Before I share the EXCITING NEWS about another abortion facility director who just quit her job during the 40 Days for Life campaign outside her facility’s doors …

… I wanted to give you a quick update on our progress toward the matching challenge of $118,500 …

We’re four days into the seven-day matching period and thus far, we’ve received one-time gifts and monthly pledges amounting to $45,800 — a great start, but less than half. We certainly don’t want to miss out on the amazing generosity of the donors who put forward this challenge by not hitting the match!

REMEMBER — every gift given between now and midnight next Tuesday, May 17 — up to the $118,500 amount — will be DOUBLED!

Make a ONE-TIME gift now:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=onetime

And the annualized amount of every monthly pledge (multiply the monthly amount by 12) made between now and midnight next Tuesday, May 17will be annualized (multiplied by 12) and then DOUBLED!

Make a MONTHLY PLEDGE now:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=monthly

And if you itemize on your taxes, 40 Days for Life is a 501c3 non-profit, and your contribution DOES qualify for a deduction.

Please help TODAY if at all possible — and thank you to everyone who has given already!!

Now for the exciting news …

If you listened to the MOMENTUM webcast and teleconference on Tuesday evening, you heard about the many AMAZING victories God provided in response to your prayers during 40 Days for Life.

One of those victories in particular was absolutely an answer to many prayers.

The director of an abortion facility where a 40 Days for Life campaign was conducted for the FIRST TIME this spring just quit her job, thanking the 40 Days for Life effort for helping her to get out of the abortion industry!

This is one of TEN abortion center workers who walked away from their jobs during this campaign alone …

… and one of 53 who have quit the abortion business since the first coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign in 2007.

Praise God!

This is a very sensitive situation for the former clinic director (who we’ve been working closely with throughout this process) so I’m not going to identify the person or the location. She will no doubt face pressure when her former bosses learn the truth.

Members of the local 40 Days for Life team and pro-lifers in the region have offered to assist this former abortion center worker find new employment. So please keep this courageous lady in your prayers!

But, there’s even more good news from around the country — and the world!

To hear other inspiring stories from three additional local 40 Days for Life campaigns sharing the blessings they experienced, listen to this short audio report:

Download MP3 (right-click to save file to your computer):

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/momentum.mp3

Let’s keep this momentum growing until abortion ends!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Here are those links again for contributing to 40 Days for Life today — and having your gift DOUBLED to help reach the $118,500 matching challenge.

One-time gift:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=onetime

Monthly pledge:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=monthly

Your gift may also be mailed to:

40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road, Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA 22408

During Tuesday night’s MOMENTUM webcast, we shared the many blessings and answered prayers that God has provided through your sacrificial efforts surrounding this spring’s 40 Days for Life campaign:

• 80,000 participants
• 247 cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, England, Ireland, Spain, Belize, Armenia and Georgia.
• 714 lives spared from abortion
• 10 abortion workers quit their jobs
• And 3 more abortion facilities shut down and went out of business!

If you missed Tuesday’s event, here’s the audio recording:

Download MP3 (right-click to save file to your computer):

http://ds1.downloadtech.net/cn1086/audio/10273660212084-001.mp3

On the webcast we offered details about the three abortion centers that closed their doors for good — all locations where 40 Days for Life campaigns have been conducted.

They’re located in San Francisco and San Mateo, California, and Southgate, Michigan. And we have photos of each location:

The California locations had once been part of the Planned Parenthood empire, but had become part of an independent regional chain. After 40 Days for Life campaigns were held outside their doors, they ran into financial difficulty and shut their doors.

We had talked about the Southgate location previously — asking for prayer that God’s will be done, as the facility’s owner had put his business up for sale.

This particular abortion facility has been the scene of 40 Days for Life vigils — and lots of other prayer and peaceful pro-life effort as well.

Well, the bottom line is that PRAYER WORKS!

And with your help, this work will continue to grow and build momentum — thanks to a few very generous donors who put up an unprecedented matching gift.

Contribute to 40 Days for Life before midnight next Tuesday (May 17) and your gift — or the annualized amount of your monthly pledge — will be doubled — up to $118,500!

REMEMBER: The matching challenge will only double gifts or pledges made by midnight Tuesday, so please don’t wait — please give NOW!

We’re off to a good start, but together we still have a long way to go to meet this match — and we certainly don’t want to leave any of this generosity sitting on the table!

