1,879 people participated in the 40 Days for Life “BELIEVE” teleconference and webcast, and here are just a few of the rave reviews that poured in after the event:

“It’s been a blessing to hear this. This is actually my first time that I did 40 days for life and I actually got to participate with the abortion closing in Pensacola… PRAISE GOD.”

— Natalie in Pensacola, FL

“Abby, you are totally inspirational! We love you! Thank you for having the courage to speak out. You are beautiful! We are praying for you! Thank you for sharing…”

— Jennifer in Cherry Hill, NJ

“We are so thrilled to be a part of 40 Days for Life! Can hardly wait for the next action item! We learned so much from the call tonight.”

— Mike and Kathy in Columbia, MO

“So amazed at what God is doing through you for ultimately the end of this holocaust. Blessings on you all!”

— Suzanne in Prague, Czech Republic

This morning my e-mail inbox was overflowing with questions about whether there will be a recording and/or written transcript available from the call.

The answer: YES!

Our transcriptionist is hard at work putting every word in writing. She’ll send me the transcript late today and I’ll have that to you tomorrow.

Since it will be another day until I get that written summary to you, I decided to release the entire audio recording of last night’s event to you today, so you don’t have to wonder what the excitement is about:

http://www.instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=9888195

On the recording you will:

• Learn about the amazing results from this fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign
• Meet ABBY JOHNSON, former director of the Planned Parenthood abortion center in the community where 40 Days for Life began, who shared details about her amazing conversion — and revealed her feelings about the impact of 40 Days for Life
• Hear the incredible story of the closure of the Pensacola abortion facility on Day 38 of this fall’s campaign directly from local 40 Days for Life leaders ERNIE AND MARY BETH CYR
• Find out the specific plans for these efforts for 2010 and beyond
• And discover how YOU can help make a life- saving impact at this crucial moment in history!

On the call, we also announced some GREAT NEWS!

A group of generous donors — who believe in 40 Days for Life — issued a MATCHING CHALLENGE to encourage 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…

… $85,000!!

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

We certainly don’t want to leave any of their 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

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!

In Christ,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- You can listen to the streaming audio online from last night’s teleconference even if you have a dial-up Internet connection — or you can download the MP3 to your iPod or computer at:

http://www.instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=9888195

What an amazing last few days!

After yesterday’s message sharing the miraculous conversion of Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood director in Bryan/College Station, Texas (birthplace of 40 Days for Life,) her story has sent shockwaves through the abortion industry and inspired hundreds of thousands of people world wide.

Here’s a picture of Abby with 40 Days for Life campaign director Shawn Carney in Bryan/College Station on the sidewalk outside of her former workplace:

Among the 100+ media outlets reporting on Abby’s conversion story in the last 24 hours, she was a featured guest yesterday on the nationally syndicated Laura Ingraham radio show (guest hosted by Raymond Arroyo) and shared her riveting story about the impact of 40 Days for Life people praying outside of her workplace.

We just posted a 10-minute audio excerpt of that interview, and you will be deeply touched when you hear what she said.

Listen to the audio online (click arrow to start):

Not only that, but yesterday, the first segment of ABC’s “The View” had Barbara Walters discussing Abby’s conversion and the disturbing revelations about how Planned Parenthood pressured Abby to increase the numbers of abortions to increase their income — which even pro-abortion co-host Joy Behar called “gross.”

The View’s national audience then heard actress Sherri Shepherd relate her own experience of being pressured at Planned Parenthood when she was 17 years old. She told the Planned Parenthood worker, “I’m not quite sure what I should do and she was pressuring me to get the abortion.”

Here’s a brief look at that discussion:

Praise God for all these opportunities Abby has to share the truth about life — and the harm caused by the abortion industry!

Please keep Abby in your prayers as abortion advocates — whose worldview has just been shattered — are now resorting to personal attacks against her.

*** NOW, I NEED YOUR ADVICE… ***

This is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT request I have sent to you throughout this fall 40 Days for Life campaign cycle, and your response is crucial.

The unprecedented growth and widespread impact of 40 Days for Life is a direct result of the input received from many people over the last year.

Now it’s your turn!

Regardless of your level of involvement in this campaign, please fill out a short survey to let us know your thoughts about 40 Days for Life — AND MORE IMPORTANTLY — to help shape the future of this collective effort!

Take the short survey now at:

http://www.40daysforlife.com/survey

It’s a simple survey with just a handful of questions that should take you about 3 minutes to complete.

