Tim Tebow Urges Lawmakers to Fight Child Sexual Abuse in America
By Movieguide® Contributor
Tim Tebow testified before Congress about why lawmakers need to fund a rescue team to combat child sexual abuse within our country.
Earlier this week, the former NFL star appeared before a House subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, urging lawmakers to fund a rescue team to rescue the thousands of children currently trapped in a sexual abuse situation.
“I’m fortunate and humbled to be the chairman and the founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, and we exist to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need,” Tebow began his remarks. “To sum it up, we strive to fight for people that can’t fight for themselves. Why we’re here today is to talk about the MVP…the most vulnerable people. That’s why we’re here today.”
“A year and a half ago, [Camille Cooper] joined our team, and I asked Camille, I said, ‘Camille, what breaks your heart the most?’ And she wrote down the number 20,000,’” Tebow recalled. “And I said, ‘What does that mean?’ And she said, ‘It’s a problem,’ I said, ‘What problem is that?’ It’s the 20,000 boys and girls that have been abused and raped, and their images and videos have been captured, but nobody has been able to identify them. They’re unknown. Until someone knows them, how could somebody rescue them?”
That statistic broke Tebow’s heart and prompted him to do something about it. He organized a conference where the best and brightest from organizations across the world came together to rescue these victims.
“So many people… came to the table with really two goals,” Tebow said. “The first one: how many boys and girls are unknown, are unidentified? And it wasn’t 20,000. It was over 50,000. And the second goal was how do we protect them? And that’s where Operation Renewed Hope was born.”
The operation took place over 15 days, and those on the team identified 316 boys and girls.
“It was an incredible operation,” Tebow said, “but that’s a tiny dent…It was amazing work, but it was so small in comparison, and so that’s why we’re here today is: to be able to ask you to say yes to a bill that we’re going to present. And this bill really has one goal: to build a rescue team.”
“There’s so many frontline warriors and heroes, but there’s just not enough. And we need to support them, and we need more of them to get these 50,000 boys and girls,” he continued. “So this bill is strictly to create a rescue team that has the funding, the support, the training, the technology, so that they can get to these 50,000.”
While this disturbing number represents a worldwide problem, operation Renewed Hope uncovered just how prevalent child sexual abuse is in America.
“When operation Renewed Hope identified that 316, out of all those that were rescued, more than half of them were right here in the U.S. And when you extrapolate those numbers, that means that there are thousands of boys and girls that are starving for hope in our backyard, And we have the chance to bring hope to those that are starving for it if we’re willing,” Tebow said.
“Every single one of those boys and girls is worth us answering the call and doing everything we can so that they can experience the faith, hope and love that they deserve. Not the bondage and torture that they’re in right now,” he continued. “I believe if we build that rescue team, we will have a chance of getting to every one of those boys and girls.”
“You know, I’ve had the privilege of playing for a lot of sports teams in my life, and in almost all of them, we’ve had incredible resources to give us a better chance at winning a game, and it’s something that ultimately, as much as we care about it, doesn’t matter,” Tebow added. “Why would we not give as much, if not more resources to the frontline heroes that are going after the most vulnerable boys and girls on the planet?”
Following his remarks, Tebow posted on X, “Last night, I got a message from a girl who has been rescued and she said, ‘thank you so much for speaking up for us’…and it was humbling to get that.”
“Identifying and rescuing these children is so much more than policy. Policy is important, but our focus has to stay on people. They deserve our best because God set the example and gave His very best, His son Jesus,” he added in another X post.
Tim Tebow and his foundation are raising money to build the TTF Protection Center in Thailand as a place to protect up to forty girls rescued from human trafficking.
In a recent Instagram video, Tebow shared, “A few years ago, we deepened our fight in this terrible evil in the world of human trafficking and child exploitation. And in the last 365 days, we’re so excited to share with you that we have grown so much and been part of rescuing thousands and building safe homes in so many different countries…”
Tebow launched this newest campaign with RAPHA International, an organization “committed to offering hope and healing to survivors of child slavery and sexual exploitation.”
This home will specifically “provide elevated security for at-risk survivors while their traffickers face prosecution.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
