Before I share the EXCITING NEWS about three more abortion workers who just quit their jobs at the end of this 40 Days for Life campaign — and how Planned Parenthood is on the defensive …

… I wanted to apologize for the glitches we’ve been experiencing with our e-mail system resulting in a few delayed and/or duplicated messages (ugh!) …

… and I wanted to give you a quick update on our progress toward the matching challenge of $75,000.

We’re four days into the week-long matching period, and as I write this, we’ve received one-time gifts and monthly pledges amounting to $44,445 — a great start, for which we are thankful, but just over 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, November 20 — up to the $75,000 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, November 20 will be DOUBLED!

Make a MONTHLY PLEDGE now:

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

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 the 489 people who have given already!!

Now for the exciting news …

If you listened to the ONWARD webcast and teleconference from Monday evening, you heard about the many wonderful victories God provided in response to your prayers during 40 Days for Life.

In addition to the 789 lives confirmed saved during this fall’s campaign — and one Planned Parenthood abortion center CLOSED DOWN — we also saw six workers leave the abortion industry … three of them during the final days of the campaign.

On the webcast, former Planned Parenthood abortion center director Abby Johnson reported the impact this is having on the nation’s largest abortion chain:

Planned Parenthood is terrified of all of these workers who are leaving. We know just from the workers that have left there is definitely a heightened sense of paranoia inside the abortion clinics. They don’t feel like they can trust any of their workers. You know what? They can’t. Because it’s a constant fear, oh gosh, are they talking to people with 40 Days for Life?

Abby explained that many of the quitting workers turn around and take action to overcome the injustices and corruption they witnessed inside the abortion industry:

Currently there are four pending lawsuits out against Planned Parenthood that would total billions and billions of dollars that these affiliates would be required to pay back to federal and state government. Because all of these cases, one thing that we have in common is that we are all accusing Planned Parenthood of Medicaid fraud … there are huge implications if these lawsuits are successful.

One BIG encouragement that Abby shared about 40 Days for Life efforts:

I remember the last Planned Parenthood conference that I went to before I quit. We were actually talking about the 40 Days for Life. Planned Parenthood was saying that their no-show rates go up as high as 75% when people are simply standing and praying outside of abortion clinics.

A 75% abortion no-show rate … WOW.

Bottom line: God is making a profound, life-saving difference … through YOU!

To listen to the audio recording of the entire ONWARD webcast event, go to:

http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=35164425

To download and read the written transcript(PDF format) of the ONWARD event, go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/onward_transcript.pdf

Let’s keep pressing ONWARD until abortion ends!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

I have exciting news below about how you can instantly help DOUBLE the impact of our life-saving work … but first, if you needed a dose of encouragement and hope after the disappointing US election results, last night’s ONWARD teleconference and webcast provided a huge shot in the arm.

Thousands of people participated in the event, and here are what just a FEW of the participants had to say:

• “This webcast was SO inspiring. I am one of those women who regrets her abortion. The state [where I live] is a very difficult one to fight abortion in but I am going to get involved. I have prayed but now I am going to get myself out there. Thank you SO much.”
• “Thank you for your encouraging words tonight on the webcast! God has given us our country back — now what are we going to do with it? 40 days is part of it and it elates me to know it! God bless as they cannot take this country from us unless we give it to them. Hallelujah!”
• “I enjoyed the hope, encouragement and the plan given on the webcast. I am the pro-life leader of my church and I plan to pass this hope onto them tomorrow at our monthly meeting.”

If you were unable to attend the live event — or if you want to go back and re-listen to your favorite parts — it was recorded, and ONWARD is now available.

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

As you listen to the recording, you’ll learn:

• The stunning results of this fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign … which point to BIGGER victories in 2013
• The breaking news about another Planned Parenthood abortion center that closed its doors FOREVER following eight peaceful 40 Days for Life vigils outside its doors
• Insights from former Planned Parenthood abortion center director Abby Johnson about how to strip the abortion giant of nearly HALF A BILLION annual tax dollars by exploiting its hidden weakness
• Why these next 12 months are crucially important … and how our pro-life movement is actually positioned to achieve massive, life-saving success on many fronts
• The aggressive “next step” plans of our unified efforts … based on YOUR feedback!
• How YOU can help to save more lives than ever before … right in the community where you live!

