His Word Comes Alive

As told by John Barros:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. – Luke 4:18

The Lord did all these wonderful things down here today. It was just plain awesome. His timing was perfect and He reached down and pulled three precious ladies out of the pit.
Bradley and I were blessed to have Beth and Melyna serve with us. These two ladies are incredible. They start early here on Fridays and it is the busiest day.

At 7:30, Bryce was dropped off by taxi. She was invited to sit on the wall to wait the half hour before the doors opened. We spoke and went through all the things we have to say. She looked through the “In The Womb” tracts and prayed with us, but when the crowd came she got swept in with them. The people were stampeding the door and would not listen.

After they were settled in the preaching began. Joshua and Mary came during the preaching. She wanted to hurry him in. He stopped and talked, taking the tract and brochure. He went in slowly and after a few minutes all hell broke loose. They went out by the side of the building and did their best effort at “rock em sock em robots”. They eventually calmed down and left.

Into the preaching a while longer, Olga came out. I said “come here, young lady”, and she came out to the walk. She spoke of how God’s Word had driven her out of there. She had been raised in the church and found herself in trouble. She wanted prayer, so Beth and I prayed. I have to tell you this young lady is precious. Beth reached out and had Olga follow her to the CPC. They have been talking today. Olga is 13 weeks pregnant and is so thankful and happy that God followed her all the way there. Olga and Beth are the perfect fit.

Then after preaching the second time, out walks Bryce on the phone to a friend coming over to us, not even remotely looking like the same girl from 7:30 this morning. She was explaining very loudly to her friend how angry the nurse got when she said no and changed her mind. She was peeking at us while she was saying these things with a smile on her face. It was so awesome. We jumped up and were thanking God. Melyna had joined us by then and they hit it off great. Melyna gave her a ride home and they exchanged contact info. She will be going to a CPC on Monday.

Once again the Lord sent the perfect person to be a blessing to her neighbor. It was so beautiful. Today the Lord gave sight to the blind, healed the broken hearted, had the Gospel preached to the poor, and gave liberty to the captives. His Word comes alive down here. God is so good. Please pray for these ladies.

An Effective Day

As told by John Barros:

What can put smiles like this on ladies’ faces? How about watching the Lord turn half of the clients away? Alright, alright. Although I say this a little tongue in cheek, the Lord did an amazing thing today.

Even though it was late term day, only two clients came and one couple chose life. We were praying so hard for the one that went through with it. She did come out and sit in her car out back but the security guard went out and talked her back in.

It was one of the strangest days I have ever seen. Wednesdays are usually packed with late term moms, first trimester moms, and check ups. People would drive up and point like they were going to pull in but just drove away. Randall Whitney even arrived early but only had one.

Workers were coming out and looking at us. More than half of them had to be let go at noon. One worker came out, raised her arms in a shrug and said “you were very effective today, John”. We all chuckled but it was so awesome. The security guard was extremely upset.

We are praying so hard for this place to go down. Maybe the Lord was encouraging us to hang in there and watch Him work.

So thankful for Bradley, Bonnie, Yolie, Daylan, and Nicole. They are dear servants with hearts that pour out the love of Christ. Please continue to pray.

The Blindness of Man

As told by John Barros:

The blindness of man and the light of God was on display here today. So blessed to serve with Samantha, Bradley, Philip, and Doug.

The people that came today were all shown the latest vileness of the owner of this place and like always, nobody cared. It is so amazing that people would come to a place where they were found guilty of destroying a lady and fined significant amounts of money. Where the main abortionist is an 83 year old man that has been drug out the door twice in handcuffs and arrested for battery on a client, being sued in multiple malpractice suits, etc. Then find out the owner was just arrested for dealing drugs and doing back alley abortions in South Carolina. That is the blindness that happens here.

Fifteen ladies came today, but we got to see the Lord turn the hearts of two and a half couples. And as always it was God’s Word, prayer and the love of Jesus shown through His servants on the sidewalk. The first couple were set on this but the Lord softened them both at the same time. They chose life and went to Choices.

The second couple was a little older. Samantha spent some time with them. They thought they needed to have an abortion because they had toddler twins and didn’t see how they could take care of another. They were encouraged to ponder what the Bible means when it says “God hates the hands that shed innocent blood”. The Lord brought them out with those big smiles. They thanked us and said they were keeping their baby. It was beautiful to see them walk away arm in arm.

The third couple came out in the middle of the preaching. He came charging up to me, screaming and yelling. So close I could see his cavities. He wanted to make sure I knew she changed her mind and it wasn’t me. I said of course not, sir, it is never me. He was fuming. He thought he was getting rid of his responsibility.

I was speaking with a couple of the workers today and asked them if they were proud of their boss and liked his mugshot. They said “don’t be stupid, John. Just because someone owns a building doesn’t mean they own the business.”

Then I remembered a few years ago when someone tried to deliver a legal paper to them. The server was told that on Thursday a different company was in business at the location. They had a different company for every day. I don’t know how Pendergraft’s arrest will change things here, because I don’t even know if he owns the business.

