Sports activities commentator and writer Tim Tebow urged Congress on Wednesday to do extra to rid the world of kid intercourse abuse supplies, telling a Home committee he stands by the “biblical definition of hope” and believes the 2 sides can work collectively for an answer.
The previous Heisman Trophy winner and present ESPN commentator is an outspoken Christian who heads the Tim Tebow Basis, a non-profit group that serves the marginalized and fights little one sexual abuse and exploitation.
⚠️ Viewers Discretion Suggested: Home Judiciary Committee Listening to “Voice for the Deaf” on behalf of Little one Sexual Abuse Victims
Final evening I received a message from a woman who was saved and he or she stated “Thanks a lot for interceding for us”…and it was… pic.twitter.com/HabteqT1tQ
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) March 6, 2024
Tebow made his feedback to the Home Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Authorities Oversight throughout a listening to on little one sexual abuse supplies (CSAM) and the struggle amongst federal, state and worldwide companions to cease it.
Greater than 50,000 kids, Tebow instructed the subcommittee, have been victims of kid sexual abuse supplies however haven’t but been recognized.
“They're unknown,” Tebow stated. “Till somebody is aware of them, how may anybody save them?”
However there was a victory, he famous. Final 12 months, he stated, the Division of Homeland Safety labored with officers in 13 nations and home organizations, together with the Tim Tebow Basis, to make 316 possible little one sexual abuse identifications utilizing applied sciences resembling facial recognition and synthetic intelligence. Greater than half of these had been within the U.S., he stated.
“It was an unimaginable operation,” he stated. “However that's a tiny dent.
Tebow urged Congress to cross a sufferer identification invoice he’s championing that will “assemble a rescue workforce of analysts to seek out and shield kids in sexual exploitation photos on a world scale,” based on his basis's web site.
“There are such a lot of warriors and heroes on the entrance strains, however there simply aren't sufficient of them,” he stated. “…We want extra of them to achieve these 50,000 girls and boys.”
Referring to society's infatuation with sports activities, Tebow stated regulation enforcement wants the identical kind of dedication and assets — if no more — as athletes.
“I've had the privilege of taking part in for lots of sports activities groups in my life,” he stated. “On nearly all of them, we had unimaginable assets that gave us a greater likelihood of successful the sport — one thing that, in the long run, even when it issues to us, it doesn't matter. Why wouldn't we give as many, if no more, assets to the frontline heroes who go after essentially the most weak girls and boys on the planet?
Tebow stated he believes the struggle towards little one intercourse abuse supplies could be received.
“We’ve got an opportunity to carry hope to those that are ravenous for it,” he stated. “… I like to make use of the biblical definition of hope – wanting ahead with confidence, expectation and anticipation. What number of of those girls and boys are unable to look forward with any type of confidence, expectation or anticipation – as a result of they imagine their tomorrow can be as unhealthy as at the moment. However perhaps for all of us – for all of you – perhaps someday they'll be capable to look ahead with actual confidence and expectation and anticipation.”
Picture credit score: ©Getty Pictures / Kent Nishimura / Stringer
Michael Foust has coated the intersection of religion and information for 20 years. His tales have appeared within the Baptist Press, Christianity Right this moment, Christian PoHoly, and Leaf chronicle, and Toronto Star and and Knoxville Information-Sentinel.