I would really appreciate if you could make the time to complete this survey today — or by the end of this week, if at all possible.

There are enormous opportunities for us all to build on the momentum of this campaign, and your input will be vital in shaping the direction of these collective efforts in the future.

Fill it out online at:

http://www.40daysforlife.com/survey

The next few months promise to be exciting, and I truly believe the best days of the pro-life movement — and the biggest victories — are just ahead of us!

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

Jennifer in Cherry Hill, New Jersey has been thankful that the 40 Days for Life campaign in her community has the support of the local Catholic bishop in the Diocese of Camden. Just recently, Bishop Joseph Galante participated in the prayer vigil outside the abortion facility — and more than 100 other people were there to join him.

Here’s a photo of Bishop Galante at the vigil:

But there’s someone else in that picture that I’d like to call to your attention — the young woman in the wheelchair next to Bishop Galante. Her name is Maricruz, and I would ask that you pray for her, her birth family in Central America, and her adopted family in New Jersey.

Maricruz is an abortion survivor.

Twenty-one years ago, her mother tried to abort her. This was an attempted chemical abortion; her mother took a pill, which was assumed to be RU-486. It is believed that the drug was being used experimentally in Central America at the time.

To make a long story short, the abortion pill didn’t work. Maricruz was born three months premature. She survived, but was left severely handicapped and must use the wheelchair. Maricruz has three siblings in Central America — and four others who were aborted.

The woman next to Maricruz is her adopted grandmother, an active pro-lifer who’s been honored for her efforts on behalf of the unborn. She is also the mother of 13 — including Jennifer.

Yes, the woman who helped bring 40 Days for Life to Cherry Hill, New Jersey (it’s just outside of Philadelphia, in case you were wondering) is also Maricruz’s adopted mom.

Please share this story with the next person who complains that pro-lifers care nothing about “unwanted” children after they’re born!

Said Jennifer, “God provides for us in our lives when we accept His plan for our lives.”

Jennifer also tells a story of the horrifying truth about abortion, the operation that its supporters call a “safe, legal medical procedure.”

Two prayer vigil participants saw a woman leave the clinic, crying hysterically. She said she was 18 weeks pregnant — and the abortionist had given her baby a lethal injection to end the child’s life. She had apparently known very little about the actual procedure, only that she had a “choice” that would permit her to become un-pregnant.

She cried that God would never forgive her for what she had done. Volunteers suggested going to the emergency room to see if the baby could be saved. Sadly, it was too late. She would have to return to the clinic the next day to have the dead child removed from her womb.

The woman told the volunteers that she wanted to stand on the sidewalk to warn the clinic’s clients about what abortion really is. But please pray that she recognizes her own need for healing and spiritual renewal at this most challenging time in her life. Please pray that the Lord will help her understand that He CAN forgive her and is willing to do so — and most importantly, that she herself can accept God’s forgiveness.

Here’s today’s devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life and President of the National Pro-life Religious Council…

—————————————————–
DAY 38 INTENTION
—————————————————–

Pray that we become vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement.

—————————————————–
SCRIPTURE
—————————————————–

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”

– Luke 24:1-5

—————————————————–
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone
—————————————————–

This meditation, based on a sermon I once heard, is adapted for pro-life concerns.

It’s Friday. Jesus is on the cross. He has been killed by his enemies; he is off the scene. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!

It’s Friday. Abortionists continue their work 3,300 times a day, tearing off the arms and legs of little babies and crushing their heads. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’! It’s Friday. Pro-abortion groups receive blood money from billionaires who are as deceived as they are. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!

It’s Friday. Liars attempt to speak for all women and hide the pain of abortion, and ignore the evidence of how it harms women, and call abortion a blessing. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’! It’s Friday. People of hardened hearts guard the clinics and usher desperate women in to have their abortions while keeping them from the pro-life people who want to give them hope. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!

Hope does not mean that we ignore or minimize the evils around us. It means, rather, that we see the whole picture, which is that evil is conquered because of what happened one Sunday morning. The power of sin and death has been broken by the Resurrection of Christ. We are called to proclaim, celebrate, and serve that victory, waiting in joyful hope for Christ’s return and the full flowering of the Culture of Life! Indeed, Sunday’s comin’!