Until it goes down the Gospel will go forth and the Lord will be Glorified. Thanks for praying.

Three Lives Were Saved

As told by John Barros: 

Today was such a blessing. The Lord turned three young ladies’ hearts to keep their babies. It was nice to see that James Pendergraft, the guy that owns this place, had been arrested earlier this month. It was pretty disgusting to see that he has been running a “mobile abortion clinic” out of his car. When they pulled him over, they found bloody tools with tissue on them. Just disgusting.

Unfortunately, it looks like he only spent two hours in jail. He was only charged with some drug charges and let go with no bond. I did a little more research into these charges and it looks like they are distribution charges of what appears to be LSD.

The place was packed today but Pendergraft’s crew were not able to get ahold of three babies. The Lord sent dear Tamara down today. She has been gone for a while but the Lord sent her down for one young lady. The Lord brought her out and Tamara poured her heart into Keara. It was something to behold.

Looking back over the pictures, it was like a beautiful waltz. They moved all over the sidewalk and street. Tears began to flow as Jesus worked on a precious heart, ending in this picture of Tamara praying with her. Her face lit up when the prayer ended and she said she is going to Choices next week.

The Lord brought out another lady that just couldn’t do it, and then there was an angry lady. She had been in and out all day. I finally asked what she was going to say to God when He was so kind to send people down to help her. She said “I don’t believe in God”. I told her that the Bible says she does, but she is just trying to suppress the truth. Bradley spoke to her as well. She became very agitated, went out back, and then came back and cancelled. It was beautiful. Please pray for these ladies.

We were also blessed beyond measure to have Don and Shellie come and serve this morning. They came all the way from Boise. Dear Melyna also blessed us this afternoon.

Many Tears

As told by John Barros:

So thankful to have Ruth come back down this morning with Bradley and me. Sally came down and blessed in the afternoon.

It was kind of a strange day. First thing in the morning, Gabriella showed up. She said she didn’t understand English very well. She went inside, but had to come back out because she parked in the wrong parking lot. When she moved I was able to get Stella on the phone.

After much talking, she agreed to leave. I asked her if I could pray with her and she said please. So thankful to have someone that not only speaks Spanish but also works at the center we want them to go to. Stella is awesome.

Next a couple pulled in with a bumper sticker for Cornerstone Church. They were dealt with quite firmly, but went in anyway. They came back out within minutes. She was yelling that she was “freaking out”. They left, but I still don’t really have any idea what they are doing.

Then in the afternoon Emelia came. She was quite troubled, but took the info and went inside. She came out shortly and allowed Sally and I to pray for her. She went out back and left.

All these ladies were in tears, but I don’t know for sure if they are going to keep their babies. They need everyone to pray for them.

A Lightning Bolt to the Soul

As told by John Barros: 

Bradley and I got to watch the Lord work in such a special way today. Oh, there were the ranters spewing out their death threats and all the craziness that goes on around here, but a young lady had her eyes opened.

Chayanna arrived this morning and was dropped off by her boyfriend. As she came up, I offered her the info packs that we pass out. We began to talk and she became highly agitated. As we went through Scripture, she said “I don’t care what you say. I have to get it out of me.” As we spoke about God promising to take care of her if she trusted Him, she said “this is wrong that you are here. You are being so mean and making me feel really bad”.

As she stood there on the porch, I asked her to tell me anything I said to her that was anything but trying to help. She stared at me. I told her that if she felt bad it was a very good thing because it was God convicting her of her sin and calling her to trust him. All of a sudden it looked like a lightning bolt pierced her very soul.

She came out to the walk and asked me to take her to Choices. She went to her boyfriend’s car to get her baby and diaper bag. They got into it for a little bit, but then she thanked me and said her boyfriend was going to take her.

I had my doubts as to if he would take her there, but he did. She went through the counseling and had her ultrasound. So thankful for the love she received there. She has some hurdles on her road so please pray for her. She went from wanting to kill “it”, to having a heart of love to her baby. It truly was beautiful. The Lord is so good.

A Rare Type of Day

As told by John Barros: 

I’ve only seen a day like this one other time. Five people came down here today. One couple turned away and was waving at us, but we didn’t know if they had chosen life or not. Then there was a huge battle. A guy was leading his lady inside and she began to turn. He got her inside but for some reason they came outside to fill the papers out on the porch.

I have to tell you I was harder on this guy than I have ever been on anyone in my life. It was so strange because she changed her mind, so he began filling out her papers on the door. Every scripture that was quoted to him literally hit him like they were bullets. He would actually cringe and contort. It looked like he was dancing during this. Then they went inside and came right out. They went down the street and were yelling at each other very loud. I sure wish Choices would have been open at their new location there already.

After they were done fighting, they headed back down during the preaching. Samantha engaged her but they went inside. I thought she was going to have the abortion but she was actually cancelling. They came out, walked up to Samantha, and I apologized for being so rough on him. He actually thanked me for it. Philip and Bradley joined with us in prayer. Then they said they would go to Choices. Samantha and Philip drove them over.

