“I Was Convicted by My Own Apathy” – Juan Riesco on Saving Babies

Juan Riesco shares his transformative journey from a successful Chicago restaurateur to a full-time advocate for unborn children through Love Life Chicago. Once known for his restaurant Nini's, which was shut down amid political unrest and death threats during the 2020 BLM protests, Juan returned to Chicago to reopen it—only to be convicted by his own apathy when he realized he was encouraging others to stand against abortion while ignoring the clinics just minutes from his own business. This spiritual awakening led him to begin weekly sidewalk counseling outside abortion clinics, a practice that eventually became his life's mission. After the restaurant closed for the second time, he was called by God to lead Love Life Chicago, a chapter of a growing national ministry. Juan describes the raw reality of confronting women who are not victims but active participants in abortion, often driven by sin and rebellion rather than desperation. He emphasizes that the solution is not social services alone, but the full gospel of Christ, delivered with boldness and grace. Despite hostility and threats, he remains joyful and committed, having helped rescue 95 babies and walk alongside 14 mothers in discipleship. He also introduces the House of Refuge Initiative, a program empowering local churches to become safe havens for women facing crisis pregnancies, emphasizing that the church—not crisis pregnancy centers—is the true pillar of truth in culture.