—————————————————–
PRAYER
—————————————————–

Lord, fill your people with new hope. Make us vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement, that as we engage in the difficult work ahead, we may experience the peace and joy that come only from you and that nobody can take away from us. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

—————————————————–
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
—————————————————–

To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2009day38print.pdf

—————————————————–

A final note…

As we near the finish line of this 40 Days for Life, I am in Jacksonville, Florida, and in a few hours will be driving down to visit the 40 Days for Life site in Ocala.

There are a gazillion people here in town for the Florida-Georgia football game Saturday, and it just hit me that last year I was also in Florida right before that big showdown — and had the opportunity to sit down with Pam and Bob Tebow, parents of Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow.

Tim’s mom shared with me how doctors had advised her to abort Tim when she was pregnant with him … And why she refused.

That day last fall, Pam and Bob recorded a short audio clip to share their story and to encourage YOU to persevere in your 40 Days for Life efforts.

I think you’ll be blessed by this seven-minute audio…

David & Margaret Bereit with Pam & Bob Tebow

Listen to the Audio Online (click “Play” button to start audio):

As the top ranked college team takes the field on Saturday, led by quarterback Tim Tebow, keep his powerful story in mind!

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

Today marks the half-way point of the fall 40 Days for Life campaign and, as a special treat, here is a brand-new short video from the Augusta, Maine, 40 Days for Life mid-point rally where I spoke yesterday and my family met many heroic prayer warriors:

I’ll warn you in advance — this video was shot with a little pocket camcorder clipped to a sign and the wind was gusting during parts of the rally. The picture and sound are far from perfect, but I hope you still find it inspiring.

If you have a dial-up Internet connection and cannot watch videos online, here is the audio from the event…

Listen to the Audio Online (click “Play” button to start):

Download MP3 (right-click to save file to your computer):
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/midpoint.mp3

Now for a few of the great reports pouring in at this mid-point of 40 Days for Life…

Brian in Norwich, Connecticut put out the call to the 40 Days for Life team. “This Saturday, Planned Parenthood is holding their annual two-hour demonstration against us,” he wrote. “Please come and show your support for life.”

A small handful of Planned Parenthood demonstrators — some of them paid Planned Parenthood employees — did indeed show up. But they were vastly outnumbered by people who answered the call to pray for an end to abortion.

The Norwich Bulletin published one photo of the event that is quite telling. In the foreground there are a few people holding pink Planned Parenthood signs. Behind them, however — and stretching far into the distance along the sidewalk — are people peacefully praying.

To see the amazing Norwich Bulletin photo, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/ygolyub

The woman holding the “I regret my abortion” sign is Nicole, who has been a strong voice and leader with the 40 Days for Life effort in Norwich and a real blessing to our work nationally.

Another blessing is the number of families who come out to pray at 40 Days for Life vigils.

One example is the McIntyre family in El Paso, Texas — Mike, Laura and their nine children. Six of the children took part in the vigil just last week. Bethani, the 8-year-old, was singing “Jesus Loves Me” as a young woman arrived.

She approached the clinic, but did not go inside. She just sat down for about 15 minutes — listening, as Bethani sang.

Eventually, the woman got up and walked over to the McIntyres and told them she had decided to keep her baby. All it took to change her mind was the voice of a young child singing praise to Lord from her heart.

The child had saved the child. One of the McIntyre children noted, “So this is why we come here!”

Yvonne in California’s San Gabriel Valley watched a woman walk into the abortion center — and leave a short time later. Yvonne noticed the young woman was holding a map with directions to a location that does second-trimester abortions.

“She is five months pregnant,” Yvonne said. “After informing her of services available through local pregnancy centers, churches — as well as support from all of us — she decided to choose life for her baby.”

And those are just two of the 219 children — and mothers — spared from abortion during this 40 Days for Life campaign so far!

Yet another blessing for 40 Days for Life is the number of people who’ve had experiences with abortion who deeply appreciate what you’re doing.

Stan in Buffalo, New York was praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil when a woman walked out of the nearby dry cleaning shop and came over to talk. “She said that her favorite sign was the one that offered post-abortion hope and healing,” he said. She confided that she’d had a past abortion, but had found healing and forgiveness in Jesus, and had been born again.

“She asked that we display more signs like that,” Stan said, “because so many women suffer so much from past abortions. Please pray for those who live with regret for a decision they can never undo. May they find what this woman found.”

