As told by John Barros:

Today was filled with blessings and sorrow. So blessed to have some new Reformation Bible College students down here today. Simona and Jessica brought three new men down here. These kids are so willing to serve. It was kind of a rough day and they really had their eyes opened to the horror of this place.

We were also blessed to have Bo and his mother Becky, along with Courtney. So thankful that Melyna was back. She is such an encourager. I don’t want to leave Peter out. This dear brother brought subs down. Now that’s a blessing.

Today was a day I knew was coming but didn’t want to face. Bradley spent his last day here. He is moving back to Virginia. He kept talking about finding a replacement for him, but nobody will be able to do that.

There were some strange stories here today. Two young ladies came down. They wouldn’t listen to the pleas, but then the driver came under heavy conviction. At one point she told us she thought she was going to die. She couldn’t stay inside, and eventually her friend came out and they left. They didn’t stop, so I don’t know if her friend chose life or not. We have to call it a turn away.

Another young lady came in an expensive Mercedes sports car. A while later a man came in an even more expensive Mercedes. He dressed and acted like he was from some kind of crime syndicate. He said his boss sent him down to make sure she went through with it. What kind of boss is this?

Then there was a girl claiming to be a Christian. She had the cute little Jesus license plate. Her mother continued to pressure her, even when she was beginning to turn. It was a rough day but there was one more blessing.

Tara came down with her “secret weapon” to serve in the morning, and then went to Choices. She confirmed that she is pregnant and Callie gave her an ultrasound. How exciting is this?

As told by John Barros:

The day began with late term ladies arriving to begin their second day of labor, and the rest followed an hour later. We couldn’t get very many conversations going because of the rain.

Before the preaching began, the Lord did a truly amazing work. Two ladies standing across the street in the parking lot began screaming at us: “do not judge those people. It is a sin to judge people.”

Yolie, Bill, and Warren began calling back to them. The tempers began to get pretty heated. When there was a bit of a lull, I looked at the two ladies and said you are judging us. One of the ladies said something I couldn’t understand and then stopped. I had this really strong desire to speak with them so I went across the street.

I asked the lady that I couldn’t understand what she said. She said “I started to yell at you, but something told me I should shut up.” I began telling them that God sends us down here to bring the Gospel to lost people who are on the brink. They thought we were protestors.

As I began to share the Gospel with them, they came under deep conviction. They shared that they were far from God. We went further and they began confessing their sins. They began repenting, and I told them to search their hearts, bring all their sin to Him, and commit their lives to him.

They said they were going to, and that they were going to seek out a church called Living Waters in Kissimmee where some friends go. We had a time of prayer and I left them to do their appointment stuff. When they were finished, they began honking their horn and saying thank you. I told them I would be praying for them and they yelled out “we will be praying for you guys!” It was truly amazing.

As far as the mill goes, it was horrible. Nobody chose life or turned away. There was a guy down here that owns a big dealership and he would not listen. He had been bringing a lady since Monday. Thanks to some clues, Don was able to look him up . When I called him by name he was in deep shock but still didn’t stop. So thankful for Chuck, Mary, Donna, and Bradley. It was just a tough day.

There was a wonderful blessing, though, in the afternoon. An Anglican pastor from Bristol, Tennessee, Todd, and our dear friend Jacob dropped by to encourage us. I haven’t seen them in so long. They used to hang out at our house when they were at RTS. Man I love these guys. Today was rough but beautiful. Please continue to pray.

As told by John Barros:

Good grief, it was packed down here today. Packed parking lot, all over the street and many drop offs. Sometimes the carnage can just seem to overwhelm you. So thankful for all the St. Andrew’s people that came down to help.

We had four ladies leave today. Two came out during the preaching. A mother and her daughter along with a single young lady. They were thankful, but wouldn’t engage us. The thing you really love to see here is when folks leave abruptly, the nurses and security folks go hunting for them.

The security guy smiled when he was told “you don’t get them all”. Two others left later that came in the afternoon. One was kind of incoherent when talking to Jessica. The other had driven all the way from Putnam. She said it was three hours away.

We spent a long time praising God in song today and everyone heard the truth. Jessica got everyone singing. She sure brings a light down here. Don came back from serving in Jamaica for the last month. Philip and Samantha also came to serve. Gerry and Bill were awesome as well, and of course Bradley. I’m sure going to miss him. He has been my right arm down here. He is moving back home on Friday. The good news is he lives where Don, Nathan and Mary live so he will have wonderful folks to continue in Gospel Ministry with.