Listen now at ONWARD.

On the audio recording, you’ll also hear the humbling announcement about a group of committed donors who issued a $75,000 MATCHING CHALLENGE!!

These donors — who themselves participate in 40 Days for Life and have seen the local impact — want to encourage YOU and others to join them in taking this critical work to the next level.

Bottom line: your tax-deductible one-time gift — or the annualized amount of your monthly pledge — to 40 Days for Life will be instantly doubled, up to $75,000!!

Here’s the catch: This challenge will only double gifts or monthly pledges made by midnight next TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20.

Since we rarely ask for contributions, we don’t want to leave any of these donors’ generosity sitting on the table, so please consider making a gift — and having it doubled — before next Tuesday.

If God is weighing on your heart to make a one-time tax-deductible donation 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 gift and mail it in — but it MUST be postmarked by next Tuesday to be doubled.

If you feel called to make a tax-deductible 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.

Let’s press ONWARD!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Here’s that link again where you can listen to the recording of
ONWARD … and discover why thousands of people joined this groundbreaking event.

At the end of this record-breaking 40 Days for Life campaign, we praise God for 608 babies saved from abortion — that we know of! Many campaigns are still compiling their reports, so that number will likely keep growing.

While it’s important to take a deep breath and recharge our batteries after 40 days of prayer and hard work, if you’re in the United States, there’s something vitally important you still MUST do.

Tuesday, November 6 is election day. Voting is not only a civil responsibility but also a part of our Christian witness. Christ calls us to proclaim the gospel … and that call extends to our witness in the voting booth.

It is NOT an accident that record numbers of people have been praying and fasting for the cause of life in the lead-up to our most important election in decades.

Make a commitment today to:

• PRAY … for our country, the candidates, your fellow voters — since everything depends on God — and vote as if everything depends on you. Let’s especially storm heaven today with the prayer Jesus taught us:
  

  Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

• DISCERN … which candidates will most respect the fundamental right to life of all persons, and vote accordingly. While there may not be a “perfect” candidate on the ballot, those who choose not to vote are passing up a critical opportunity to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves — innocent children in the womb.
• VOTE … and encourage every other pro-life person you know to join you in voting for life.

This is a crucial election that will determine the fate of millions of pre-born children … as well as the environment we will be conducing our pro-life work in during the next four years.

If for any reason you’re unable to make it to the polls tomorrow, there may still be time to cast an early vote or an absentee ballot TODAY!

Let’s pull out all the stops NOW to ensure that we don’t wake up Wednesday morning wishing we had done more.

This 40 Days for Life campaign has continued to build a foundation for ending abortion in America — and around the world:

• Record numbers of people are joining the pro-life ranks — including many young people.
  
• Business is down at many abortion facilities.
  
  

• Workers continue to quit the abortion industry.
  

• And lives continue to be saved … thanks to YOU! Your prayers and participation make a difference.
  

Now … we MUST continue pressing forward — with relentless energy!

On that note, I ask you to mark your calendar for the evening of next MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12. Save that date.

We’ll have more good news about the campaign that just ended — and more GREAT news about what’s coming next!

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What’s next for you? For your community’s 40 Days for Life effort? Please share your story by leaving a comment below.

It’s Day 40 — you made it!

As we close the largest 40 Days for Life campaign in history … the following things can be said about what God can do in just 40 days:

40 days ago …
… there were children scheduled to be aborted who are alive today.

40 days ago …
… women were making abortion appointments — but now, they’re preparing their lives to welcome a new baby boy or baby girl.

40 days ago …
… cold hearts that were annoyed at your peaceful presence at the abortion facility are now open to joining you in prayer.

40 days ago …
… you may have doubted what God could accomplish; and yet through your prayer, fasting and vigil … YOU have been spiritually blessed.