Speaking of post-abortion healing, 40 Days for Life will be joining with Operation Outcry for a special outreach to those suffering in the wake of abortion. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 24. I’ll be bringing you more information in the days ahead.

Here’s today’s devotional from Rev. John Brown, the Director of United Friends for Life (United Church of Christ)…

—————————————————–
DAY 20 INTENTION
—————————————————–

May God’s justice sober our society, and may mercy triumph over judgment.

—————————————————–
SCRIPTURE
—————————————————–

Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.

- Genesis 9:5-6

—————————————————–
REFLECTION by Rev. John Brown
—————————————————–

The value of every human being can hardly be seen more clearly than with this verse. God, the King of the universe, has created all human beings in his image, and declares forthrightly that shedding the blood of any individual will require the blood of the one who shed it.

God’s concern for human beings is not limited to any particular group. Indeed, his concern is universal, and includes male and female, young and old, born and unborn, disabled and able-bodied, the citizens of every nation on earth.

Abortion, the deliberate killing of the unborn, is the shedding of innocent blood. Surely the blood of millions upon millions of innocent children cries out to God. It is true that we live in an age of grace, and yet this passage (among many other texts which express similar sentiments) should give every thinking Christian pause.

Christians of all people, entrusted with the Word of God as we are, must take a stand. We must speak out. We must do all that we can to protect the innocent, to pursue justice, and to encourage the repentance of all those who bear responsibility for this great evil. Only in this manner can we hope to forestall the judgment that must otherwise surely come.

This passage should also be seen as an encouragement to educate and disciple our children and grandchildren about what it means to be human, and the responsibility that will become theirs in this ongoing struggle.

—————————————————–
PRAYER
—————————————————–

O Father, forgive us for our lack of courage and our want of compassion for the unborn and for those lost and hurt by abortion. Fill us anew with your Spirit.

Renew our minds, strengthen us in righteousness, help us be people of salt and light within our nation. May every human being, from conception to natural death, be treated with the respect due those made in your image. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

—————————————————–
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
—————————————————–

To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2009day20print.pdf

—————————————————–

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- After you watch the mid-point rally video above, please let us know how 40 Days for Life has blessed YOU thus far by posting a reply below!

You know 40 Days for Life is off to a great start when there’s a report of a baby saved from abortion — at a pre-campaign kickoff event!

The 40 Days for Life team in St. Louis began a day of preparation prior to the campaign with prayer at a local church, followed by more prayer on the sidewalk in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion center — prayer that was joined by more than 100 people.

At the St. Louis kickoff rally that evening, “we sang, prayed and had a chance to meet many new people,” said local coordinator Brian Westbrook. “God truly blessed us with an exciting night.”

But the excitement was just beginning. At the end of the long day, Brian went home, checked his e-mail and found this message:

I just wanted to let you know that today just before we left the clinic, as we were wrapping up and praying together, one of the sidewalk counselors came over and let us know that a couple who had gone into the clinic in the morning had just left and decided to keep their baby. So praise God, I believe that’s the first fruits of what’s to come over the next 40 days.

Brian said, “What an incredible start to these 40 Days for Life. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us this fall. Keep praying and fasting and one day we will see an end to abortion.”

Positive reports from kickoff events and news stories about 40 Days for Life are pouring in from across North America as the campaign is getting off to an incredible start in over 200 locations.

Some of these locations have just been visited by 40 Days for Life’s campaign director Shawn Carney, who got to meet many enthusiastic people in South Bend, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Indiana, before heading back home to help kick off his local 40 Days for Life campaign in Bryan/College Station, Texas.

Here’s a picture of Shawn and his wife, Marilisa, flanked by members of the 40 Days for Life team in Indianapolis:

And be sure to listen to the recording of the electrifying talk Shawn gave at the kickoff event in South Bend…

Listen to the Audio Online (click “Play” button to start):

Download MP3 (right-click to save file to your computer):
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/fall09southbend.mp3

If you’re not charged up about 40 Days for Life yet, you surely will be after listening to Shawn!

Yes, this 40 Days for Life campaign is indeed getting off to a fast start …

… But 40 Days for Life is also getting off to a small start. And that’s a good thing, too.

Let me explain …

God is already providing what a member of our Buffalo, New York team calls “small successes.”

Liz’s pastor permitted her to speak about 40 Days for Life at church last Sunday. After she finished, the pastor added his own endorsement of 40 Days for Life.

After church, about 80 people signed up to pray and fast for an end to abortion — including ten people who registered for a prayer shift at the vigil outside the abortion center.

