As a car arrived to the Forest Park, Georgia abortion facility, a man in the back seat gave local 40 Days for Life leader John the finger...
...and then his car died. He approached John to request help jumpstarting the vehicle.
"You flip me off and now you ask me for a jump?" John asked incredulously before continuing, "Of course, I'll help you."
John is always available to help.
While he prays, he hands out crisis pregnancy support literature to abortion-bound women. He recently directed a woman to the local pregnancy help center, which he helped start years ago.
John brought 40 Days for Life to Forest Park in 2015 and he spends four hours a day, five days a week at his vigil.
He's seen it all.
John described a couple having a "knock-down, drag-out fight" in the parking lot. When the woman refused to abort, her boyfriend abandoned her at the abortion center. John offered her a ride.
"Most people grow older with age," a volunteer told John. "But you keep growing younger!"
Georgia became an epicenter of the struggle to end abortion two years ago, when it enacted a law banning abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
The state incurred the wrath of Hollywood celebrities, leading to calls for an economic boycott. But pro-life Georgians aren't backing down.
Campaign Director Steve Karlen just returned from a whirlwind tour of the Peach State. Here's his report from the road:
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta's newest 40 Days for Life vigil takes place in front of the Carafem abortion facility.
The growing abortion chain has devised its own abortion method, is rapidly increasing the number of webcam abortions, and is even rolling out a mail-order abortion program.
Carafem aggressively markets its abortion "experience" and suggests abortion pills combined with marijuana or alcohol might help clients "relax" or "unwind."
Marietta, Georgia
Abnormally cold temperatures couldn't dampen enthusiasm for Marietta's kickoff rally.
From a praise and worship band to booths from local pro-life organizations to remarks from Catholic novelist Bud Macfarlane, the candlelight vigil had it all!
"Jesus was made known, and it was a fabulous kickoff," wrote Marietta co-leader Suzanne. "We love our team!"
Atlanta, Georgia
Clergy from various Christian denominations led prayer at another Atlanta campaign's opening vigil.
The event also featured powerful testimonies from women who had abortions at that very facility.
Before departing, speakers laid roses at the base of the abortion center sign.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
— Luke 1:30-33
Heavenly Father, you have made the womb of each woman a very special place. Help us to hold fast to the sanctity of this first home of humanity, remembering the wonderful mystery, that God inhabited the womb of a young woman and came forth as the savior and deliverer of the world.
