Apologia Radio Ep. 560: Remembering John Barros w/ Marcus Pittman

Date: February 20, 2026
Host: Luke the Bear (filling in for Jeff Durbin)
Guest: Marcus Pittman
Theme: A heartfelt tribute and reflection on the life, ministry, and legacy of John Barros, a dedicated pro-life sidewalk counselor and evangelist, whose faithfulness impacted thousands.

Episode Overview

This episode is a moving memorial for John Barros, who passed away two years prior. Host Luke the Bear and guest Marcus Pittman recount stories, lessons, and the enduring impact John had on the pro-life movement, especially through sidewalk ministry at abortion clinics. The conversation highlights how John’s ordinary faithfulness sparked extraordinary influence, inspiring ministries like End Abortion Now and documentaries such as “Babies Are Murdered Here.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of End Abortion Now and Apologia’s Pro-Life Ministry

• Genesis of the Ministry (04:48):
  • The beginnings of End Abortion Now were catalyzed by Marcus Pittman’s documentary Babies Are Murdered Here, featuring John Barros and Rusty Thomas.
  • Spontaneous brainstorming, domain name purchase, and a shared desire to engage more deeply in abortion mill ministry.
    Quote:
    *“One of us…goes, ‘How about End Abortion Now?’ and I remember you said you typed it in, ‘It’s available.’…Jeff gets off the interview and we’re like, ‘We just started End Abortion Now!’” – Luke (06:12)

2. John Barros’ Introduction & Influence

• First Encounter with John (13:27):

  • Marcus shares how he was introduced to John via friends, leading to a transformative meeting.
  • Marcus’s impression: John wasn’t polished, but “the most real dude I’ve ever seen”—genuine, relationally bold, and deeply committed.
  • John welcomed Marcus into his home, and their friendship grew from there.

  Quote:
  "He wasn't this Gospel Coalition style, political sort of face…he was just a man, smoking a Toro Fuente cigar at the cigar lounge. I was like, dude, this is my dude." – Marcus (16:48)

3. Babies Are Murdered Here Documentary Impact

• Revelation that using the word "murder" was controversial in pro-life circles at the time.

• The film’s grassroots momentum: inspired a wave of street preachers to create their own signs and emboldened a new language in the movement.

• John's hospitality and open-heartedness made a deep impression on Marcus and became a catalyst for broader ministry.

  Quote:
  “We learned you can’t say murder. Like, we had no idea. But we’re just like, yeah, it’s murder…and now they use it all the time [in pro-life work].” – Marcus (15:48)

4. Stories of Divine Providence

• God's Unscripted Plans (21:12):

  • The unplanned, serendipitous way God used ordinary faithfulness (John’s sidewalk counseling, Marcus’s filming) to create far-reaching influence. Quote:
    "Sometimes [organizations] with millions of dollars don't affect anything significant for Christ…but here, you’re just doing your thing, and Marcus shows up, and God uses that." – Gabe (22:16)

• RC Sproul’s Advice (23:53):

  • “You just stay on your 50ft of sidewalk, and God will bring the world to you.” – RC Sproul, recounted by John

5. John’s Ministry at the Clinic

• Tireless commitment: Often out on the sidewalk 7 days a week from 2008 until failing health.
• Stories of babies saved—sometimes directly witnessing families returning to thank him.
• Example: A saved baby and mother showed up unplanned during filming, providing a poignant ending to Marcus’s documentary.
  • Quote:
    “I remember…the baby's mother just shows up…And I said, ‘I found the end of the film, John.’” – Marcus (29:33)

6. Miraculous Encounter: The Gift of Tongues

• John tells a story (30:35–34:56) about a Spanish-speaking man who heard the Gospel in his own language, though John was preaching in English—an event that John humbly describes as God making up for all deficiencies.
  • Quote:
    “How in the world did you understand the preaching? Because I don't preach in Spanish…He said, ‘I heard every word that you preached in my own language, and I'll never forget that.’” – John (34:07)

7. Church Support & RC Sproul’s Involvement

• John recounts how the elders at St. Andrews Chapel, led by RC Sproul, fully embraced and backed his sidewalk ministry.
• The community provided tangible support: baby showers, mentorship, even a van to transport women and children.
  • Quote:
    “It’s a beautiful thing when you have a church behind you…when I say ‘we’ll help you’ it’s literally hundreds of people at my church that stand there with me and back that promise up.” – John (39:59)