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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
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Gordon in Nashville tells of an abortion-minded woman who arrived at the abortion center – with two young children. Fortunately, the business was closed that day – so prayer volunteers encouraged her to visit the pregnancy help center just down the street.

“They gave her very different information than she got from her other doctor,” he said, “and she changed her mind.”

Saturdays are usually very busy at this abortion facility. But one Saturday during this 40 Days for Life campaign, only about half of the usual number of clients arrived.

“One of them, a young college student, entered the clinic and exited a short while later,” Gordon said. “She talked with one of the sidewalk counselors afterwards and stated that she could not go through with an abortion.”

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
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A woman approached the prayer volunteers outside the abortion center in Baltimore to express appreciation. She had had an abortion at that very building many years ago when she was a teenager.

But she thinks about the child she aborted every day of her life — and it was very painful for her to be there. She understood that God had forgiven her – but the prayer volunteers sensed that she had never forgiven herself.

They prayed with her … and gave her information about Rachel’s Vineyard, a ministry that leads retreats for healing after abortion.

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SIOUX CITY, IOWA
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Prayer volunteers got good news from a woman leaving Planned Parenthood – she was pregnant … and she was keeping the baby.

Planned Parenthood’s business has been off – and they must think the 40 Days for Life vigil has something to do with it. They recently built a big fence between their building and the parking lot of the pro-life pregnancy center next door.

“Counselors often stood in the parking lot to talk to women going into Planned Parenthood,” said one of the leaders in Sioux City. “I guess we’re getting to them!”

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BEAUMONT, TEXAS
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A young woman from out of town arrived at the abortion center in Beaumont – with her father, who was totally opposed to the idea of an abortion. “Would you please talk some sense into her?” he asked prayer volunteers, who had never quite heard anything like that before.

The girl was pregnant and had insisted that he drive her to the abortion facility … but a short discussion with volunteers showed that by this point, even the man’s daughter was well on her way to seeking an option that did not include abortion.

“When I called the clinic, they were just too eager for me,” the girl said. “I was leery – it was like a bunch of hungry lions. I felt so much evil over the phone.”

The prayer volunteers recommended a pro-life pregnancy help center in her home town, and she agreed to visit them. Father and daughter left happy, with new-found freedom, after following the voice of conscience.

Here’s the link to today’s devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What is the greatest blessing you have received during this 40 Days for Life campaign? Please leave your response below.

Two nights ago, I spoke at a banquet for a pregnancy center that has two ultrasound machines and staff members who can offer women free ultrasounds.

When a mother sees that her baby is a human being and not a “blob of tissue” — and when she can hear the heartbeat — it can save lives. In fact, as many as 90% of women who see their baby on an ultrasound choose life!

In other cases, ultrasounds have changed the hearts of abortion workers, some of whom have even witnessed abortions on ultrasound monitors — that’s what happened with former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson.

Thanks to generous national programs from Focus on the Family and the Knights of Columbus, along with the training and legal expertise of NIFLA — the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates — more and more ultrasound machines are being placed at pregnancy help centers. As a result, more and more lives are being saved.

Here are some stories where ultrasound made a difference …

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SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN
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A woman visited the pregnancy help center just down the street from the 40 Days for Life vigil – after “a nice man” praying at the abortion center gave her a coupon for a free ultrasound.

She said she had gone into the abortion facility and planned to have an abortion. They did an ultrasound first – and she asked to see the screen. “Is that my baby’s head?” she asked. She was told, “Yes, but it’s just a blob.”

They started the procedure, but it was painful for her and she made them stop. They let her off the table so she could calm down a bit before trying again. But once off the table, she had made up her mind not to go through with it.

A few days later, she showed up at the pregnancy center. She and the ultrasound tech watched as the baby seemed to wave, jump and turn. They listened to the baby’s heartbeat … and tears of joy fell from her eyes. She was so happy to have this precious child safe and secure.

—————————————————–
BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
—————————————————–

A woman had made the long drive from another county for an abortion appointment. She was one of the first to arrive that day, walking past the vigil participants and into the building.

