Jentezen Franklin is the Senior Pastor of Free Chapel, a multi campus church.  Each week his television program Kingdom Connection is broadcast to over 249 countries around the world.   A New York Times best -selling author, Jentezen has written many books including the groundbreaking Fasting and Right people-Right Place-Right Plan.  He has just come out with his new book “Love like you’ve never been hurt.”   

Franklin is one of five children born to Billy and Katie Franklin in Wilson, North Carolina. He studied tenor saxophone under Frank Mayes at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in his hometown.  Jentezen, along with his brother, Richie, played in the college jazz band. Jentezen left college after his brother graduated and pursued the ministry under the guidance of his father. He eventually became an evangelist in the Church of God.

In 1989, Franklin was formally installed as pastor of Free Chapel, which at the time was a small congregation of 300 people. In 2004, the church moved to its current location, which has a 3,000 seat auditorium. It is one of the largest churches in Georgia, and one of the largest (if not the largest) in the Congregational Holiness Church.

In 2007, Jentezen Franklin opened the second Free Chapel Church in Irvine, California. On August 5, 2007, the church held its first service with about 163 members in attendance. It has since grown almost as rapidly as the Gainesville location.

Jentezen and his wife Cherise have been married 30 years, have five children and two grandchildren, and make their home in Gainesville Georgia.