Keyes, who is represented by the American Family Association's Center for Law and Policy, was convicted of trespassing, even though 45 police officers at the scene testified that he and the 150 other demonstrators at the school were well-behaved and left promptly when asked to do so. Remarkably, the sentence was imposed even though police did not arrest or issue citations to anyone at the scene of the protest.

Prosecutors said the conviction and sentence would send a "message" to future protesters. "What message is that?" asked Stephen M. Crampton, chief counsel for the Center for Law and Policy. "It is that Christians who dare to share the gospel at or near government schools will go to jail. The harsh sentence meted out against John for simple trespass is unprecedented."

Court records indicate that Judge Richard S. Miller has allowed persons convicted of grand larceny, cocaine possession and assault and battery to avoid jail time. Others convicted of felony hit and run and felony escape received only three months of jail time from Miller. "It appears that Judge Miller regards preaching the gospel to high school students to be a greater offense than the possession of cocaine," said Michael I. DePrimo, staff attorney for the Center for Law and Policy.

The case began on November 10, 1997, when Keyes and a group of students from Liberty University went to Lynchburg's E.G. Glass High School before the start of the school day. They prayed, sang, distributed gospel tracts and talked with students about alternatives to abortion. When police asked the protesters to leave, they promptly obeyed. No arrests or citations were issued.

However, an obscure and little-used legal maneuver permitted prosecutors to obtain a three-count grand jury indictment against Keyes. Keyes was acquitted of failure to obtain a permit and disorderly conduct, but was found guilty of trespass.

Loving people in Jacksonville donated eye glasses for 263 people. Some had not been able to read for years, and several needed to be led in by the hand and went out seeing and rejoicing.

We had left Jacksonville with one doctor, eight nurses, two dental technicians, three hair dressers, and eleven support personnel and interpreters, traveling 16 hours by plane and bus. We were anxious to start after a day for rest, orientation, and final preparation of over 6,000 prescriptions of medicines and vitamins at the "Castillo del Rey" (King’s Castle Ministry) camp by the lake.

Joined by a Salvadoran medical doctor and a dentist and five medical students from San Salvador, we unloaded our tables and suitcases of medicines while local church members signed people in for medical, dental, or optical services. The hair dressers began to cut hair and treat head lice while people waited.

The crowds of needy people reminded us of the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 when He said that He will bless those who visit the sick and needy, saying "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me".

We tried to show the love of Jesus to each child and adult as we took their temperatures, weights, and blood pressures, and evaluated their problems. Our greeters had candy and cups of water for them as they waited. Time was taken to pray with each one about their needs.

They spent time with spiritual counselors before they went to the pharmacy to receive their medications. Our goal was to give nearly everyone vitamins and parasite medications because intestinal roundworms are very common and debilitating.

After 2 days, we moved farther north where we set up in the union hall of a cement factory. During the week, over 2000 people were helped, including 1,237 medical exams, 263 for eye glasses, 111 dental and 399 for hair. Many were already believers, and 229 prayed to Jesus for forgiveness of their sins.

Among the most excited and happiest people were those who received eye glasses. Pastors and others who could no longer read their Bibles were overjoyed to receive simple reading glasses. A number of younger persons received glasses for severe myopia.

One teenaged albino boy had to be led in by the hand by a friend, his eyes twitching from side to side. He had never been able to see to walk or read. He was fitted with a pair of used glasses donated by a loving person in the USA. He literally was able to see for the first time in his life, and both he and his friend jumped for joy, giving praise to God.

We returned home, physically weary, but changed forever by this week on the mission field, and thankful for the blessings we enjoy in the USA. We gave all we could to the people, but received from God much more than we gave.