Former abortionist, now 40 Days for Life director of medical affairs and education, Dr. Haywood Robinson, shared his journey from “darkness to light” on sidewalks at abortion facilities across North Carolina this past week. (Photo by Binh-An Nguyen)CHARLOTTE — Former abortionist Dr. Haywood Robinson brought his pro-life testimony to the sidewalks of abortion clinics across North Carolina this week.
He now serves as director of medical affairs and education for 40 Days for Life, an international prayer campaign promoting peaceful pro-life prayer vigils in front of abortion facilities.
Parishioners are holding daily vigils outside locations across the state during the initiative, which runs until April 13.
Just before Robinson’s March 24 Charlotte visit, rainy weather matched the brown tarps draped across clotheslines concealing the building and parking lot of A Women’s Preferred Health Center on Latrobe Drive in Charlotte. The facility is one of the busiest abortion facilities in the Southeast.
John Humphreys, 40 Days for Life’s campaign director for Charlotte and organizer of the prayer vigil, prays outside the facility frequently and looked forward to Robinson’s speech for weeks.
“I have read Dr. Robinson’s book, ‘The Scalpel and the Soul,’ but this will be the first time I’ll see him in person,” he said.
Volunteer escorts for the abortion facility, with rainbow-colored vests and matching umbrellas, held signs directing pregnant women into the parking lot, while around a dozen people stood together along the sidewalk, holding rosary beads and a 40 Days for Life banner and praying for those expectant mothers to find it in their hearts to turn around.
The moment Robinson stepped out of his car, the rain cleared and the loudspeaker went quiet. Everyone, even the escorts, gathered to listen to the 72-year-old African American doctor share his life experience and conversion.
Despite his long drive to North Carolina, Robinson was jubilant in his remarks. “We started this journey on Tuesday and traveled to Roanoke, Virginia, and then we have already been to five places, and guess what? There were two saves in Raleigh,” he said.
By “saves” he means that two of the women intending to receive an abortion left the facility without going through with the procedure.
“I am blessed from the Lord that I have been delivered from the dark side,” Robinson told the group. “I know what it is like to work on the inside. It is no fun.”
The attentive crowd listened while Robinson shared his story. He explained that as a young medical student watching his first abortion, he knew something was “off.” But, just like sin, he said, the more he did it, the less wrong and uncomfortable he felt. Eventually, in his free time, Robinson was providing abortions at various facilities for financial gain.
“$700 in the early 1970s and 1980s was a lot of money,” he said. “You have five, 10, 15 abortions you do; you are walking out with some cash. This is a lucrative business.”
He and his late wife were the “Bonnie and Clyde” of abortionists, he said, performing as many abortions as possible for cash. When his wife was 37 weeks pregnant with their own child, his life took a sudden turn. While attending a Christian concert, Robinson turned his life over to Jesus Christ.
He said the scales fell from his eyes, and he could finally see the truth. From that point on, the couple devoted their lives to ending the very practice that at one time had profited them.
Now Robinson tours the globe encouraging “people of God” to continue praying. Currently, 40 Days for Life is running 700 prayer vigils.
He encouraged the Charlotte prayer team by asking, “What do you guys do? You stand out here every day during the campaign knowing that Jesus says prayers of the righteous availeth much. It may seem like we are just standing here, just holding a sign. We just saw those two babies saved. You’re making a difference.”
Since 40 Days For Life’s start in 2004, Robinson said, he has witnessed numerous miracles. He cites 26,000 babies saved, 200 abortion facilities closed, countless abortion employee resignations, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Their headquarters operating from a former abortion facility is a testament to the power of prayer, he said.
“We never shout at these people; we don’t block driveways. We love them because we know that love covers a multitude of sins,” he explained. “You disarm the enemy when you love and respect them. It must be the Holy Spirit that takes those scales away – there is no amount of eloquence in speech.”
— Lisa Geraci