Imagine if that happened at every church in every 40 Days for Life community. And it could!

Why not ask your pastor if information about 40 Days for Life can be presented to your church? Those small successes could add up pretty quickly!

I am confident that over the course of these 40 days, that God’s victories will multiply over and over again. Please continue to hold this 40 Days for Life effort in your prayers.

Here’s today’s devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life…

—————————————————–
DAY 2 INTENTION
—————————————————–

Pray for those who work in the abortion industry, and for those who have repented of committing abortions and have resolved to defend life.

—————————————————–
SCRIPTURE
—————————————————–

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

– Luke 23:46-47

—————————————————–
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
—————————————————–

“Those of us who have participated in the killing of unborn children are the Centurions of today. We have dropped our swords against the unborn child. Now we must recognize the depth of our guilt and deal with the ramifications… To revitalize our humanity we need to forgive and be forgiven, to reconcile and be healed.”

These words come from a brochure of the Society of Centurions, an organization for former abortion providers. These words convey in a beautiful and moving way what is happening across the nation as hundreds of abortionists and their staff members experience repentance, conversion, and healing.

How does this conversion begin? Dr. Philip Ney writes, “The factors that changed their opinion on performing abortions, in the following order of frequency, were: evidence of the infant’s humanity, a spiritual experience, personal distress, evidence of the mother’s distress, scientific articles, being accepted as a person, a personal relationship with a pro-lifer, pro-life pickets.” (The Centurion’s Pathway, p. 77).

The journey is not easy. But the Jesus who heals us calls us to face the truth of what we’ve done, make restitution where possible, and engage in the hard work of mending relationships. Let’s pray for the Centurions; may their numbers increase!

—————————————————–
PRAYER
—————————————————–

Lord, we thank you for those who have repented of committing abortions and have resolved to defend life. We too repent and resolve.

We repent of every instance in which fear has made us silent when we should have spoken. We repent of the ongoing bloodshed in our land, and for thinking that we can deprive the unborn of protection but keep it for ourselves.

We resolve that we will advance the cause of righteous candidates for public office, and that we will be more afraid of offending you by our silence than of offending others by our speech. We resolve that we will proclaim your name to the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

—————————————————–
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
—————————————————–

To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2009day02print.pdf

—————————————————–

On the eve of the kickoff of this 40 Days for Life, I was at an exciting event with numerous 40 Days for Life people from Maryland and Delaware. In a few hours I’ll be on a plane heading to Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky where I’ll be visiting 40 Days for Life locations.

I’ve never seen the intensity of excitement that we’re seeing this early in a campaign — this is going to be a GREAT 40 Days for Life!

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- WOW! I just finished listening to Shawn’s South Bend talk while typing this message to you. As an old Texas friend of mine says, “if that don’t light your fire, then your wood’s wet!” Listen to this right away — you’ll be glad you did!

The Day 1 devotional (below) begins with the words of Scripture, “Blow the trumpet in Zion!” Well, the trumpet has sounded and the fall 40 Days for Life campaign has officially begun.

These next 40 days will be an awesome journey as, together, we embark on the largest single coordinated pro-life mission ever conducted.

Tens of thousands of people across 212 cities are uniting in this prayerful effort — as well as countless others in places from coast to coast who will be praying from their homes and churches — imploring God to end the scourge of abortion.

For this effort to have grown to such an amazing size  — and to have already saved 1,561 children from abortion over the last two years — is, to me, proof that this is God’s work.

HE is the answer to this crisis of abortion, so let’s pray harder than we’ve ever prayed before!

And speaking of blowing the trumpet, I can’t help but mention how effectively many of the local 40 Days for Life campaigns are “tooting their horns” about this effort. Media outlets across the country are buzzing with news reports about this fall’s campaign.

Here are just a few examples…

In Dayton, Ohio –- The Dayton Daily News covered the local campaign’s kickoff event. Rev. Mike Spencer of Grace Missionary Church told the crowd about learning the truth about abortion after he became a Christian and decided to be “a voice for the unborn.” Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk led prayer and added, “If we don’t have reverence for human life, we are easing ourselves into a society in which nobody is safe. If you can kill little babies, you can kill anybody.”