As told by John Barros:

Something happened today that was pretty amazing. A couple arrived in a Cadillac about 8:15 and walked up to the door. He was about 50, and thought he was all cool and began the usual mouthing off that these guys do. She wouldn’t say one word. The doors were locked, and the more I spoke to her, the madder he got.

They were offered the literature. He finally took it, and after showing it to her, he gave it back. He said I was no different than the “protester nuts” they have back home in Ocala. He again asked me to shut up, and said nothing I can do will change her mind, and that she is doing it because some guy left her after finding out she was pregnant.

I continued to offer help and told him I don’t change hearts, but have seen God turn hearts much harder than theirs before. He began mocking God’s ability to do this. About ten till nine the workers opened the door early and they went inside.

Other people began arriving, and at ten the door opened. He looked like a deer in the headlights. The young lady he brought stopped on the sidewalk and finally said something, “thank you so much”. They went to the car and sat inside for quite some time, and then they left. What a picture this was of God doing what folks think is impossible. I hope they remember that moment when He touched that young lady’s heart.

There were two others that were turn aways during the preaching. One was a maniacal father and daughter, the other  a young lady that left with her boyfriend against his wishes. Please pray they stay strong.

It was such an honor to have Tracy and Sarah join Bradley, Steven and me today.
I don’t think they are going to be doing many more Sunday openings. There were only three clients yesterday for nine workers and an abortionist. Yolie, Bradley, and I were blessed to have Tim join us in the cold.

As told by John Barros:

The weird spirit of this place changes from day to day. Yesterday the people were quiet, but today was a different story. The people coming today were filled with much anger and vileness, breathing out threats and mocking God. Of course, none of this halts God’s purposes. He moved on people’s hearts. Two ladies chose life and we had three turn away.

Cheyanna chose life first thing this morning. God moved on her heart and she stood up to the guy that brought her. Please pray that God moves his heart to stand by her and that she has the strength to stand.

Jasmine came with her mother. About ten minutes after the preaching they both came out with those wonderful smiles God puts on ladies that trust Him. They were so thankful. The three turn aways were friendly as well but wouldn’t talk.

The horror of this place continued, though. A young lady named Mia came out in tears and told us she was pregnant with twins. She called her guy to come and get her because she was going home but instead he brought more money to cover the twins, and she went through with it. Believe it or not, today was Mia’s birthday. I don’t think any birthday she ever has will be happy.

So many crazies down here today. Husbands sitting in the parking lot all day with children while Mom is inside doing the unthinkable. Ladies crying all over the place. A 13 week Mom we met yesterday returned. She had spoken to us and Callie at Choices on the phone yesterday. I asked her to come talk, but in a rather incoherent manner she said “Don’t worry, John, they aren’t going to rip me off”. It was so nutty.

The Lord brought conviction to everyone here. He was faithful. I have never seen so many sit out in their cars waiting before.

So thankful that Tara brought her secret weapon down. I believe the Lord used that precious baby when He turned Cheyanna’s heart. So thankful for Bradley, Beth, and Melyna as well. Everyone worked so hard. Melyna comes faithfully on Friday afternoons. She has such a huge heart and truly is a gift to all. I sure don’t deserve any of these wonderful servants. God is so good.

As told by John Barros:

Well, today was pretty rough. It wasn’t real busy here, but boy we were busy pretty much all day. Trust me, everyone heard the Gospel and were offered help. The hearts were just so hard. There was a couple of girls with Kentucky plates that turned away but we really don’t have any idea what happened to them.

Chuck and Mary took another day out of their vacation to minister with Bradley, Yolie, and me. We were blessed to have Patte join us. Patte gave everything she had. She is a trooper and such an encourager. Unfortunately, it was one of those days that you feel like you need three or four showers to get clean.

I did get one bit of wonderful news this afternoon, though.  Those of you that have been praying for Bessy will be happy to know she affirmed her decision of choosing life for her baby and is now just considering whether to keep her baby or bless a family that needs a baby.

As told by John Barros:

What was a cold day for three grumpy old men, the Lord turned into something very warm and beautiful.

On Monday, I told you about Brunette. She chose life, but her mother wasn’t very supportive. I asked you all to pray for her mother to come alongside her daughter. Well, today the worst thing a sidewalk counselor can see happened. Brunette’s mother brought her back. They were cold and hard as they went inside and would not listen at all. It was truly sad.

During the preaching today I called out to them by name on several occasions. About 20 minutes after the preaching, out came a smile that you only see here and this time it wasn’t just on Brunette but on her mother as well. We had such a wonderful time of rejoicing.

