Reflections and Testimonies from JFA Volunteers

Pastor Allan Taylor, Father Brendan, and Benedictine College Students share about their experiences with JFA.

Amanda Coles shares about what happened during her outreach experience with JFA...and what happened next.

Featured
Question: Have you ever tried to take a screw out of the wall without a screwdriver? Not a pleasant experience. Well attending the JFA training was like being handed a powerful drill after bloodying your fingers trying to get a screw out of the wal

Question: Have you ever tried to take a screw out of the wall without a screwdriver? Not a pleasant experience. Well attending the JFA training was like being handed a powerful drill after bloodying your fingers trying to get a screw out of the wall.   - Rachelle Weekes

Rachelle first volunteered with JFA at our Yale outreach in April 2012.  She has since participated in multiple seminar and outreach events with JFA.  Read her reflection here.

"I was terrified to talk to anyone, and made a goal to talk to just one person. Once I talked to one, I couldn't stop. I realized they're just people."  - Corrie, 2015

"I was terrified to talk to anyone, and made a goal to talk to just one person. Once I talked to one, I couldn't stop. I realized they're just people."  - Corrie, 2015

"I believe in divine appointments... the kind that you know only God could have set up for an exact 15 minutes of your whole life . . . This experience wasn't a highlight of my week, or even semester, but something I will treasure and remember

"I believe in divine appointments... the kind that you know only God could have set up for an exact 15 minutes of your whole life . . . This experience wasn't a highlight of my week, or even semester, but something I will treasure and remember for the rest of my life." - "Ashley"  

As a student at Focus on the Family Institute in 2003, Ashley participated in the JFA training program, including an outreach event at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  Through the event, she found she had a unique opportunity to minister to others and to experience Christ's love herself.    A portion of this quote was featured on JFA's home page in November 2015.  Read Ashley's story in her own words.

"... It was the pictures she saw of abortions that changed this girl’s mind..." - Nicole, student, Focus on the Family Institute, 2006    Read Nicole's reflection: "Just One More Person"

"... It was the pictures she saw of abortions that changed this girl’s mind..." - Nicole, student, Focus on the Family Institute, 2006   

Read Nicole's reflection: "Just One More Person"

"...Honestly, the last day when I went home, I missed the pro-choicers because for the first time I saw them as people just like me..." - Melanie, JFA volunteer at ASU in 2006  Read Melanie's reflection , and see her work now as a speak

"...Honestly, the last day when I went home, I missed the pro-choicers because for the first time I saw them as people just like me..." - Melanie, JFA volunteer at ASU in 2006 

Read Melanie's reflection, and see her work now as a speaker and author.

"You just turned on the lightbulb for me.  I realized we've been talking about the woman, but there is a child involved in this, too."     - Jenny, a UCLA student (June 2015).  This quote was featured on JFA's home page

"You just turned on the lightbulb for me.  I realized we've been talking about the woman, but there is a child involved in this, too."     - Jenny, a UCLA student (June 2015).  This quote was featured on JFA's home page in September 2015.  Read the rest of the story here.

The topic of this year's Modern Woodmen Speech contest was "If I Were President."  I think every student in my class addressed how they would put a stop to abortion if they were president.  It is obvious your presentation had a huge impact

The topic of this year's Modern Woodmen Speech contest was "If I Were President."  I think every student in my class addressed how they would put a stop to abortion if they were president.  It is obvious your presentation had a huge impact on my students.  - Scott Olsen, Grade 5-6 Teacher, Nebraska (2010)

JFA is a form of creative evangelism.  - Rebeccah Pedrick, JFA Mission Trip Reflection, 2005

JFA is a form of creative evangelism.  - Rebeccah Pedrick, JFA Mission Trip Reflection, 2005

I talked with one of your staff and picked up a brochure. When I had lunch with my cousin we discussed the issue of abortion. Your brochure helped me talk to her about the issue. Now she is questioning her opinions of abortion.  - Ashley,