If God is weighing on your heart to make a one-time gift that will be instantly DOUBLED, go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=onetime

If you feel called to make a pledge of monthly support (the annualized amount of your monthly pledge will be DOUBLED!) go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=monthly

Many people have asked for our mailing address to send a donation. They can be sent to:

40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA 22408

For those mailed gifts to be doubled, they need to be postmarked by Tuesday, May 17.

Thank you for taking action TODAY!

And YES … if you itemize on your taxes, 40 Days for Life is a 501c3 non-profit, and your contribution DOES qualify for a deduction!

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Just a quick reminder that David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life, will be featured on an episode of Johnette Benkovic’s EWTN show today — watch at 11:00 AM Eastern (8 AM Pacific) or when the show re-airs at 11:30 PM Eastern (8:30 PM Pacific).

Many cable services offer EWTN, or you can watch the program online at show time by visiting:

http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.asp

UN-BE-LIEVABLE!!

Last night, thousands of people joined together for the MOMENTUM teleconference and webcast …

• To learn firsthand the amazing results of this spring’s 40 Days for Life campaign …
• To gain hope from the powerful momentum that is building across the pro-life movement …
• To discover the next-step plans for the future of our unified efforts …
• And to hear an unprecedented BIG announcement (see below for details!)

Many people have asked about whether there will be a recording available from the event … YES!

You can instantly access the audio from last night’s event online:

Download MP3 (right-click to save file to your computer):

http://ds1.downloadtech.net/cn1086/audio/10273660212084-001.mp3

Even if you have a dial-up internet connection, you can still listen to the streaming audio online — or you can download the MP3 to your iPod or computer.

(Our transcriptionist is putting every word of the event in writing and we’ll have that available shortly as well.)

On the audio recording, you’ll also hear the humbling announcement about a group of committed donors who issued an unprecedented …

… $118,500 MATCHING CHALLENGE.

These donors who believe in the power of 40 Days for Life want to encourage YOU and others to join them in taking this critical work to the next level.

Bottom line: your one-time gift — or the annualized amount of your monthly pledge — to 40 Days for Life will be instantly doubled, up to…

… $118,500!!

Here’s the catch: This challenge will only double gifts or monthly pledges made by midnight next TUESDAY, MAY 17.

We don’t want to leave any of these donors’
generosity sitting on the table, so please consider making a donation — and having it doubled — before next Tuesday.

If God is weighing on your heart to make a one-time gift that will be instantly DOUBLED, go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=onetime

On that page, you can make a secure donation online, or you can print out a form where you can indicate your one-time pledge or gift and mail it in — but it MUST be postmarked by next Tuesday to be doubled.

If you feel called to make a pledge of monthly support (the annualized amount of your monthly pledge will be DOUBLED) go now to:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=monthly

We are VERY grateful that God has provided these amazing opportunities at this crucial moment and hope that you feel led to respond generously.

The future of the pro-life movement has never been brighter, David!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: 40 Days for Life will get worldwide coverage Thursday on the EWTN television network.

David Bereit, 40 Days for Life national director, will be featured on an episode of Johnette Benkovic’s show, titled: “Discerning the Call: 40 Days for Life.” The show airs at 11 AM Eastern (8 AM Pacific) and repeats at 11:30 PM Eastern (8:30 PM Pacific).

Most cable services offer EWTN, or you can watch the show online at show time by visiting:

http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.asp

PPS: 40 Days for Life continues to build momentum this week in Canada, as David Bereit and his family travel to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, where David will speak tomorrow at the Canadian March for Life, the Rose Dinner following the huge rally, and then at the youth conference on Friday morning. If you are attending the Canadian March for Life, be sure to tell David and his family “hello!” For more info, visit: target=”_blank”>http://tinyurl.com/6k9mjom

Well, the largest 40 Days for Life campaign ever is history — for now!

What an amazing 40-day journey we’ve been on, as 247 cities in nine countries prayed, fasted, stood vigil, and conducted outreach to end abortion.

Thanks to YOU for responding to the Holy Spirit this spring! These efforts have been richly blessed.

I just got home late last night from speaking at the closing event in Germantown, Maryland. Before that, I was in Los Angeles, California at a closing rally.

The L.A. rally lasted into the night. It was too dark for my video camera — but I do have the audio from that event for you.