8. Opposition, Perseverance, and Unusual Relationships

• Hostility from “the carnies”—a group of aggressive pro-abortion protestors; even playing “cancer songs” to taunt John as he battled illness (47:18).
• Paradoxically, these antagonists also showed him a strange affection, once anxiously searching for him when he missed a day.
• Remarkable: John was once invited to Thanksgiving dinner by abortion clinic staff—becoming a fixture even among those on the “other side.”
  • Quote:
    “It was crazy…as much as they hated him, they wanted him there.” – Marcus (59:33)

9. John’s Heart & Motivation: On Heaven and Sin

• Poignant Moment (49:57–50:48):
  • When asked what he was most looking forward to in heaven:
  • Quote:
    “I just don’t want to sin anymore. I hate my sin. To not have that problem anymore has to be the most uplifting thing…other than actually seeing Jesus face to face.” – John (49:57)
  • Demonstrates his humility and focus on personal holiness, even as thousands credit him for changed lives.

10. Male Leadership in Ministry

• John took principled, protective leadership at the clinics, ensuring men were held accountable and directing male-female interactions for safety and focus.
  • Quote:
    “You really need a man out there. He would tell me, ‘this is my abortion clinic’…he made sure the women out there followed his rules or they would be banned.” – Marcus (51:45)

11. Legacy: Storytelling and Sacrificial Love

• John wished to be remembered as a “storyteller for God.”
• His storytelling “put flesh” on biblical texts and challenged others by example.
  • Quote:
    “Just as just being a storyteller for God, that’s all. There’s no good thing in me, but every kind of goodness there is, is in Him.” – John (58:30)
• Story about eating inside the abortion clinic with staff, seeing the twisted attempts to comfort women with angel wings and “your baby’s in heaven now” messages.
• Push to have a bronze statue or even the physical sidewalk he wore through as a memorial.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The importance of ordinary faithfulness:
  “God will bring the world to you…Just stay on your 50ft of sidewalk.” – RC Sproul (23:53)
• On social and pro-life activism:
  “Desperate times call for faithful men and not for careful men. The careful men come later and write the biographies of the faithful men, lauding them for their courage.” – John Barros (01:54)
• Heart for lost and hurting people:
  “Anything good down there is from Him. It’s certainly not from me or anyone else on that sidewalk.” – John (34:56)
• Impactful legacy:
  “Almost a thousand churches, we’ve been able to translate. Thousands upon thousands of babies…legislation…even just in us.” – Gabe (21:56)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:48] – The story of how End Abortion Now began and John’s influence
• [12:11] – First introduction to John Barros via Babies Are Murdered Here
• [16:48] – Marcus describes John's raw authenticity and approach
• [23:53] – RC Sproul’s advice: "Stay on your 50ft of sidewalk"
• [30:35]–[34:56] – John’s miraculous “gift of tongues”/Spanish preaching story
• [37:05] – Church support and RC Sproul’s commissioning of John’s sidewalk ministry
• [47:18] – Opposition from pro-abortion activists (“the carnies”)
• [49:57]–[50:48] – What John most looked forward to in Heaven
• [58:30] – John’s wish to be remembered as a “storyteller for God”
• [59:33] – Thanksgiving dinner with abortion clinic staff

Reflections on John’s Character, Approach, & Legacy

• Endurance amid adversity: Despite hostility, cancer, and even organized attempts to demoralize him, John took joy in the Gospel’s work and remained sensitive to the leading of the Spirit.
• Authenticity & Masculine Leadership: He challenged men headed into the clinic, acting as a calm but powerful presence and mentor for all involved in pro-life ministry.
• Humble Impact: He never sought celebrity, but inspired thousands by “just being there” and letting God do the work, as highlighted by stories of international gratitude and unexpected moments of grace.
• Inspiration for future generations: John’s life became a template for Gospel-centered activism, storytelling, and persistence—inspiring not only colleagues, but also documentary filmmakers, pastors, and ordinary Christians.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a fitting tribute not only to John Barros’s legacy but to the power of quiet faithfulness, storytelling, and living convictionally in the public square. His memory challenges listeners to step out in obedience, to love sacrificially, and to trust that God can use even the most ordinary acts for extraordinary ends.

For more information or to support End Abortion Now and related ministries, visit Apologia Studios, or check out Marcus Pittman's LoreTV and adoption fundraiser.

“I would have given up being President of the United States…to just do what God called me to do.”
— John Barros (24:00)