The kid's 17. I see no reason the courts would consider sending a near-adult anywhere she didn't want to be.


Runaway teen who fears family after Christian conversion ordered to DCF custody
Runaway teen converts to Christianity

A 17-year-old girl fled her home in Ohio saying she feared her Muslim parents would harm her for converting to Christianity. She has sought refuge with an Orlando pastor whom she met in an online prayer group.

August 11, 2009

She looked more like a timid child clinging to her protector than an Ohio teen runaway brazen enough to flee her Muslim family out of fear for her life.

The girl, who turned 17 on Monday, is at the center of a custody dispute in Orlando, where she sought help from a family she barely knew -- a pastor and his wife willing to take in a teen who feared her own family's retribution because she converted to Christianity.

The Orlando Sentinel is not identifying the teen because of her age.

The girl appeared before a crowded courtroom full of lawyers and spectators on Monday when an Orange Circuit Court Judge ordered her into Department of Children and Families emergency custody.

It was another in a series of legal decisions in a complicated case: Beyond the girl's religious preferences, the court must solve jurisdictional issues related to child services and courts.

In addition, the teen, a native of Sri Lanka, is not a U.S. citizen.

Her dispute with her family became news several weeks ago when the girl ran away from her home in Columbus, Ohio. She hitch-hiked to a Greyhound station and boarded a bus to Orlando.

Once here, she borrowed a cell phone to call Beverly Lorenz, who with husband Blake Lorenz is a pastor of Global Revolution Church in Orlando. The Lorenzes met the girl through a prayer group on Facebook.

Although the girl was a stranger, Beverly Lorenz told her they would house her. The teen told the Lorenzes she feared her family would hurt her, kill her or send her back to Sri Lanka, Beverly Lorenz said.

"We are doing everything we can to protect her," said Blake Lorenz, who said he has been told his life may be in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, the girl's parents reported to Ohio law enforcement authorities that their daughter was missing. They put together a flier, with her picture on it, asking for tips to her whereabouts.

Beverly Lorenz said they called an abuse hotline, prompting a visit on Friday from the Orlando police. Officers picked up the girl to be placed in state custody.

The Lorenzes appeared in court with the teen Monday, as did her father from Ohio.

When the petite girl walked into court, she immediately bolted for Beverly Lorenz, who held her. The teen then joined Blake Lorenz at a table with lawyers. He comforted her throughout the entire hearing with his arm around her shoulder.

Rosa Gonzalez, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, told Orange Circuit Judge Gail A. Adams the teen is in fear for her life. The sight of her father makes the teen "frantic and hysterical," Gonzalez said.

The teen's father said little during the hearing.

Reached by a Sentinel reporter by phone, the girl's mother said little. "Yes, of course" her daughter would be safe should a judge eventually order her back there, she said.

And her father would not harm his daughter if she wanted to be a Christian, the woman said. She referred other questions to her husband. He did not answer his cell phone after the hearing.

Gonzalez said her organization, which sends pro bono lawyers to work on cases involving Christian issues, is concerned the teen could be returned to her parents.

"We don't take those threats lightly," she said.

Imam Hatim Hamidullah, with the Islamic Society of Central Florida, said the Muslim faith does not call for a father to hurt his child, should she convert to another religion.

"It is not Islam for the father to bring harm upon his blood daughter or any other human being because of anger," he said. "Our position is to exhaust all measures that would bring peace and harmony back to the family," Hamidullah said. "Being angry and threatening the life of someone is not one of those methods."

A DCF spokeswoman said the agency is working with Ohio officials to ensure the teen's "safety and well being."

Attempts to talk to the teen after the hearing were unsuccessful -- her legal guardians ushered her out of the building without letting her speak to a reporter.

On a baby sitter Web site, the girl described herself this way: "One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is cheerleading for my high school and of course tumbling as well. I have a little brother who is about to turn 5 years old. With this, I have had a lot of experience with toddlers and many years of sitting for him."

Blake Lorenz, who retired after serving as pastor at Pine Castle United Methodist Church for several years, said the teen believes her dad will kill her.

"We are doing everything we can to protect her," he said.

Lorenz said he has been told his life may be in jeopardy.

After Monday's hearing, Blake Lorenz said he was relieved the teen is not returning back to her family in Ohio immediately, but he's still cautious. He's "very concerned that the system will let her down."

Poor kid, she goes from one indoctrination to another. Sad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

Recently God gave Blake a new call to share with the church, Israel, and the Gentile nations that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent. After 24 years as a United Methodist pastor and evangelist, Blake retired from the Methodist Church in obedience to Jesus Who told him to separate himself and serve only Him. This led to the founding of Global Revolution Ministries and Global Revolution Church, based in Orlando, Florida.

Blake has written many articles, tracts, and pamphlets on Jesus and His salvation. He also authored "Visits to the Gate of Heaven," and has begun a weekly television ministry to share the word that Jesus is coming and to teach how one can be ready for His return.

Blake travels as an evangelist and missionary throughout the world and preaches God's Word on the Sundays he is in Orlando at Global Revolution Church.

Blake leads Global Revolution Church with his wife Beverly, who is the Pastor. He has three Spirit-filled children, who share in the call of preparing the world for the return of Jesus Christ. He looks forward in sharing with you on how you can fall in love with Jesus Christ and be ready for His return."

I don't see anything sad about her becoming a Christian. she is 17 and she made a choice. I wouldn't be sad if someone turned to wicca or anything else...because that is their choice to make and if it makes them happy...so be it

I didn't expect you would.. did I say she didn't have a the right to do whatever she likes?

and I didn't say you said that. I was expressing my feelings on this

Its ok Yellow. Most of us got your point. Some people try to discredit others by putting words in their mouth or assuming bad motives. All the while acting as if they are better than you or me because of their "progressive" liberal ideals. Liberalism wich is socialism has proved to be nothing more than a set of ideals used to find fault with other peoples way of thinking and living. It has no practical application in society as a whole and is unsustainable to say the least.

Good, so was I.

What does this have to do with the topic?

What I find troubling is that a 17 year old girl ran away from home to meet someone that she met online. As a parent, I would be very upset by that.

The kids fear are substantiated.
Muslims are obligated to do the honor killing thing when Mohhamed has been dishonored.

that would worry me too. I don't know the girl's parents and if she had a reason to be scared....luckily the online person wasn't a psycho

I don't know much about the Muslim religion to even comment on that. but if the girl feared something like that....maybe she should have gone to the authorities or a counselor or something. People online can be scary even for my age

I wonder about the girl's thinking. This bothers me too. She ran away from her home in Ohio and hitch-hiked and took a bus to Florida to meet somebody that she met online. Hitch-hiking and inter-state traveling? That doesn't sound like good decision making to me.

If your kids run away from home it is a terrible problem . Calm and reason are the only ways to solve family problems . Violence in the name of religion or politics is WRONG .

winx...not to me either...but maybe in her mind that was her only option. and at that age....not sure I would have thought any better. of course I know better with age...but I didn't always do what was smart at 17. pfft...I don't always do what's smart now

The folks she ran to took it to the court system. I think that would rule them out as psycos.

I think, if they gave the Father a lie detector test, they would find out if the kid was lying or not.

Just look to all the teens who are hookers, on drugs, alcohol, single mothers.....etc . Some teens became single mothers before having an education, before getting a job and then they start complaining .

Sorry....stupid and annoying double post .

cause socialism is the devil's work!

I wish the father had said something about his daughter coming back as a christian and not his wife answering for him....that kinda bothers me a bit