The Lord answered the prayers for Brunette’s mother to love her daughter. It just came in a different way than anyone could have imagined. Praise the Lord for His goodness and thank you all for all your prayers.

As told by John Barros: 

Today was busy, but the Lord blessed some ladies with sight and drove them out of here.

A young lady by the name of brunette came with her mother. They came out the door and she said she had chosen life. We gave her the info and I asked if we could pray for them. Her mother said “you can pray for her if you want. She’s the one that is going to need it.”

We did pray and she began to cry. Please pray for her, as I think her mom isn’t being a support right now.

There was another young lady that I believe chose life against the wishes of her very angry mother. Her mother wouldn’t let us give her daughter any info or talk to her. There was another turn away as well, but they wouldn’t stop. Please pray for these ladies. They are going to need support from their families. Please pray they stay strong.

Bradley and I were blessed with some surprises today. Fredo came down and brought his mother and a lady that is a leader of women’s ministries at her church. They loved to see the way the Lord works down here.

My dear friend Andy also came down to serve and he was very busy. Bonnie returned. She has been sadly missed and it was wonderful to have her here. We dealt with so many arguments today. Every excuse was covered here in one day. Thank God for His goodness.

As told by John Barros:

Today was crazy busy. It was standing room only inside. The weather was cold and stormy, with winds and rain that were almost like a hurricane. We had two turn aways and one young lady stood up to her guy and chose life.

There was a precious young girl named Gabby that walked across the street with her father during the preaching to see what was going on. He told her and she walked right up to me and asked if she could tell the ladies to keep and love their babies. It was pretty amazing how bold she was.

The place was pretty nutty, with all the threats and vileness you can imagine. At one point the security guy had to get people under control outside. Several were wishing bodily harm upon me. 

It’s so strange to see what is going on around here. One young lady whose mother still works here quit without having a job to go to. Three new ladies started working here this week.

It is so strange to see hearts inside the place now. They have hearts hanging from the ceiling, pasted to the back of the door, and on the walls inside. It is unbelievable to see symbols of love and affection in the waiting room of a lobby where people are waiting to kill their children. It just keeps getting crazier every day.

They are not doing abortions this Sunday but it looks like Sunday abortions are here to stay. They will be doing them next Sunday and continue every other.

Honored to serve with Bill, Luke, Bradley, Beth, and Melyna. God continues to weave people in and out throughout the day. So blessed.

As told by John Barros:

The three words that haunt me more than anything down here are “you were right”, and I sure have been hearing that a lot more lately.

Jason came here a couple of weeks ago. Of course, he lied, saying the lady he brought was a “friend”. He sat in his truck listening while he waited for his lady to bring out his license. He just smiled and said “come on man, how can they still be open if what you say is true?” He drove away with his one year old in the back, while his lady mocked going inside.

Well, this afternoon he came back because his “wife” has been butchered. She had been deathly sick since her abortion, and he finally had to rush her to the hospital. To their horror, the doctors discovered pieces of her baby, parts of her placenta, a damaged uterus and an infection. They did an emergency D&C and began IVs of antibiotics.

Jason is not the same guy I saw a couple of weeks ago. After talking, I asked him to make it loud enough for everyone in the lobby to hear because they had just brought the patients from their other clinic here. Of course, no one left. The blindness and hardness of hearts is incredible. So many times I have had ladies that have had their abortions botched warn people and not one has left.

There was another young lady here yesterday that said Randall botched her abortion too. I guess OWC doesn’t really care because they make people sign papers saying the risk is on the patient and that they have no insurance.

There was another horrible thing that happened. A guy brought a young lady that you could tell was a little mentally challenged. I could not get the straight story, but I lit into this guy harder than I ever have. She began screaming and sobbing. Warren and I tried to reason with him, but this guy was something else. He was controlling everything about her. I tried to get her to get away from him but she just kept clinging to him.

They wanted to have an ultrasound because they suspected her to be about 20 weeks. I really can’t say anymore about these two, but the Lord must have moved on this guy because he agreed to take her to Choices. Please pray that the Lord will move here with Warren and I, as well as that the precious ladies at Choices would get Bessy to choose life, trust God and that He would protect her.

It was awesome serving with Justin and Becky. Justin is a pastor at St. Paul’s. He had to get to work but left Becky here with Courtney. Bill was also here.

It was a rough day. The preaching seemed to be met with an unseen resistance. People were colder than ever but it was so awesome to see the love a father and mother have for their baby. There is such a contrast between the love on the sidewalk and the hatred behind the doors. There were two other turn aways. Please pray for them and please continue to pray for this place.