As you listen to the audio recording, you’ll hear the incredible story about how 40 Days for Life began for me personally this spring …

… and the HUGE blessing in how it ended for me — meeting a baby saved from abortion during previous campaigns in Orange, California!

To listen to the talk online, click the arrow to start the player:

Download MP3 (right-click to save file to your computer):

http://40daysforlife.s3.amazonaws.com/shawnla.mp3

I hope you get lots of encouragement as we all discern how to move forward from here!

40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that recognizes abortion as a local problem … and you have shown the willingness to act on your faith to be the local solution.

Many cities that have conducted 40 Days for Life campaigns have asked “What’s next?”

Here are some of the things going on in just a few of the cities that just wrapped up 40 Days for Life:

—————————————————–
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
—————————————————–

The Alexandria team recognizes that prayer at the abortion center can’t stop. The local coordinators are launching an effort to have people praying on the sidewalks at least on the days that abortions are performed. It’s a proven fact that this prayer presence can change minds.

—————————————————–
LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA
—————————————————–

Local leaders in Lawrenceville have noted a decline in activity at Planned Parenthood – fewer customers obviously means fewer abortions. They know that means they can’t stop. There are also plans to network with other Georgia campaigns to increase opportunities for sidewalk counseling.

—————————————————–
BEAUMONT, TEXAS
—————————————————–

The Beaumont campaign used its closing rally to invite volunteers to keep praying at the abortion center – and more. “We are more determined than ever for the formation of a permanent group in our area for an ongoing prayer group to diligently pray daily against abortion,” said Eileen in Beaumont.

—————————————————–
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
—————————————————–

In a posting on the 40 Days for Life blog, Rae summed up this time of discernment very clearly.

“Our campaign has been marked by a growing awareness that abortion is not a problem in a vacuum, but a product of the despair and hopelessness that is a way of life where Christ is not known,” Rae wrote.

The women and men entering the abortion center all lacked hope. “We are finding ourselves more dedicated than ever to being Christ for the world, here where life and death are as palpable as on the streets of Jerusalem when Jesus carried His cross and walked through the clueless crowds towards His death.”

Rae said the group found, to their surprise, “that trying to save the babies has led us to a more intimate relationship with Christ and a thirst for helping Him in His saving mission to the world.”

And that’s exactly why we carry on. We’ll have much more to say in the weeks and months ahead, but for now we’ll take a break from daily e-mail so we, too, can refresh, recharge and renew.

Click here to read today’s devotional.

Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.

There’s no way I can really express the appreciation I have for everything you’ve done during this campaign — your prayers, your participation, your persistence.

You provide tremendous HOPE for our future!

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Any additional stories from 40 Days for Life in your community? Please respond below.

Well, here we are … the final day of the first 40 Days for Life campaign of 2011. And what an amazing campaign it has been with a record 247 locations!

But that’s not the milestone.

So far during this campaign, we are aware of …

… 483 babies who have been saved from abortion. (And reports from local teams will still be coming in for the next week or so. So we hope and pray that number will continue to grow.)

But that’s not the milestone.

Since 40 Days for Life started these coordinated campaigns in September of 2007, we now know of …

… MORE THAN FOUR THOUSAND BABIES SPARED FROM ABORTION!

And yes, THAT is the milestone! The current total is 4,082!

4,082 people is a lot of folks! If you’ve ever heard of Centerville, Tennessee or Lathrop, Missouri — those are towns whose populations are around 4,082.

Through your prayers, God has spared enough human beings to fill a whole town.

WOW!!!

I can only wonder what our Lord will do next! Today we start in Manassas, Virginia and the AMAZING witness of a mom with her three young daughters by her side.

——————————————————-
MANASSAS, VIRGINIA
——————————————————-

The abortion industry REALLY doesn’t like 40 Days for Life! Here’s what I mean.

A mom and her three daughters were praying at the vigil when the abortionist angrily approached them, cursing at them and shouting, “You’re going to hell!”

The mother was astonished. When she was able to get a word in, she responded, “YOU’RE killing babies in there!”

“Yeah?” replied the abortionist. “AND I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!”

After that shocking display, she took her daughters into the nearby pregnancy resource center.

This story takes the mask off “choice” and is a sobering reminder of the evil were are fighting in the abortion industry. Please keep praying!