I talked with one of your staff and picked up a brochure. When I had lunch with my cousin we discussed the issue of abortion. Your brochure helped me talk to her about the issue. Now she is questioning her opinions of abortion.  - Ashley, UNM Student (Brochure Response Card, 2009)

I'm taking health right now, so me and my friends have been talking a lot about pregnancies.  I told everyone I would get an abortion in a heartbeat, but I take that all back now, and I realize it's killing a human being.  - Ariz

I'm taking health right now, so me and my friends have been talking a lot about pregnancies.  I told everyone I would get an abortion in a heartbeat, but I take that all back now, and I realize it's killing a human being.  - Arizona High School Student (Seminar Response Card, 2010)

At one time, my 'if this happens' plan was abortion, despite growing up in the church...Thank you for your presentation and showing me why that would have been so horrible.  - Arizona High School Student (Seminar Response Card, 2010)

At one time, my 'if this happens' plan was abortion, despite growing up in the church...Thank you for your presentation and showing me why that would have been so horrible.  - Arizona High School Student (Seminar Response Card, 2010)

I feel that I am more able to stand up for the unborn now.  - Christine (Seminar Response Card, 2010)

I feel that I am more able to stand up for the unborn now.  - Christine (Seminar Response Card, 2010)

A year ago, when I first saw these images, it was difficult to accept them open-heartedly, however, after a year of thinking on this subject, it is hard to disagree with this method of exposing the truth, because clearly the method that was used bef

A year ago, when I first saw these images, it was difficult to accept them open-heartedly, however, after a year of thinking on this subject, it is hard to disagree with this method of exposing the truth, because clearly the method that was used before is not making enough of a difference.  - Pasadena City College Student (Brochure Response Card 2010)

in A FEW WORDS

“JFA’s [Online Workshop] was extremely helpful in giving me a useful toolset for talking about the pro-life issue as a dialogue, rather than a debate. They gave some really practical points...& allowed us opportunities to practice with each other. I totally recommend.” -Alena

“At first I didn't really like the role playing, but ended up finding the improvisation with mentor very helpful; It exposed the fact that I didn't have the info down as well as I thought.” - Bryant, JFA Seminar participant

“I absolutely loved engaging my culture in the marketplace of ideas... it was such a great experience to speak up for the children who cannot speak up for themselves.” –David, 2006

“In an era of waning ability to have a conversation, the skills you share related to discussing abortion are essential to…'defend' the pro-life message with compassion and humanity.” –Linda, 2017

“Awesome presentation - well taught, well thought out, and clearly based on a human approach to abortion.” - Iona, 2019

“...Outreach was a challenge that I hesitantly forced upon myself, but I am so glad I did. My hope...is that the people I came in contact with were challenged by some solid reasoning [and] a caring attitude that confuses their preconceptions of what pro-lifers are like.” - Gretchen

"...I opened the brochure, and we stood there in silence for a couple of moments. He was very thoughtful… ‘This should never be legal,’ he said.” - Kaitlyn (Read the Full Story.)

“Because of our culture, I rarely even considered abortion and its morality. This [experience with JFA] really helped show what it is and the impact it really has in America.” - High School Student, 2017

“It made me look at abortion in a whole new way.”  - Ty, High School Student, Oklahoma (Seminar Response Card 2010)

“I really understand what is happening to these children, and I would really like to help in some way.”  - Caleb, Camp Counselor, Oklahoma (Presentation Response Card, 2010)

“Before this exhibit (when I saw it last year) I believed abortion was wrong for me personally, but [that] I can't tell others what to do.  This exhibit changed my mind!  I think all people should see the horrific reality of abortion.  It's not just an option to solve a "problem"...it is taking a human life.”  - Brenda (Brochure Response Card, 2010)

“Brought me closer to my faith.  I had goosebumps throughout the whole presentation.  Thank you for making me realize the facts about abortion.”  - Nebraska Catholic High School Junior (Presentation Response Card, 2010)

“It wasn't as hard as I thought to get yelled and cussed at.  JFA teaches you a gentle strength.” - Charity Boaz, JFA Volunteer (Outreach Reflection, 2010)

