August 14, 2019

10200 Sepulveda Boulevard - What the Lord Has Done in My Absence


Last week Mahria, Amanda, and I traveled to Southern California. The occasion was the wedding of Amanda's best friend Kaytie. Kaytie and Jesse's wedding glorified God and lifted up the name of Christ. It was wonderful.

It was also wonderful to see old friends and to spend time with Marissa (daughter #2) and Brian (son-in-law #1), and my sister Cheryl and the family.

Another blessing happened on Saturday morning. I spent the morning outside 10200 Sepulveda Boulevard, in Mission Hills. The address is an office building where some 20 businesses operate. One of these businesses is not like the others. It is Family Planning Associates, which is an abortuary. This is the place where I began my abortuary ministry in July of 2012.

For four years, on most Wednesday and Saturday mornings, I stood outside the building pleading with people not to murder their children while trying to communicate the gospel to them.

Here's a video from the early days of the abortuary ministry. In this video, a woman comes to the abortuary to murder twins. WATCH.

In the beginning, I stood alone outside the abortuary. I really didn't know what I was doing. Everything was trial and error. I made a lot of mistakes and I had to learn quickly. I don't think I've ever been as lonely while engaged in evangelistic ministry as I was during those early days of abortuary ministry.

One day as I stood outside the building, holding my "Are You Ready" cross, a car came to a stop along the curb. The driver rolled down the front passenger window. A large man a few years my senior leaned toward the open window. "Are you Tony Miano?" The man asked.

As I answered in the affirmative, I remember thinking, "I wonder what caliber bullet this wooden cross will stop?" I thought for sure this was going to be yet another negative encounter with someone who didn't want me at the abortuary.

"My name is Don. I'm a member at Grace Community Church. I follow you on Twitter. I was wondering if I could come out and join you."

That's how I met Don McGinnis. For more than three years, Don and I would minister together, side-by-side at the abortuary. Needless to say, we became good friends. We experienced a lot together--police contacts, assaults, angry business owners, sympathetic business owners, flipping a security guard from an antagonist to an ally, lives lost and lives saved. Together we learned how to do abortuary ministry and how not to do it.

By the time our family moved to Davenport, IA, Don and I had been joined by a few other men at the abortuary. We had a small team and Don was spending more time outside the abortuary than I was.

Not long after we moved to Davenport, IA, Pastor Mike Riccardi and Sheldon Ko of Grace Community Church took much more than a passing interest in the abortuary ministry. They provided the ministry with much needed pastoral oversight. And they didn't do this from afar. They climbed into the trenches and joined Don and the team in the work.

Today the abortuary ministry at 10200 Sepulveda Boulevard is an officially recognized ministry of Grace Community Church. And on the Saturday morning I was there, 16 members of the church family were there, too. Signs, a table with gospel literature, men preaching, people pleading and praying, and fellowship; it was a beautiful sight to see. I was encouraged.

I thank God for what He has done in my absence.


260 Riders and Counting!

As of today, in just two month's time, I have had 260 Uber riders in my car. Today, eight more people received the gospel. I was blessed this morning to have a conversation with a professing Christian young man about financial stewardship. He is working hard to cancel school and other debt. We talked about giving to the Lord in a biblical way and how that obedience is used by God to make us better stewards of the resources with which He entrusts us.

Almost every person who has ridden with me has either heard the gospel and/or received a gospel tract.

My evangelism efforts are not likely in keeping with Uber's "community standards." Driving for Uber for additional income is of secondary importance. As long as God's good providence allows, I will take advantage of the wonderful gospel opportunities given me as I give people rides.

Here's a recent gospel opportunity I had with a young lady who seemed in need to hear from a dad. READ THE STORY.


Interview with the Quad City Times

Today I spent about an hour at Starbucks with a reporter from our local newspaper--the Quad City Times. The reporter's name is Linda Cook.

I first met Linda a few months ago while I was distributing gospel tracts at Vander Veer Park. I saw her sitting on a bench, so I approached her, handed her a gospel tract, and engaged her in conversation. She never mentioned she was a reporter.

Linda would later call the church and talk to one of my pastors who gave her my contact information.

A few weeks ago I saw Linda again at the park. This time it was while I was open-air preaching.

Linda called me this morning and asked if I would sit down for an interview. Linda, who also professes faith in Christ, seemed genuinely interested in our church's evangelistic efforts and the various ways I try to get the gospel to people.

Next Tuesday, a photographer with the paper will join me for crosswalking.

I communicated the gospel to Linda throughout the interview. Join me in praying that the gospel will make it into the article and that the article will bring glory to Christ.

I will let you know when the article goes to print.


Pre-Op for Mahria's Surgery

Tomorrow, Thursday, August 15, Mahria and I will travel to the University of Iowa Hospital, in Iowa City. Mahria will have a series of tests and appointments as part of the pre-op protocol for her upcoming surgery.

Mahria will undergo spinal fusion surgery on August 26. The expected recovery time will be at least six weeks.

We appreciate your prayers. Thank you.