As she was leaving, the volunteers noted that she might have been inside long enough for the abortion. They also noted that she was crying, so one of them asked her, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I couldn’t do it,” the woman said. “They were doing an ultrasound, so I asked if I could see it. At first they refused, telling me ‘you don’t really want to see it.’ But I insisted ‘yeah, I do want to see it, because if I can see it … maybe I won’t do it.’”

She was right. Once she saw her nine week baby on the ultrasound screen, she knew that she couldn’t go through with the abortion.

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

A young woman took one of the leaflets a prayer volunteer offered her. She looked at one of the vigil participants’ signs – “Women deserve better than abortion. Talk to us. We can help” – and asked about the help that was available.

She was pregnant. Her boyfriend had left her. If the people she was living with found out she was pregnant, they would kick her out. She was scared.

The woman eventually said she would visit the pregnancy help center, but she was going ahead with her appointment at the abortion facility.

When she came back out, she told another volunteer that they wouldn’t do the abortion because she had eaten breakfast that morning. They also did an ultrasound – and gave her the picture.

The volunteer said, “You know that this is a baby, don’t you?” and the woman said yes, and assured the volunteer she would call the pregnancy help center. “We are so hopeful that this little baby will be saved,” said the vigil participant.

—————————————————–
WISCONSIN
—————————————————–

David Bereit, our national director, continues to criss-cross the country, visiting 40 Days for Life campaigns. On a recent trip to Wisconsin, he joined more than 100 prayer volunteers in La Crosse, where the 40 Days for Life vigil is being held across the street from a Lutheran hospital that, regrettably, performs abortions.

The next day, he traveled three hours through the pouring rain to central Wisconsin for an event that brought together leaders and volunteers from the Stevens Point, Wausau and Mauston campaigns.

—————————————————–
VIRGINIA
—————————————————–

Next, he visited several campaigns across Virginia. In Charlottesville, dozens of faithful people prayed and sang at a rally which encouraged participants to press on throughout the rest of the campaign.

Then it was on to Roanoke, right below the Blue Ridge Mountains, where a crowd was gathered in peaceful vigil outside the local Planned Parenthood abortion center.

After praying with the attendees and sharing reports of lifesaving victories from around the world, David drove to Lynchburg, where he spoke to a group of Liberty University students about how they are a generation of survivors (one-third of their generation has been aborted) and how they are key to ending the injustice of abortion.

Then David continued on to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to continue sharing the good news about how prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil, and community outreach are saving lives from abortion all around the world … before he headed on to the next city.

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Has there been a single moment in this 40 Days for Life campaign that stands out for you as a sign of God’s presence? Please share your story by leaving a comment below.

As we enter the final three days of this 40 Days for Life campaign … I have one question: Have you prayed at a peaceful vigil yet?

If you haven’t gone to pray outside an abortion facility … do not think it is too late. With three days left, NOW is the time to take a leap of faith and join the thousands who have participated.

Check the list of 316 locations, find the one nearest you — and help make a difference.

As we head into the closing weekend, please pray for the 40 Days for Life local leaders who have invested so much time and energy over the past few months to make these local efforts possible.

—————————————————–
KITCHENER, ONTARIO
—————————————————–

“Let us finish strongly!” said one of the Kitchener volunteers. “Hurricane Sandy will not dissuade us from giving a voice to the pre-born!” Yes, this massive storm’s impact was even felt in Canada earlier this week … and we continue to pray for all of those who’ve been impacted by wind, rain, flood and snow.

“Kitchener is not the typical site,” this local campaign leader said, “as we have very little interaction with the public.” The vigil is conducted on the roadside, outside the hospital property where abortions take place.

Still, the Kitchener team understands that the volunteers are part of an international campaign that will see hundreds of babies saved — and hundreds of mothers spared the anguish of abortion.

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KENMORE, WASHINGTON
—————————————————–

Chaplain Pete, the local coordinator, visited Kenmore Community Church, which will be the location of the campaign’s closing event. The pastor introduced him to the congregation, and said he’d be available after the service if people wanted to find out more about 40 Days for Life.

“A grandma introduced herself and her daughter, telling me their Planned Parenthood story,” he said.

