Next Generation Missionaries: Meet CrossPoint Interns Jordan and Laura Franklin
In May 2024, CrossPoint Church welcomed Missionary Interns Jordan and Laura Franklin. During their time in Huntington Beach (HB), the Franklins are shadowing all the CrossPoint
pastors and directors. In their first three months, rotations led to roles at Vacation Bible School (VBS), Kids’ Camp, junior high and high school youth camps, as well as young adult camp. Moreover, one of their main responsibilities at CrossPoint has been to begin a Spanish ministry. In August, the Franklins held a well-attended interest meeting. In September they launched and continue to help equip leaders who want to serve in the Spanish ministry. “We are so grateful to be where God wants us to be,” says Laura. “We lean on Proverbs 3:5-6,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths."”
Jordan and Laura's Call to Missions Jordan and Laura met at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021, where they discovered a shared focus on Latin American missions. In 2023 they each received their Master of Divinity degrees and were married. “I’d been praying for a spouse to go with me to do missions. Along with sending me to seminary, meeting and marrying Jordan was another confirmation from God, showing me He cares for us and was confirming our calling,” says Laura. Jordan agrees, adding, “I didn’t want to drag someone to the mission field. I wanted to go with someone who has a calling.” Jordan, now 26, is a “missionary kid.” He grew up on the mission fields of Costa Rica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. He is the son of CrossPoint-supported Missionaries Tom and Regina Franklin. His grandparents (John and Karry Barnes) are missionaries in Costa Rica, as were his great-grandparents. Growing up in a missionary family, Jordan recalls how exciting it was to be on the frontlines of seeing lives changed through the proclamation of the gospel. Jordan surrendered to full-time missions when he was 16 years-old at a summer camp, and he has been pursuing what God has called him to do since then. Laura, now 26 as well, grew up in Sugar Land, Texas with parents who deeply love the Lord and their family. Laura’s calling to be a missionary began with a desire to learn Spanish and her participation in multiple short-term mission trips to Latin America with the church she grew up in, Sugar Creek Baptist Church. On one of those mission trips, she surrendered to full-time missions. In early 2024, Jordan and Laura, the next generation of Franklin missionaries, prayed about finding a place to complete a one-year missionary internship, not knowing what the future held. They claim the Lord led them to CrossPoint Church through much prayer and confirmation from Him. “It’s so sweet being here, and seeing God confirm our calling in so many ways,” says Laura. “Everyone has been so loving. We feel needed and encouraged.”
Ambassadors for Christ in Argentina The Franklins have their sights set on being ambassadors for Christ in Argentina by starting local Bible-believing churches. They plan to live there for the rest of their lives. They hope to start churches where there are not many missionaries or churches currently. After their year at CrossPoint, Jordan and Laura will begin raising prayer and financial support through Baptist Bible Fellowship International.
Jordan and Laura explain that Argentina’s literacy rates are higher than in the U.S., but they have an almost a post-Christian society because of spiritual apathy. There are many Catholics by name, attending church twice a year and saying they believe the Bible, but never reading it. “In Ecclesiastes, Solomon concludes that the purpose in life is to glorify God in everything we do. We want to do that by church planting, and training up Argentinian pastors and pastors’ wives - to equip them to continue these churches after we leave,” says Jordan. He adds, “We are walking by faith where He leads us. It’s already been a blessing and an encouragement to see how He is guiding us each step of the way.”
Jordan and Laura's Call to Missions Jordan and Laura met at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021, where they discovered a shared focus on Latin American missions. In 2023 they each received their Master of Divinity degrees and were married. “I’d been praying for a spouse to go with me to do missions. Along with sending me to seminary, meeting and marrying Jordan was another confirmation from God, showing me He cares for us and was confirming our calling,” says Laura. Jordan agrees, adding, “I didn’t want to drag someone to the mission field. I wanted to go with someone who has a calling.” Jordan, now 26, is a “missionary kid.” He grew up on the mission fields of Costa Rica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. He is the son of CrossPoint-supported Missionaries Tom and Regina Franklin. His grandparents (John and Karry Barnes) are missionaries in Costa Rica, as were his great-grandparents. Growing up in a missionary family, Jordan recalls how exciting it was to be on the frontlines of seeing lives changed through the proclamation of the gospel. Jordan surrendered to full-time missions when he was 16 years-old at a summer camp, and he has been pursuing what God has called him to do since then. Laura, now 26 as well, grew up in Sugar Land, Texas with parents who deeply love the Lord and their family. Laura’s calling to be a missionary began with a desire to learn Spanish and her participation in multiple short-term mission trips to Latin America with the church she grew up in, Sugar Creek Baptist Church. On one of those mission trips, she surrendered to full-time missions. In early 2024, Jordan and Laura, the next generation of Franklin missionaries, prayed about finding a place to complete a one-year missionary internship, not knowing what the future held. They claim the Lord led them to CrossPoint Church through much prayer and confirmation from Him. “It’s so sweet being here, and seeing God confirm our calling in so many ways,” says Laura. “Everyone has been so loving. We feel needed and encouraged.”
Ambassadors for Christ in Argentina The Franklins have their sights set on being ambassadors for Christ in Argentina by starting local Bible-believing churches. They plan to live there for the rest of their lives. They hope to start churches where there are not many missionaries or churches currently. After their year at CrossPoint, Jordan and Laura will begin raising prayer and financial support through Baptist Bible Fellowship International.
Jordan and Laura explain that Argentina’s literacy rates are higher than in the U.S., but they have an almost a post-Christian society because of spiritual apathy. There are many Catholics by name, attending church twice a year and saying they believe the Bible, but never reading it. “In Ecclesiastes, Solomon concludes that the purpose in life is to glorify God in everything we do. We want to do that by church planting, and training up Argentinian pastors and pastors’ wives - to equip them to continue these churches after we leave,” says Jordan. He adds, “We are walking by faith where He leads us. It’s already been a blessing and an encouragement to see how He is guiding us each step of the way.”
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