In Columbia, Missouri –- Kathy Forck is helping lead that community’s first 40 Days for Life campaign. “All we want are prayers,” she told the reporter for the Columbia Missourian. “We just encourage people of faith to come out here and stand up for the little ones that can’t stand up for themselves.” A friend had invited Kathy to pray at the clinic last spring and she quickly realized she had to do more. “We can’t just stop,” she said.

In the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area — Local leaders for two campaigns appeared on Dave Palmer’s KATH-AM radio talk show to spread the word about 40 Days for Life. Milissa Kukla is the Dallas coordinator, and Jeff Williams handles the Fort Worth campaign. They were also joined by Laura Barker, who was part of the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in Bryan/College Station, Texas in 2004.

Listen to part of that interview online here:

Download mp3 (right-click to save file to your computer):
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/kath.mp3

40 Days for Life is the collective effort of ordinary people asking the Lord to act in an extraordinary way.

What will He do through YOUR prayers, fasting, and participation in 40 Days for Life this fall?

I don’t know, but I can’t wait for you to let us know!

Here’s today’s devotional from David Brandao, the communications director for 40 Days for Life…

—————————————————–
DAY 1 INTENTION
—————————————————–

That we may use these 40 Days for Life to plead for God’s mercy and grace upon all those involved in the sin of abortion.

—————————————————–
SCRIPTURE
—————————————————–

Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly. Gather the people, notify the congregation. Assemble the elders; gather the children and the infants at the breast… Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare, O Lord, your people.”

– Joel 2:15-17

—————————————————–
REFLECTION by David Brandao, 40 Days for Life
—————————————————–

The toll of abortion cannot be measured. We hear estimates of almost 50 million innocent victims, but that’s only one aspect of the harm that has unfolded in abortion’s wake. There are also the mothers and fathers of these millions, as well as the grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives of the living shattered.

It’s overwhelming and depressing, but even in the midst of such unfathomable darkness, the church teaches us to have hope. Yes, it was indeed Calvary that followed Christ’s 40 days in the desert, but without Calvary there would have been no Resurrection — His victory over death that opened the gates of heaven to those who believe in and follow Him.

The psalmist encourages us to go humbly before God as we seek His will: “A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me… Give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing spirit sustain in me… O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise” (Psalm 51:12, 14, 17).

We are called to be God’s messengers; or as the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: “We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

That is the true message to all we encounter at the abortion centers and in our communities who have been deceived by the Culture of Death. We don’t bring condemnation; we bring God’s good news.

—————————————————–
PRAYER
—————————————————–

Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom, determination and stamina to carry out this mission according to Your will.

Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your truth, always doing so with a spirit of love and compassion, as was demonstrated to us by Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, Amen.

—————————————————–
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
—————————————————–

To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2009day01print.pdf

—————————————————–

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

Can you feel the excitement building?

In just over two weeks — on Wednesday, September 23 — the largest 40 Days for Life campaign in history kicks off in a staggering 212 cities across 45 U.S. states, 5 Canadian provinces, and Denmark!

(The largest previous campaign was last fall with 177 cities — which seemed huge at the time. This year represents a 20% increase in campaign sites!)

To see the amazing map of locations and sign up to get involved in the campaign nearest to you, visit:

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

The fall 40 Days for Life campaign has already broken records for the number of participating communities, and we have faithful confidence that these numbers are just the beginning of the story.

To get a tiny sample of the kind of excitement that’s building in cities gearing up for the fall campaign, check out this short, 1.5-minute YouTube video posted by Josh Brahm of the local 40 Days for Life team in Fresno, California:

That’s enough to make you want to go pray at the abortion facility in Fresno — even if it’s a long, long drive from your town to California!

But you don’t have to go to Fresno to join the prayer and fasting, vigil, and outreach of 40 Days for Life.

With 212 locations, there’s certainly one that’s convenient for you. Check out the list … then click on the city name to find out more about the campaign in your area and sign up to get involved:

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

As word spreads about 40 Days for Life, more people are learning that abortion is not somebody else’s problem — it affects an entire community.

In Austin, Texas, a pastor learned for the first time during last spring’s 40 Days for Life campaign that a local abortion facility had been taking the lives of unborn Texans for more than a decade — and he’d been the pastor of a church around the corner for 17 years!

The pastor, along with 40 Days for Life’s Austin coordinator, Elizabeth McClung, were recently interviewed on KLGO-FM in Austin. The program got listeners fired up and ready to help with the fall campaign.

