GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Pastor Jentezen Franklin, senior pastor of Free Chapel in Gainesville, GA, releases the following statement in response to President Trump’s State of the Union address:

“Watching the State of the Union address Tuesday night, I was encouraged to hear the president suggest we put our differences aside, and “summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve.” It was also encouraging to hear a political leader affirm that faith and family represent the foundation of this country, not government and bureaucracy. 

On matters of policy, I stress the importance of the president’s call to pass a permanent solution for ‘Dreamers’ and I urge our congressional leaders to make good on their promise as well in the immediate future. Coupled with that, it is paramount that our leaders improve our legal immigration system and secure our borders to help protect our cities from violent gangs and drug dealers.

I was equally pleased to hear the president address our urgent need to tackle prison reform. The God I serve is a god of second chances. So we must find a compassionate and responsible solution to help inmates get a second chance at life.

I also applaud the president’s unwavering commitment to Israel and his courage to acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the plan to relocate America’s embassy there. This is the just and right decision, and it’s long overdue.

There is important work still to be done, most notably in the area of racial reconciliation. If we are to indeed be unified, we must be at peace with our neighbors, and respect each other, regardless of one’s background or skin color. I remain hopeful that we can accomplish this. It’s not only the responsibility of our leaders to foster this change, it is each of our duties as citizens – each and every one of us created in the image of God.” 

Pastor Jentezen Franklin is the Senior Pastor of Free Chapel, a multi campus church. Each week his television program Kingdom Connection is broadcast on major networks all over the world. Franklin is a New York Times best-selling author and winner of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Mantle of Destiny Award for his efforts on racial reconciliation. He has written eight books including the groundbreaking Fasting and Right People-Right Place-Right Plan. His latest book, Love Like You’ve Never Been Hurt, is set to release in March.

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