I am writing this to share with you the joy that God shared with my wife and I while ministering at the Latrobe Abortion Mill on January 28th, 2012. I hope the reading encourages you to take action and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Having only been saved by His Grace for a little over a year and a half, I can honestly tell you I didn’t always hold the views in regards to life the way I do now. Since being born again, God began to stir up conviction in my heart to take a stand for what is right. Through my own sinful past, through our children, through friends that were involved in pro-life ministry the Lord began to show both my wife and I that we needed to rise up and help those on the front lines to bring His Love and Truth to the darkness.
In mid January, my wife and I had the opportunity to attend the Cities4Life annual dinner. We got to experience and hear stories first hand of what God was doing in and around our community in regards to standing up for life. After this dinner, we knew we were being called as laborers to defend the defenseless. On January 28, 2012 my wife and I stepped outside our comfort zone and decided to follow the Lord’s calling to Latrobe abortion mill to help minister to the lost. Honestly, I was a little bit nervous, fearing the unknown about this kind of ministry. Growing up, you always hear the worst about pro-life ministry as well as the response from the people at the mills. I quickly turned those fears over to the Lord and prayed for our family to be strengthened by Him in our weakness.
I remember when we were leaving the house and feeling the sun shining on us and thinking to myself that I probably would not need the jacket I was wearing. However, the closer we drove to the mill, the sun seemed to be overtaken by the clouds, and by the time we got there the sky became dark and the weather cold and rainy. Being at the mill was extremely dark and cold both literally and spiritually. My wife and I along with the friends who we came with said a prayer to the Lord for Him to use us today in whatever capacity He saw fit. The first thing I noticed were the loving saints that were already there. There was a microphone and speaker set up, and sweet glorifying music was being played for everyone to hear. As cars started to roll into the parking lot, many Cities4Life brothers and sisters began to speak on the mic. They blew me away with the Love of Jesus they displayed. They began to plead to the moms and dads not to destroy the life that was inside of them. I was amazed as I didn’t hear anyone preaching a condemning message but a truthful message about the Good News of Jesus Christ and His forgiveness of sins. They were faithful to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ and make much of the Love that God exhibits to His followers.
Sadly enough, many more cars began to roll in. Some stopped and were open to talking with us and taking info about alternatives to their abortion. We pleaded for them as they walked in and told them about Cities4Life, and the great options they have, the doctors who were standing by to provide free pre-natal visits as well as free deliveries, we told them about the parents who would love to adopt their child as well as the lavish baby showers that Cities4Life could throw them. Sadly, many of the mothers and fathers had hardened their heart to the good news we were sharing with them and ultimately had their mind made up that they would choose January 28, 2012 to be the day to kill their baby. When in the trenches and engaged in spiritual warfare, the best thing you can do is pray that God would come through and intervene, that His Holy Spirit would convict those we were trying to minister to. We continued to pray…
What happened next brought me to tears. As cars continued to drive in to have their children executed, it felt like the day was getting darker and more spiritually void. In the midst of that horrible darkness, I heard something so sweet, something I have never heard before. My beautiful and most loving wife, who is normally quite reserved and not the most out spoken person in the world, was on the microphone pleading to a couple to choose life. With my wife being from South America and being fluent in Spanish, the Holy Spirit led her to start ministering to a Latino couple who showed up to kill their baby. My eyes swelled up as I heard her being used by God to breathe life into this couple. This couple paused as they got out of their car to listen to what my wife was saying. The closer they got to the door the more intensely my wife pleaded them not to go in. Despite her pleading, they still went in. The husband left the building and with his daughter in the car seat in the back seat departed the parking lot. On his way out, the man stopped and talked to my wife. She was able to give him the truth about life and continue to implore him to choose life. After he drove away, we continued to pray for the family and for God to convict them. About 45 minutes later the man and his daughter returned to pick up his wife. As they left the building, they were smiling. We were able to talk to them once they left the parking lot. Apparently, the mill was backed up and their appointment got pushed back a few hours. The lady and man after hearing the Gospel of Jesus and meeting my wife and hearing her testimony decided to choose life. Hallelujah! My wife gave them her info as well as the doctor’s name who could help them.
Brothers and sisters, I write this to you to share with you the love that God shared with us that day. You see, in our own flesh, we didn’t want to go outside an abortion mill to minister, we didn’t want to wake up early on a Saturday morning to go and stand in the cold rainy weather, we would have rather lay in our warm beds and enjoyed our day off work. However, God called and we answered. I am not saying any of this to boast, but merely to encourage others to answer the calling from which God has given His Church. As the church, we are responsible for standing up for what is right. We cannot keep sitting back and waiting for the secular government to do the right thing. We must stand for what is right and fill in the gap and allow the Lord to use as He sees fit. If you have never been to a mill to minister, chances are you probably have a distorted view of what really goes on there. I implore anyone who follows Christ to take up your cross and allow Him to use you to help bring light to one of the darkest places around a murder mill. It’s happening in our own backyards, what will you do? Will you share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who so desperately need it?
What did Jesus do?
John 10:10 ”Jesus says ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’”
What will you do?
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Brian O. (pictured above)