——————————————————-
FROM THE 40 DAYS FOR LIFE BLOG
——————————————————-

Emily wrote that she and a friend had a similar experience.

While they were praying quietly, a woman came storming out of the abortion center, ran up to them and started screaming, practically in their faces.

“You can’t be here! This is illegal,” she said. “You’re breaking the law! You’re protesters! This is illegal!”

Well, obviously, it was not illegal.

When the woman finally stopped yelling and began walking back to the building, Emily’s friend said, “God bless you, ma’am.”

The woman turned around to scream once more: “He already does! And YOU work for the DEVIL!”

“This experience left me more determined than ever that our presence outside the abortion clinic is not only a good idea, but an absolute necessity,” Emily said.

Abortion centers are places of death, despair, anger and hatred — “epicenters of evil,” she called them.

“Although I don’t usually feel like I’m making a difference by being there, just because I can’t see any physical evidence,” said Emily, “I now know that by simply being present, we are helping to counter that evil with love, peace, truth and light!”

——————————————————-
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
——————————————————-

Of course, there are many joyful things happening at 40 Days for Life vigils, too! It was a busy day at the abortion center in South Bend where volunteers pray.

As the group prayed, they watched as a young woman walked out of the facility and headed towards the cars. But then she went back inside – then came out again. The group took note, but just kept praying.

She went back inside once more — and then came out a third time. This time, however, she got in her car and drove up alongside the people praying.

In her left hand, she held a stack of money. In her right hand, she held an ultrasound image. She leaned out the window and announced, “I didn’t do it!”

“You could feel the peace and joy of God surrounding that young mother,” said Sally in South Bend. “We were all so moved. God is good!”

Yes, He is!

Click here to read today’s devotional.

Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done to make this monumental campaign such an amazing success. You all inspire me!

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Any final thoughts to share about this 40 Days for Life campaign? Please leave a note below.

As we mark the second-to-last day of this 40 Days for Life campaign, I want to personally thank you for all of your sacrifices, large and small, since this effort began on March 9.

I saw a quote this week from Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, who recently prayed at the 40 Days for Life campaign in Boulder. His words sum up the importance of EVERYTHING you’re doing.

“Nothing we do to defend the human person, no matter how small, is ever unfruitful or forgotten. Our actions touch other lives and move other hearts in ways we can never fully understand in this world,” said Archbishop Chaput. “Don’t ever underestimate the beauty and power of the witness you give in your pro-life work.”

Amen!

——————————————————-
BOULDER, COLORADO
——————————————————-

Archbishop Chaput was one of a number of clergymen who took part in a special day of prayer at the abortion center in Boulder where 40 Days for Life is currently in progress.

Members of the Boulder team say about 120 people participated, including many who were attending their first-ever pro-life event. The mood was uplifting and the responses mostly positive.

On another day recently, two volunteers were praying when a woman in her mid-20s walked out of the abortion center — in tears.

She walked over to the people praying and said, “Don’t worry. I didn’t get an abortion.”

——————————————————-
MISSOULA, MONTANA
——————————————————-

The Missoula vigil coordinator and two other 40 Days for Life volunteers were praying outside the abortion center when a car pulled up.

A couple was seated in the front, and their children were in the back. The mother spoke to the prayer volunteers in a somewhat abrupt manner. “I’m pro-choice,” she said. “Why should I be pro-life?”

The vigil participants answered, covering many points. But the woman didn’t seem convinced.

So the vigil coordinator asked her, “May I pray with you?” She answered “yes,” and they prayed.

One of the others then offered the woman information about the local pregnancy resource center, which she took.

The prayers must have had an effect.

“Choice might be fine for someone else,” the woman said. “But I’m keeping my baby.”

——————————————————-
FOREST GROVE, OREGON
——————————————————-

A young couple drove into the parking lot at the abortion center that’s the location of the 40 Days for Life vigil in Forest Grove.

They didn’t get out of their car — they just sat there. That’s often a good sign; they’re watching as people pray, and that can make it more difficult to actually set foot into the abortion center.

The couple started the car, backed out of their parking space, and drove towards the exit. As they reached the prayer volunteers, they rolled down the window with the good news.

They smiled and said they would not be having an abortion.

“There were expressions of such happiness and relief on their faces,” said one of the volunteers. “Praise God! Please keep this pair in your prayers as they now follow the path they have chosen.”