Five years ago, the daughter — described as a “rebellious teen” — suspected she was pregnant. Her mother took her to Planned Parenthood for a pregnancy test. When they arrived, Planned Parenthood said the cost would be $50 — cash.

They didn’t have the $50, so they went to the pro-life pregnancy help center next door, where the test was free.

“They were treated with kindness and care,” said Chaplain Pete. “Needless to say, no abortion took place.” Now, he’s looking forward to a chance to meet this child, “and invite three generations to join us in our celebration of life event. I can hardly wait!”

—————————————————–
DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
—————————————————–

“The Lord has blessed us with many babies saved at the Family Planning Associates abortion center,” said Patti in Downey, “with Sunday being the most ever with four changes of heart!”

Three of the mothers who changed their minds did so after an angry employee stormed out of the building — four different times — to yell at vigil participants to “get away from here and stop judging people.”

She then called police, who arrived and went inside to talk. “It all worked for the good,” Patti said, “and we learned to be in prayer and stay calm in the face of harsh anger.”

The 40 Days for Life campaign is making a huge difference “because so many people driving and walking by tell us they never knew there was an abortion clinic there,” she said. “May the Lord be glorified in the closing of this blight of a business in our city … in His perfect time.”

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What’s new with 40 Days for Life where you are? Please let everyone know by leaving a comment below.

Today’s devotional deals with sacrifice … and really, that’s what 40 Days for Life is all about — sacrifice.

It’s a lot easier to hit the snooze button and roll over for a little more sleep than it is to get out of bed early in the morning and drive down to an abortion center vigil.

It’s a lot easier to stay at home at night to watch a movie with the family than to go pray outside a building where the doors are locked and all the lights are off.

But we make the sacrifice.

We do it not for ourselves … but for Christ, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us. And when we pray, He listens.

—————————————————–
ITHACA, NEW YORK
—————————————————–

When it comes to ending the abortion crisis, Mary Anne in Ithaca put it simply: “Prayer is the key.”

People will walk past vigil participants, telling them that their presence on the street is a waste of time — or that they should be doing something useful, like providing food and clothing for the poor. “Many do not see prayer as an activity,” she said.

Mary Anne recalled a young couple who got out of their car to talk to her. The man spoke about all of the supposed “good” that Planned Parenthood does.

She responded, “Think about your fatherhood. You’ll regret your lost fatherhood. I would not go in there.” She told him about the pregnancy help center around the corner. The couple walked up and down the street — but never went into Planned Parenthood.

—————————————————–
LONDON, ONTARIO
—————————————————–

The 40 Days for Life team in this Canadian city told of an 18-year-old woman who stopped to talk to the people praying outside the hospital.

She was pregnant and was considering abortion. Every day, she had to travel past the people praying outside the hospital. And every time she went by, in her mind she would hear the words, “Don’t kill.”

It really bothered her. So she figured she’d just take an alternate route. But still she thought of the vigil, and the words would not go away. She then told the vigil participants she was no longer abortion-minded.

“I imagine she’ll have many obstacles to overcome,” one of the volunteers said, “but God can do all things.”

—————————————————–
PORTLAND, OREGON
—————————————————–

“This is our second campaign at Planned Parenthood in Portland,” Therese said. “This time, Planned Parenthood actually hired two security guards to work on surgical abortion days.”

Last week, one of those guards came to deliver a message to vigil participants — the abortion center had put up a sign. The volunteers couldn’t see it from where they were standing, so the guard came and told them. The sign read, “Planned Parenthood will be closed at 2:00 today.”

“They normally close at 4:00,” Therese said. “This is the first time I know of that this has happened.”

She also noted the presence of mothers and children at the 40 Days for Life vigil. “It is such a powerful witness to see Moms and kids out there,” she said … adding that the children love to hold signs.

“The Holy Spirit is moving in so many ways here,” Therese said, “It is just amazing!”

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What’s new with 40 Days for Life in your community? Please share any stories by leaving a comment below.

