There is an insidious pandemic with potential generational impact that has seemingly gone undetected, and it is not COVID-19, it is the absence of the Father. In the US there are an estimated 20 million children living in a home without the physical presence of a father. Millions more have dads who are physically present, but emotionally absent. If it were classified as a disease, fatherlessness would be an epidemic worthy of attention as a national emergency. In short, fatherlessness is associated with almost every societal ill facing our country’s children and it creates vulnerabilities that are easily exploited.
The void left unmanned by fatherlessness is easily filled by the crime of trafficking in persons. Traffickers seek out children, whose basic needs are unmet and they prey upon these to steal innocence. The moral character and behavioral pitfalls created by the experience of fatherlessness fuel the demand for the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world.
“Make this fight your fight, because this is a battle that we all share,” said Roger Dehart, Human Trafficking Victim Advocate
Fatherlessness also results in the absence of a relationship with our heavenly Father, due primarily to projection. This occurs through the transference of a negative perception of father onto the image of God. Left wounded and seeking, the fatherless child is ill equipped to navigate the perils of the world. But God, He raises up His followers, to foster faith and to mentor children and young adults, to evolve and realign their perceptions, maturity, and giftings into a view of God as the perfect Father they had lacked. With identity in Christ, a core connection with the Father is unshakeable.
“With the Love of God in men and their courage to step-up and mentor the fatherless, we can provide the guidance, acceptance, love, and support that is desperately needed to help boys become men,” said Hamish Reed, Guardian of Hope.
In 2020, Elite Foundation a 501(c)3 Nongovernmental Nonprofit organization sought to identify and honor a community leader, who had championed the cause to eradicate human exploitation by significantly impacting the lives of children most vulnerable. Mr. Dennis Dee Jordan was the inaugural recipient of the Helping Hands Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award was bestowed in recognition of Mr. Jordan’s many community contributions to alleviate human suffering and improving the quality of life of children in crisis in South Florida and around the world. In honor of his legacy humanitarianism and mentorship, the award has since been named the Dennis Dee Jordan Helping Hands Humanitarian Award.
Elite Foundation is currently receiving nominations through till March 14, 2021 for this prestigious award. Nomination details can be found at https://bit.ly/Guardiansofhope and the award will be presented at the Guardians of Hope – Gladiator Challenge 2021 event on April 10, 2021.
“When I think of the importance of mentoring relationships, I think of an old confident man named Paul of Tarsus and a sickly timid young man named Timothy who lived in the 1st century AD. They lived in perilous times and Timothy needed a living example of courage. The dangers today may be different, but as a leader of a collegiate mentoring program, I see firsthand the vulnerabilities and wounds of young people. Like Timothy, they need courageous mentors that exemplify wholeness, strength, and integrity. When they find the right mentor(s), they in turn serve as an example for the next generation,” said Dr. Lulrick Balzora, Executive Advisory Board Member, Elite Foundation.
For every problem there is a solution in Christ. We know that Traffickers prey on our children’s vulnerabilities created by the absence of the Father, and that once grown the human pitfalls of man fuels the demand for trafficking. Therefore, we need to fight together to strengthen our families by actively caring for one another. Consider gaining awareness of the crime of trafficking to develop a trauma-informed mentoring relationship with the youth in our communities. We need to emulate and foster healthy social-emotional development, resilience skills, and healthy relationships, to prevent exploitation and trafficking of our kids and vulnerable adults.
It is estimated that 1.5 million children are being trafficked within our US borders annually (FBI, 2019).
It ends with us!
Visit the Elite Foundation at elitefundsfreedom.org/
Read more at: goodnewsfl.org/elite-foundation-launches-1day2freedom/
Comments