Listen to an 11-minute excerpt of the interview here:

Download mp3 (right-click to save file to your computer):
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/austin.mp3

Whether you’re part of the prayer and fasting in Fresno, Austin, or any of the other 200+ cities, know that your prayers will be heard, your efforts will be worth it, and our society will be positively impacted!

I’ll be sending you more updates over the next two weeks as together we prepare to go on a 40-day journey that will help to shape history — and, with God’s help, mark the beginning of the end of abortion.

Yours For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

Things are absolutely crazy around here, so I’ll be quick covering 2 important things:

1. 40 Days for Life applications begin TOMORROW
2. “Stop the Abortion Mandate” webcast updates

Here we go…

1. 40 DAYS FOR LIFE APPLICATIONS BEGIN TOMORROW

Tomorrow, Wednesday, July 22, we begin accepting applications for the fall 40 Days for Life campaign.

Hundreds of cities across North America — and around the globe — have expressed interest in participating in this initiative, which promises to be huge.

If you’re ready to see abortion end in your community, we will send the link to the application page by early afternoon tomorrow so you can get things started by applying to conduct a 40 Days for Life campaign this fall — from September 23 through November 1.

I also have a special treat for you today: a short audio recording featuring nine local 40 Days for Life leaders sharing how God blessed their community as a result of this focused pro-life initiative.

These are ordinary people with extraordinary faith and courage who were exactly where you are at this time last year — praying about what God wanted them to do.

They are from Indiana, Florida, Alabama, New York, Connecticut, California, Louisiana — even Canada.

They took a leap of faith and stepped up to lead local 40 Days for Life campaigns. And now you can hear — straight from them — what happened as a result.

Listen to the Audio Online (click “Play” button to start):

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

http://www.40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/testimonials.mp3

2. “STOP THE ABORTION MANDATE” WEBCAST UPDATES

Yesterday we announced the urgent nationwide webcast that 40 Days for Life is organizing this Thursday:

http://www.StopTheAbortionMandate.com  

Little did we know how this project would explode in size and impact over the last 24 hours!

Announcements about the event have now been sent out by dozens of organizations, reaching well over half a million people.

And moments ago, registrations for the webcast shot past 10,000 — already making this the largest pro- life web event in history!

You’ll be excited to know that several additional presenters have been confirmed for the event since yesterday, including:

• Dr. James Dobson (Focus on the Family)
• Peggy Hartshorn (Heartbeat International)
• Melinda Delahoyde (CareNet)
• Jim Sedlak (American Life League/STOPP)
• Day Gardner (National Black Pro-Life Union)

As one national leader told me this morning, “In my 15 years of working on the pro-life issue here in DC, I’ve never seen such alarm regarding a pro-life battle at hand — and I’ve never seen such unity behind one strategy. God is honored and we’re more influential when we work together.”

Amen to that!

The abortion industry has shifted into crisis mode. Internal abortion industry communications are buzzing about Thursday’s webcast and how the pro-life movement has formed a united front on this crucial issue.

The home page of Planned Parenthood’s web site screams: “URGENT — Anti-choice groups are trying to hijack health care reform!”

The abortion group’s president sent out an urgent broadcast e-mail stating, “we are in the fight of our lives… during the past week, anti-choice groups have turned out in droves to stop progress on health care reform in the name of ideology.”

The pro-life movement is gaining ground right now, and this Thursday’s webcast could be a decisive tipping point for America!

If you haven’t already:

1. Register to participate in the webcast:

http://www.StopTheAbortionMandate.com  

2. Tell everyone you know about the webcast and ask them to register for the event. Send them to:

http://www.StopTheAbortionMandate.com

Lots of great stuff happening right now!

As Jeremiah 29:11 tells us: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

Following an amazing 40 Days for Life campaign, here are two quick things before turning off my computer and cell phone for a much-needed break!

******************************************************
1.) INSPIRING VIDEO: 40 DAYS FOR LIFE CONCLUSION
******************************************************

While I was in St. Louis, Missouri to wrap-up the spring 40 Days for Life campaign, David Bereit was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for their concluding rally.

Here is his entire talk that was caught on video:

40 Days for Life Campaign Conclusion from David on Vimeo.

If you’d prefer to just listen online or download the MP3 audio file, here you go…

Listen to the Audio Online (click “Play” button to start):

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

http://www.40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/south_dakota.mp3

In this talk, David covered some things he’s never shared publicly before, including:

• The connection between Ronald Reagan, the Berlin Wall, and 40 Days for Life
• The first baby David has been able to meet who was saved in connection to 40 Days for Life
• What needs to happen following this campaign

You will be deeply inspired by this video!

