Jentezen Franklin Recounts First-Hand Visit With Migrant Children

Joining together with Pastor Jack Graham, Johnnie Moore and other evangelical leaders, Pastor Jentezen Franklin traveled to the Youth for Tomorrow center in Bristow, Virginia, on Friday to gain an in-depth perspective on the situations migrant children are facing and the care they are receiving here in the U.S. During the visit, Pastor Franklin had the opportunity to serve lunch and personally help distribute clothing and school supplies to the children.

“Seeing for myself the great care and protection that Youth for Tomorrow provides for migrant children was a breath of fresh air,” said Pastor Franklin. “I’ve heard time and again how perilous it is for young people to be making the journey to the U.S. Escaping the hands of smugglers and evading the all-too-common fate of human trafficking is a traumatic experience. What these children have endured until now is horrific, and I pray every American looks upon each of these precious children with compassion and finds a way to lend a helping hand.”

Most of the youth at the facility are actually unaccompanied minors from Central America who have been taken on a trip over the U.S. and Mexico border against their will by cartels and “coyotes.” Upon being rescued from this dangerous situation, they are each assigned a caseworker at Youth for Tomorrow. They are seen by a medical professional and also given a psychological evaluation. Pastor Franklin is encouraging churches and youth centers around the country like Youth for Tomorrow to continue to find a way to care for these innocent young people.

Franklin went on to emphasize the urgent need for immigration reform to help prevent these situations saying, “I continue to plead with Congress to find a permanent solution to secure our border. Doing so will dramatically reduce the risk of cartels taking advantage of children and more falling victim to violent gangs, sexual abuse and human trafficking. If the men and women at our nation’s capital are actually serious about helping desperate families and innocent children, they will do the right thing and restore law and order at our southern border.”