A while after they left the clinic shut down. That’s right, they shut down. The other three ladies came out and left. I asked one of the workers what was going on and she said since there were only three, they were sending them to EPOCH because the abortionist on Mondays comes from Tampa and wouldn’t want to come all this way for three.

I can’t begin to tell you how thankful I am for Samantha, Philip, and Bradley. So willing to serve. Bradley had to go to Choices to pick them up along with Samantha. They told them that they had chosen life and she is 8 weeks. They were very thankful.
I am so thankful as well for Choices. This couple was treated with so much love and care.

A Nightmare Day

As told by John Barros:

Today the insanity of this place continued. There were about twenty five ladies that came. I knew it was going to be rough right away when a mobile detailer arrived. The security guard came out and told me he was having all the workers cars cleaned today. The guy’s van had a very loud generator and pressure washer in the back. Kerry continues with his attempts to silent the Word of God. We had to fight that all the way till 4:00. It was a nightmare.

Nobody chose life today and something became clear about that girl that had been here since Wednesday. She was back today. Something must have been seriously wrong yesterday. She came Wednesday by taxi. She was here with the tall lady yesterday and then a strange looking guy with a tricked out Mercedes.

When she came out she looked at Bradley and I with those eyes. Eyes that looked like she needs help. I can’t prove it, but I am convinced she was part of something incredibly tragic even outside of the abortion.

So thankful though for a constant flow of brothers and sisters coming to help. Tara brought Rachel, “the secret weapon” down. Beth, RC, Pastor Christopher, and Fredo were down in the morning. Jessica and her husband came down from Tallahassee for a bit along with Heather.

This has been a week I will never forget and am so thankful it is over. Please continue to pray. This place is so wicked and these folks are trying anything they can to stop us.

A Rare Wickedness

As told by John Barros: 

Today was horrible. There was a wickedness that only shows up once and a while. That young late term lady that was sitting on my wall yesterday returned for her second day of labor. She sat on the bricks because she could barely walk. She went inside with the help of a “friend”.

This friend of hers was unlike any I have ever seen. She was tall, covered head-to-toe in tattoos,  and had two large piercings in the middle of each cheek that were big enough to be small bolts. 

Of course she decided to get in my face as soon as she got there. All the usual vileness and mindless drivel before she calmed down and went inside. The Lord pretty much shut her up, but she did come out screaming and yelling in a rage to people on the phone. Then she came out screaming about the workers inside and yelling about how she had cursed them out.

The day was mostly late-termers that started on Wednesday, but there were a few others. There was one couple that came and the man took the info, saying he didn’t want to do this. They left but can’t say they chose life

Then late this afternoon the tall lady came out again, this time with the girl she accompanied. The girl was trying to make it to the wall again. She came and sat. Her abortion was complete but she seemed catatonic. She didn’t want to stay inside and would rather sit in the rain than inside.

I gave them an umbrella. It was like a scene out of a horror movie. The tall lady would cradle her head, rubbing her hair while speaking sweetly and then burst into vile rage, cursing and screaming while her friend was sitting with her eyes rolling up into her head with unconsciousness.

I finally had to go get one of the workers to look at her. The workers came out trying to help and the tall lady began cursing at her, telling her to get away and that they don’t need her. The worker was asking if they had used other drugs, but the tall lady would not allow the worker to help.

I didn’t know what to do other than sit there and pray until their ride came. It is so strange when these kind of things happen. It is like there is something crazy going on in the spiritual realm that you cannot see. Usually there are four ladies that come to help on Thursday. I am so thankful that the Lord kept them away today.

 Please pray for that young lady. She never did speak but her eyes looked so sad.

Late Terms Make For Rough Days

As told by John Barros:

Late term days are always tough. There is just something visual that is so disturbing. If you add into that the fact that you pour your heart into them offering a way of escape and they don’t listen, it gets real rough.

There was one young lady that came today that they made go outside to eat. She came over to the wall and we struck up a conversation. She began eating her sub, and I asked if she knew what they were going to do to her today since she was over 20 weeks. She said no so I told her the procedure for labor and delivery abortion.

As I was ending, she began to retch like she was going to lose her breakfast. She said “sir, if you don’t mind I am trying to eat.” Bradley and I couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to hear what she was going to do to her baby. It made her sick but she continued on. When she was done with the first phase and was getting in her car to leave I told her I would see her in the morning.

We had another strange one as well. A lady with a heavy Russian type accent came. She had heavy scratches all over her arm. She told us that she had a rash on her arm and that meant her baby wouldn’t have a brain or a heart so she had to do this. She was in and out all day and at one point my friend Heather stopped by for a few minutes and they spoke for some time but she still held to this crazy story.

When she came out from her abortion, they had to go get her a walker. As she was coming out she looked over and thanked me for all I had done. I have no idea what she was talking about or what planet she was from. Vicky stopped by while she was coming out and tried to see if she was okay, but it was just weird.

The Lord did turn the hearts of a couple that sat out back talking in their car for what seemed to be an eternity. They pulled up, said thank you, and asked for the materials they needed to get some help. This place is so wicked but God pulls folks out of here. So blessed to watch Him work.