If you haven’t been to pray at a 40 Days for Life vigil yet, today’s a GREAT day! Saturday is often the busiest day of the week at abortion centers, so your prayers are especially needed TODAY!

To find the 40 Days for Life vigil nearest you, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm

Click here to read today’s devotional.

Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.

To ensure that this 40 Days for Life finishes strong if there is any way you can carve out one extra hour this weekend to go pray outside the nearest abortion facility …. it could make a world of difference.

Who knows? God might even use you to help save a life!

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Have you prayed at an abortion facility for the first time during this 40 Days for Life campaign? If so, please share your experiences by responding below.

Darkness is responsible for the despair and hopelessness that leads women to choose abortion.

Scripture says that Jesus is “the light of the world.” Sometimes, the darker the place, the brighter the light shines.

That is certainly the case when we bring the light of Christ to the sidewalk outside abortion facilities.

Our role in this historic 40 Days for Life campaign is to be the light-bearer. We bring Jesus to a place He is desperately needed.

Here are a few examples of how the light of Christ can overcome darkness.

——————————————————-
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
——————————————————-

Ann, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator in Richmond, arrived at the prayer vigil to hear the good news that a woman had just left the abortion center, telling volunteers she was keeping her child.

After spending some time in prayer, Ann got a phone call — from a reporter at the local ABC TV station. “As much as I dislike being on camera,” she said, “I’d do it for the team.”

She sent out a quick call for as many people as possible to come provide prayer cover during the interview. The reporter called back, asking to meet at the station. “No,” Ann responded, “I need to be praying at the vigil.”

When she returned, there were eight people praying — during an hour had been completely empty on the vigil schedule.

“Thank you, God,” Ann said, “for all the many ways You bless us.”

——————————————————-
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA
——————————————————-

The 40 Days for Life team in Winston-Salem watched as two women brought their daughters in for abortions.

A vigil participant said “good morning” to the women. One of them stepped forward and said, “I resent you being here. You are judging us!”

The vigil participant hadn’t said a word; she was simply holding a sign that said, “I regret my abortion.” It turns out that both of these women had had abortions, and they knew exactly what it was they were about to put their daughters through.

“This clearly demonstrates the generational curse that abortion is,” said the volunteer. At this point, vigil participants did the only thing they could.

They continued to pray.

I was in Winston-Salem recently, meeting and praying with 40 Days for Life team members. Here’s are a photo from my stop there:

——————————————————-
LONDON, ENGLAND
——————————————————-

It seems the 40 Days for Life vigil site in London is blessed with an occasional heckler. I say “blessed” because some of the comments lobbed at the people praying are downright entertaining.

Here are some observations from a frequent vigil participant:

“You are just wasting your time. There is no God!” shouts a passing cyclist with breath-taking and steely metaphysical certainty.

“You hypocrites, what about the millions of starving children around the world?” cries another man (I am a bit at a loss by the non-sequitur of this latter reproach).

But the most entertaining must be a young man who approached us and, with an agitated, tense voice, called out, “Why aren’t you praying for the 20,000 back-street abortions that take place in Pakistan?”

Whilst wondering if he has personally counted the number being shouted at us, I offer him one of our magazines; but he snarls: “I know all about your fabricated propaganda. I don’t need to read any more about it!”

As a last resort, we offer to pray for him. This really sends him ballistic. “I don’t NEED your prayers, thank you. I don’t believe in your evil God!”

With the onset of the warm and sunny spring weather, the heckling completely dies out. It is as if the good weather symbolizes Christ, the light of the world, who sends the evil spirits packing.

Click here to read today’s devotional.

Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Have you received assurance that your efforts with 40 Days for Life have borne fruit? If so, please share your story by replying below.

There is so much momentum heading into the closing weekend of 40 Days for Life!

Tonight, I am speaking in Los Angeles at a 40 Days for Life event. Then tomorrow, I head back to the east coast for a closing event outside of a late-term abortion facility in Maryland.

With just a few days left, are you getting a little tired?

If so, please remember to pray and prepare your hearts as we enter into what Fulton Sheen called “the week that changed the world.” Next week, our commemoration of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus reassure us of victory over death.

SO … are you ready for a few more stories of the Lord’s amazing blessings? Here goes!

——————————————————-
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
——————————————————-

A young couple had arrived for an appointment at Planned Parenthood in Memphis. On their way into the building, they declined to talk. But a little while later, the man walked outside.