Prayer is required in the pro-life movement. If we just run out the door to try to save the world, we’re only going to make it about 10 minutes. Abortion is overwhelming; but when we have prayer, and not ourselves, as the foundation … our faith in Christ really can move mountains.

When we ask people if they’ve experienced spiritual growth through their participation in 40 Days for Life, the answer is an overwhelming “YES!” Sometimes it is expected. Sometimes it’s not. Of course … we pray, hope and act to save babies, help women and show mercy to abortion workers. But most often, it is our own hearts that our Lord is working on during these 40 days.

Here are the thoughts of several volunteers, taken from the 40 Days for Life blog — in their own words.

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FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
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“This was my first year to participate in 40 Days for Life. I had been wanting to get involved in the pro-life cause for some time now, and I happened to hear about 40 Days for Life on Facebook.

“I drove three hours to pray outside of the Planned Parenthood in Fayetteville … this is the town where six years ago to the day I found out that I was pregnant and scheduled an abortion. Thankfully, a pro-life group was there for me and helped me make the right decision and I have a beautiful 5-year-old daughter now.

“I was really wanting a chance to … pay forward the kindness once shown to me. But even better than that, not a single person arrived at the clinic the entire time we were praying outside! It was a blessing just to be there and take part.

“99% of the people passing by in their cars waved approval at us, blew kisses, pointed at children in their back seat or honked. People are beseeching God to end abortion and He is answering our prayers.”

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CLEVELAND, OHIO
—————————————————–

“We are praying in Cleveland in front of SurgiCenter that has been killing unprotected unborn children as old as 19 weeks for years and is where I walk my 40 Days for Life prayer vigil. It is on a city street that some passing cars beep their encouragement to me, a 69-year- old man, who never expected to be praying in public protest to anything.

“God has called me to step out in faith to stand up and walk in reverence in support of 40 Days for Life. It is an empowering experience for me that combines prayer, meditation and action. My effort is rewarded many times over with a spiritual and physical renewal.”

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
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“We are so overjoyed to report … the San Jose prayer warriors and sidewalk counselors met and helped a woman decide on life for her child!

“We prayed and listened to her story. She had no money for gas, so I drove her … to get spiritual counseling and personal support. She has hope in the world now because as she told me in my car, ‘I’m glad I met you, too. There are good people in this world.’”

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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
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“Just being at the prayer vigils here in Memphis is a spiritual blessing filling me with joy. It’s beautiful, especially considering some of us are from different ‘flavors’ of Christianity, but one in Christ.

“One of our leaders patiently listened to an angry man unload all his objections to the pro-life cause and the church. She quietly and lovingly answered all his questions.

“Although many drivers shout thanks, wave and honk in a friendly way … a very angry driver laid on his horn … and another irate driver screamed an obscenity at us. We felt blessed, and were reminded of our brothers and sisters who suffer much worse for the sake of Christ.

“Thank you, faithful 40 Days for Life leaders and fellow prayers, for offering me this wonderful opportunity.”

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: How are you going to spend these last days of the 40 Days for Life campaign? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

At the end of this week, 46 cities will be completing their first-ever 40 Days for Life campaigns. But whether a city is conducting its first campaign or its tenth, there are profound effects on the people praying … the people they’re praying for … and the entire community.

Prayers are being answered! Here are some examples.

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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
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“So far, we’ve been very blessed with eight babies saved,” the Baton Rouge team reported. There also seems to be less activity inside the abortion center since the 40 Days for Life vigil has been under way.

“The Delta abortion facility has only seen patients two times each week for the last two weeks, which is a big change,” said Charlotte in Baton Rouge. “The new abortionist had been, at times, coming up to four times per week.”

She also shared the good news that a pro-life pregnancy center is opening next door to the abortion facility, “hopefully with an ultrasound machine in place very soon.”

This is the second 40 Days for Life campaign in Baton Rouge. Charlotte said people are boldly stepping forward in ways the community has never seen before.

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DUBUQUE, IOWA
—————————————————–

Tina, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator in Dubuque, became worried about the people at the vigil when a huge rainstorm broke out, so she drove by to check on the volunteers outside Planned Parenthood to see if they should take shelter.

