Jentezen Franklin Summons Christian Leaders, Church to ‘Family Meeting’

Pastor Jentezen Franklin will summon national Christian leaders, public servants and the church community to a “family meeting” on the moral imperative to fight for the right to life while never forsaking the church’s mission to provide grace to all. The “Life is Beautiful” meeting will take place on April 13 at 10 a.m. at Free Chapel’s Gainesville, Georgia, campus.

The “Life is Beautiful” meeting comes in response to an increasing national focus on issues related to abortion in America. This includes the startling failure of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in Congress, and waves of state legislation ranging from Georgia’s “heartbeat bill” that bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected to New York State’s decision to authorize abortion providers to end the lives of children who survive a failed abortion.

Franklin said:

There’s a disturbing trend happening across the country where unborn children are increasingly treated like a burden to bear, not a constitutionally protected life to be celebrated, and all of this at a time in America where more Americans than ever are pro-life. Many of the nation’s so-called family planning clinics have become, almost exclusively, storefront abortion providers which provide no serious alternative to those who come to their clinics and especially for those who aren’t sure abortion is the right choice for them to begin with. Ending the life of the unborn has become too easy, too quick, and all the way to the point of birth in the United States. I never imagined in America we would be speaking up for the ‘life of the born, not just the unborn.’

For all of these reasons, I’m calling for a family meeting—for Christians from every corner of the country, from every demographic and every political party to take a stand (and to be clear: including pro-life Democrats) to let it be known that we believe each and every life is precious in the eyes of our Creator. This isn’t a political issue. This is a human rights imperative that requires a moral response from our nation’s pastors and leaders whether or not they are engaged in partisan politics.

The church should be at the heart of this issue for other reasons as well because our call is to compassionately provide support for every person in every life situation, whether or not they expected to be where they are. This is why we are also calling our nation’s churches to do more than ever to support every mother carrying a child, to make sure abortion alternatives are abundantly available in their communities, and to provide safe and entirely non-judgmental spaces to support post-abortive mothers whatever their faith and whatever their politics.

Among the leaders, politicians and faith leaders expected to attend live or via livestream, “Life is Beautiful” will also feature special guest and abortion survivor, Gianna Jessen, who will share her inspirational, true story. The morning will conclude with a ceremony where butterflies will be symbolically released in solidarity with the unborn and their mothers.