This time, one of the counselors was able to strike up a conversation. He confirmed that the young woman was there for an abortion. The counselor gave him information about resources that are available in Memphis. He thanked her and went back inside.

Less than ten minutes later, the couple walked out of Planned Parenthood. The young man raised his arms, smiled and exclaimed, “We’re not going to do it!”

The vigil participants waved as the couple drove off. But then they made a quick stop and circled back into the parking lot. It seems they’d gotten a phone call from Planned Parenthood. They may have called off the abortion, but they still owed $100 for the clinic visit!

That should tell you something about Planned Parenthood.

“But this did not dampen the young father’s spirits,” said Kerry in Memphis. “Before he drove off again, he gave two thumbs-up to the vigil-goers.”

——————————————————-
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
——————————————————-

Lisa, a sidewalk counselor at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Charlotte, just got a text from a young woman who had chosen life for her child.

“Hi! How are you?” she wrote. “I’m happy I didn’t do it. I want you and the people that you were with to know that it meant the whole world to me to know that you all care about me, not even knowing me. Thanks! I hope to hear from you soon.”

Of course, Lisa got back in touch right away and scheduled some more time to talk. Anytime is fine, the young woman replied, because if it weren’t for the people praying, “I would have done a really bad thing.”

“I hope this is as encouraging to y’all as it was to me,” said Lisa.

——————————————————-
HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY
——————————————————-

Louise writes on the 40 Days for Life blog that she went to church one morning recently and spotted several members of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal — a religious order that, among other things, is noted for its strong pro-life stand.

“Right then and there, I knew something special would happen today,” she said. The friars left church and headed to the 40 Days for Life vigil.

“We noticed a young couple approaching the building, the woman crying the man consoling her,” she wrote. “Two counselors started to speak with them. As time passed prayers, became more and more intense within all of us there. You could just feel the Holy Spirit’s presence among us.”

One family brought their baby over and the woman cried some more. An hour later, the couple went inside to cancel their appointment.

“You just had to be there to feel God’s presence all around us,” Louise said. “I don’t think anyone who witnessed that hour will ever be the same.”

Click here to read today’s devotional.

Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: I’m really enjoying your stories of local 40 Days for Life campaigns posted on the 40 Days for Life blog. If you have news to share, please reply below.

Are you ready to be surprised?

California has a record 29 locations taking part in 40 Days for Life right now!

This morning, I’m getting on a plane to head to the West Coast to speak at some closing events later this week.

Maybe it surprised you that there are so many local campaigns in California, but it doesn’t surprise me. California has led in locations for many of the 40 Days for Life campaigns for one reason — HOPE!

Why do we keep going? That’s easy. We have HOPE!

The first brief item in today’s report is a profound — and amazing — reflection of that hope.

——————————————————-
FROM THE 40 DAYS FOR LIFE BLOG
——————————————————-

“I am a 60-year-old woman who had four abortions when I was a young woman — spiritually and emotionally lost,” she wrote.

“Since I returned to church in 1992, I have experienced Christ’s mercy and healing more powerfully than words can express. He is my treasure. He is the meaning and purpose of my life.”

She adds that she’s praying daily — and she’s fasting from coffee!

“I cry with joy for the babies saved and the minds and hearts changed,” she wrote. “May He continue to bless the babies, mothers and others through your beautiful commitment!”

——————————————————-
UNDISCLOSED LOCATION
——————————————————-

If word about WHERE THIS IS gets out, that could have an impact. But this is some inside information from a Planned Parenthood office — thanks to a tip from a work crew!

It seems that while these workers were there, they heard Planned Parenthood employees complaining about the “anti-choice protesters” outside. A few even wondered if they could move to a location where prayer volunteers wouldn’t be able to speak to their clients as they walked in.

One evening recently, three cars of teenagers drove past and cursed at the vigil participants — but during this particular prayer shift, not a soul entered or left Planned Parenthood.

“Praise God!” said the local coordinator. “We realize Satan’s stronghold must be crumbling at this location … Jesus, we trust in you!”

Until very recently, there had been no regular prayer presence at this Planned Parenthood location.

“Our prayer is not only that they would close down shop,” said the coordinator, “but that they would not be able to reopen altogether.”

