Special to the AmNews
Pastor Donovan Larkins launched the Protecting Innocence Campaign to prevent sexual victimization in children. He is the founder and president of Spirit of Life Christian Center, Shekinah Ranch and the Shekinah Ranch Foundation. Through work with safety awareness boot camps, a social network campaign and even discussions with the NFL, Larkins is driven to increase prevention of sexual abuse. Larkins, who previously escaped abduction, finds it immensely important for the youth and public to be aware of victimization.
Larkins explained, “We are not therapists. We are ministers. As we further the national campaign, we are dialoguing with some Christian counselors. Some kids may be very responsive to biblical ministry, while others need some additional assistance. We are looking at this campaign long term and seeing what aspects of their person might need help.
“We are also working with a nutritionist because young people, even as they excel into their adult years, they have self-esteem issues as a result of being victimized and get into the area of obesity. We are trying to develop a campaign that can address this from every aspect and also get people help.”
Larkins believes that the NFL can do remarkable things to bring awareness to sex trafficking. The Super Bowl serves as the perfect distraction for predators. Larkins wants the NFL to exhibit awareness marquees and display posters to draw attention to the illicit acts.
“The NFL does so much good work in helping young people establish goals and so forth. We don’t believe that the NFL has a direct involvement with the sex trade, but it [the Super Bowl] is an opportunity for sex traffickers to blend in. That is what a predator does, he blends in.
“It’s going to take policing. I think people in the NFL need to go through some awareness training themselves. Then, of course, if there is an awareness atmosphere there of sex traffickers and people like that, they are more prone to go somewhere else. A sexual predator is like a predator in the wild. They like to operate undercover. The more you can expose and keep out in the open, the less activity you will have.”
The Protecting Innocence Campaign has the ability to help a tremendous number of people. Larkins believes that awareness is the key to prevention. The Protecting Innocence Campaign is building awareness while helping youth nationwide.
Larkins expresses, “There is a message that we will like to give to people who have not been molested first, and that is, you don’t have to be a victim. You can live a life free of victimization if you are proactive and if you develop a plan and stick to it. “
He concluded by stating, “For those who have been victimized, we want them to know they can be healed and they can live a normal life. It may not be easy, but it can be done. We know people who have recovered. We know people that have been healed, and they are living really normal lives.”
Larkins and his colleagues are available and can be contacted at 937-422-6029. Visit them on Facebook at Protecting Innocence for more information on the campaign.