threats to safety. Guandolo does believe there’s reason for her to be concerned about her safety.
FDLE has released the following statement to FOX 35 regarding the Bary case:
“FDLE was tasked with conducting a criminal investigation into whether there were credible threats to Ms. Bary’s safety. As a law enforcement agency our duty is to determine facts that establish probable cause of a crime. FDLE conducted a thorough investigation of this situation, and has not developed any information to support any allegations of criminal activity in Florida, where our jurisdiction resides. We have consulted with other relevant law enforcement entities that have different jurisdictional parameters so they may act or investigate as they deem appropriate. FDLE does not have the final authority to have Rifqa Bary remain in Florida or be relocated to another state. That authority is with the court of jurisdiction. Our findings have been presented to the court which will consider the facts of the situation and ultimately make a determination regarding Ms. Bary’s status. FDLE’s investigative findings serve as one of many factors considered by the court in making a determination. If at any time, additional information is provided which would indicate Ms. Bary is in physical danger FDLE will review and investigate further.”