——————————————————-
CLEVELAND, OHIO
——————————————————-

“What an awesome evening we had,” said Amy in Cleveland.

40 Days for Life prayer volunteers met for prayer at a local church. “This church is located only a few blocks from the only abortion clinic in the Cleveland area that does late term abortions,” Amy said.

One of the parish priests then led the volunteers on a silent procession down the sidewalk to the abortion center for more prayer.

“We were on a very busy road,” said Amy, “and our vigil was met with many honks, thumbs up and waves. Not once did we hear the roar of Satan through a nasty yell or an unfriendly wave. We must have scared him off!”

——————————————————-
MARIETTA, GEORGIA
——————————————————-

“We have seen some miraculous things happen at the three different sites here in metro Atlanta,” said one of the local leaders in Marietta.

Several women have walked away from their appointments to have an abortion. “We don’t know yet whether they have made that a permanent decision,” said the coordinator, “but that is where our continued prayers come in.”

Some of the prayer volunteers have helped organize baby showers for the women who have chosen life for their babies — a choice they made because of the effort of the people on the sidewalk who were praying for them and their children.

The number of abortion patients appears to be dwindling, which is obviously irritating the abortionist. And folks who work in nearby offices are expressing their dismay as they learn that an abortion center is so close to their work places.

Said the local leader, “We do make a difference!”

Click here to read today’s devotional.

Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What small victories have you witnessed with 40 Days for Life in your city? Please share the good news by replying below.

I just returned from a first-time 40 Days for Life campaign that is having a HUGE impact!

——————————————————-
SHERMAN, TEXAS
——————————————————-

This campaign location has had its fair share of persecution — and I saw it, just as people were driving by their busy location and seeing the prayerful presence.

With just a few days left in the spring campaign, let us remember that when you get right down to it, abortion is a spiritual battle.

The idea of taking the life of an innocent human being under the guise of compassion, choice or “reproductive rights” could have only been devised by Satan himself.

We know of Christ’s love for women and their children. We also know that in the end, life wins.

Over these last few days, let us persevere — and “put on the full armor of God,” as Paul tells us — and know that victory is assured!

——————————————————-
CALGARY, ALBERTA
——————————————————-

Prayer volunteers at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Calgary watched as a couple arrived at the abortion center. The woman got out at the door. As the man parked the car, he noticed a vigil participant’s sign with information about adoption.

The man was stunned. “All my wife and I ever discussed was parenting or abortion,” he said. “We had no idea adoption is an option.”

He then told his story. He and his wife had two daughters and had found out their third child was also a girl. “I know it’s a sin,” he said, “but I just can’t have another girl. You have no idea how difficult it is to raise girls in this society!”

A volunteer asked if he would take the life of his already-born girls to solve that problem. That made him think. While vigil participants prayed, he went into the building to talk to his wife.

Fifteen minutes later he returned. Shaking his head, with despair in his eyes, he said, “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I really tried. But she won’t give her child to a stranger!” He turned around, fled to his vehicle and sped away.

“My heart still hurts when I think how close we were to saving this little girl’s life,” said one of the volunteers. “Yet God’s ways are higher than ours.”

——————————————————-
TACOMA, WASHINGTON
——————————————————-

John had been looking for signs of encouragement in Tacoma — and he finally got a BIG one. The Planned Parenthood location where the 40 Days for Life vigil is going on in Tacoma was CLOSED four days recently — including two Tuesdays, which are abortion days.

“We have seen averages of up to 40 to 50 lives lost on these days,” he said. “We have NEVER seen them close” on an abortion day.

Then on a Thursday — another abortion day — they were closed again. But the parking lot was full of staff members’ cars — and John said it looked like people from other Planned Parenthood locations were there as well.

That morning, 11 people turned out to pray — more than anyone ever expected. “The sign on the locked door said they are closed for computer upgrades,” John said. “This may be, but it is clear that God is at work here.”

Planned Parenthood was closed — in the middle of 40 Days for Life. Eleven people showed up “out of the blue” to pray. And one of them even brought flowers, which the volunteers gave to women who were surprised by the abortion center’s locked doors.

“The lesson learned was that we are engaged in a fierce spiritual battle,” he said. “God is sovereign and in control … and we can only guess and the large number of lives that were spared.”

Click here to read today’s devotional.

Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: If you have stories to share about the 40 Days for Life campaign in your area, please respond below.