But no one wanted to leave. “They had umbrellas,” she said, “and they were soaked. But despite that, they had great big smiles on their faces.”

A bit later, one of the soaking wet volunteers stopped off at the local right to life office to drop off a donation — the profits from a garage sale she had held the previous weekend.

“The prayer at the clinic has been such a great blessing, not just on those going into the clinic, but also to those on the front line and those passing by us on the street,” Tina said. “We are so grateful to have this wonderful event in our city and by God’s grace, we are praying for the clinic to close quickly.”

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BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
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Ed in Birmingham says this city’s ninth 40 Days for Life campaign has seen “some very interesting days.”

As always, there are days where just a few people are praying at any one time — but there was one day when a local church adopted every hour and the sidewalk was full.

This was a day when Planned Parenthood expected a high number of clients for their pre-abortion visit. “Alabama has a 24-hour waiting period,” Ed explained, “and before 8:00 am, they began to arrive. But on this day, God showed us His grace.”

It seems a number of the women were willing to talk to the pro-life volunteers — and even to accompany them to the nearby pregnancy help center.

“Before lunch, we delivered six women away from Planned Parenthood and to a chance at choosing life. When the day was done, four of those women chose life for their child,” he said. “Thanks be to God!”

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Has your community changed during this 40 Days for Life campaign? Please share your stories by posting a comment below.

David Bereit, 40 Days for Life’s national director, and I were supposed to be heading out together early this morning to visit 40 Days for Life campaigns in Georgia and Florida …

… but that was before Hurricane Sandy started bearing down on the East Coast and completely shut down our scheduled travel. So now, we’re going to be hunkered down with our families at home in Virginia to ride out the hurricane.

Please keep everyone in the path of the storm in your prayers today. If it’s heading your way, stay safe, and please check with your local 40 Days for Life coordinator, as some vigils may be suspended due to the weather.

Now, as we head into the final week of this campaign, we are overjoyed by all the blessings God has provided as you have faithfully responded to the call to pray and fast for an end to abortion.

So far, we’ve received reports of 469 babies whose lives have been spared from abortion — that we know of!

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CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEY
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One of the prayer volunteers had an opportunity to speak to a young man outside the abortion center. They talked about many things — including Jesus.

When they finished talking, the young man went inside the building and found the young woman he had come with. The volunteer says this woman was filled with joy when she came out and said she had decided against the abortion.

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LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
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A vigil participant spoke with two girls who had come to the abortion center. She described the services available from the local pregnancy help center, and talked about adoption resources as well. The young women left, but said they would return.

When they did, another volunteer gave them additional information … but she was concerned when the two went into the building. When they came out, though, they said they would both be keeping their babies.

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BELLEVUE, NEBRASKA
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A lone prayer volunteer watched as a mother and daughter left the abortion center, got into their car and drove towards the exit.

When they got to where the vigil participant was standing, they stopped. The daughter help up a sonogram and said, “His feet were moving!” Her mother said the girl was 12 weeks pregnant — and the sonogram had convinced her to reject abortion.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
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Vigil participants noticed a couple waiting in the parking lot early one morning before the abortion center opened. The woman said they had two young children, and a new baby would be difficult to take care of at this time.

One of the counselors told her that life is sacred — and there are many community resources available that will help. Although the father didn’t seem too happy about it, the mother changed her mind — and immediately left the abortion facility to visit the pro-life pregnancy help center.

Another young woman told volunteers that she had come for an abortion, but had decided against it. When they asked her why, she said she felt the presence of evil there and simply had to leave.

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
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You know how we say, “469 saved — that we know of”? Here’s an example of a child whose life was spared — and the 40 Days for Life campaign team didn’t have any idea about it at the time.

Dan in Milwaukee said one day recently — while the abortion center was closed — God showed them a surprise. A child that was saved from abortion during the 40 Days for Life campaign in the spring of 2009 arrived at the vigil. “He’s three years old now,” Dan said. “Beautiful boy!”

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What has impressed you most about your 40 Days for Life experience this campaign? Please let us know by leaving a comment below.