“I've heard this before, but I learned more this time.  I was on the fence about abortion but now I understand both sides more which was helpful in being more pro-life.”  - Catholic High School Sophomore (Seminar Response Card, 2010)

“Talking to the people really gave me a chance to learn more about other people's opinions and the training really helped when talking to my friend.  For example, I could get the point across to her without sounding defensive and just have a normal conversation about it.  The points made in the seminar also helped with my reasoning to be pro-life because before this experience I really had no information to back-up how I feel, it was just purely how I felt.  Now however I have more knowledge about it and it makes my decision to be pro-life understandable.”  - Kelly, Nebraska Catholic High School Student (Outreach Debrief Response Card, 2010)

“I believe that the thing that truly won me over to wanting to further volunteer for JFA was when a young man was looking at the event and looked a little disturbed. I chose to walk up to him and talk with him and honestly his stance was very thought out. The most surprising thing is when he said “I have been pro-choice my entire life but I have never seen a human face put on abortion”.  He had always been told what abortion was, he explained, throughout his education and he thought it should be the woman’s choice…he had never even stopped to think about what the actual act of abortion did to the unborn child and had never, until that point, thought about the actual value of life.  He also told me, and I firmly believe that he meant it, that this had truly changed his stance from pro-choice to pro-life.”  - James Konderla, UNT Student and JFA Volunteer (Outreach Reflection, 2010)

“I realized I didn't need all the answers; and if I help someone just get one step closer to being pro-life that was better than saying nothing.” - Charity Boaz, JFA Volunteer (See "Charity on the Metro" for more.)

“Initially, I wasn't sure what this training was going to look like or how it was going to be helpful for my life because I'm not the kind of person that just starts talking about abortion with someone. But as the training went on, I began to find it extremely fun and exciting, and ever since then I have found the training to be amazingly helpful even in day-to-day conversations! Just to have that foundation of trying to find common ground with others to begin with and not flat out, disregard what they say, but listen and take what they say into account. I would recommend this training to all of my friends and family members. It has been so helpful to know how to have conversations with people in a way that is God-honoring!”  - Rachel Carnehl (Seminar Participant, Ellerslie, 2014)

“It kind of surprised me how much easier it was than I thought it would be to actually talk to someone about [abortion], because I've never really had this kind of training before... The training was really unique. Most trainings you go to you just listen to talks but they never let you apply it. So I thought it was cool yesterday how we got to practice so it wasn't near as hard when we got out here... Once you get going it's a lot easier than you would think to get in a rhythm and just talk to people.” - Jacob, Benedictine College Student (See Jacob's Video Interview)

“…these boys want so much to find something they can be passionate about.  Something they can give their lives to that's real, and true.  Church isn't interesting to them, youth group bores them, they don't like Christian music.  But working the Exhibit is real Christianity to them…”
A Mom’s Reflection (Read the Whole Reflection)

More Testimonies and Reflections

  • See the "Healing After Abortion" page for testimonies from five JFA Volunteers with abortion in their pasts.

  • Spencer (Teacher, Veritas Christian School, and JFA Volunteer) and his students from Veritas Christian School

  • Laura (JFA Volunteer since 2008)

  • Kinsey (JFA Volunteer since 2011)

  • Andrea (JFA Volunteer since 2006)

  • Lauren (JFA Volunteer since 2005)

  • Paul (Pastor, Fairview Baptist Church, and JFA Volunteer)

  • Robb (Focus on the Family Institute, 2007)

  • Amy (Woman to Woman Pregnancy Center, Texas)

  • Sarah (Christian Campus House, University of Missouri at Columbia and JFA Volunteer at Mizzou in 2003)

  • Tony (JFA Intern, 2009)

  • Thomas (JFA Volunteer at KU in 2009)

  • Anna (Benedictine College, 2008)

  • Jan (2008)

  • Emily (Dayspring High School Student, 2011)

  • Amy (Focus on the Family Institute, 2004)