******************************************************
2.) HOPE FOR LIFE CONFERENCE THIS WEEK!
******************************************************

There is limited space still available for the Hope for Life conference in Atlanta, Georgia this Thursday and Friday.

This will be an exciting opportunity to personally meet some of the top pro-life leaders and hear the latest news about what is happening on every front of the pro-life movement.

Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life board member and co-host of the nationally syndicated “Point of View” radio show, will be attending the conference and speaking on behalf of 40 Days for Life.

They will be taking registrations up to the time of the conference and you can even register at the door.

To learn more, look over the awesome line-up of speakers, and register to attend, visit:

http://www.operationoutcry.org/pages.asp?pageid=78926

If there’s any way you can attend, I know you’ll be blessed by the experience!

******************************************************

On a final note, we now have received confirmed reports of 431 lives saved as a result of this spring’s 40 Days for Life campaign. Amazing!

Thank you for all your prayers and faithful efforts that have produced such abundant fruit.

Now I’m turning off my computer and cell phone for the next few days to focus attention on my family (who have sacrificed much during this campaign as I’ve been running from coast-to-coast.)

Upon our return, David Bereit and I will have some VERY exciting news to share with you about how — together — we can move forward and build on the powerful momentum from this 40 Days for Life campaign!

Yours In Christ,

Shawn Carney
Spring Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

This Sunday, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Of course, there would not have been an Easter Sunday had there not first been a Good Friday.

In order to defeat death, Jesus had to die. And the gospels chronicle the extreme suffering He had to endure because of our sins.

What does that have to do with 40 Days for Life?

Everything!

Many have referred to abortion clinics as the modern-day Calvary — the place where the innocent suffer terrible deaths for the sins of others.

Many of the people who’ve participated in 40 Days for Life are Christians who commemorate Lent — the 40 day season of repentance and penitence that precedes Easter. They see a very clear parallel between the innocence of Christ and the innocence of babies in the womb — and the suffering that both had to endure.

There are quite a few 40 Days for Life teams who will be meeting on Good Friday for prayer and reflection. Here are just a few of them…

INDIANAPOLIS, IN: Good Friday is, tragically, an abortion day at Planned Parenthood in Indianapolis. The local team will hold a prayer vigil outside the clinic from noon to 3 PM, led by local coordinators from the Silent No More Awareness Campaign.

EVERETT, WA: This local team will host a special prayer vigil on Good Friday at 3 PM.

SACRAMENTO, CA: Local coordinator Wynette Sills says this campaign’s formal closing event is set for Good Friday at 5 PM. “Everyone from all seven local Sacramento vigil sites will gather together,” she said. “We are planning for several hundred, including 400 white crosses for people to hold.”

ALBUQUERQUE, NM: “Our prayer campaign actually ends this Good Friday,” said local coordinator Phil Sevilla. “We had 400 people participate last year. Good Friday represents our ending rally. We have a Jericho Walk, seven times around Planned Parenthood. The prayer vigil lasts three hours.”

RICHMOND, VA: Many of the local team members will attend services at 3 PM at St. Benedict Church, followed by prayer at the clinic, which is about four blocks from the church. Fr. James Kaufmann, pastor of St. Benedict, will lead the prayer vigil.

A prayer service familiar to many Christians is the Stations of the Cross — a reflection on Christ’s passion and what it means in our own lives. This service has been held several times during the spring 40 Days for Life campaign in Richmond.

40 Days for Life’s communications director, David Brandao, was present for one of these services recently and offers a short, profound, and inspiring audio report on the Stations of the Cross — as well as Richmond’s spring 40 Days for Life campaign.

Listen to the Audio Online (click “Play” button to start):

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

http://www.40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/richmond.mp3

In addition, Richmond is inviting its 40 Days for Life team to pray at the clinic on Easter Sunday.

That reminds me of one of the devotionals from the campaign that just ended.

It seems appropriate on Good Friday to take a second look at this poignant reflection (originally sent on day 21) from Fr. Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life…

——————————————————
GOOD FRIDAY INTENTION
 ——————————————————

Pray that we become vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement.

——————————————————
SCRIPTURE
——————————————————

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”

– Luke 24:1-5

——————————————————
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
——————————————————

This meditation, based on a sermon I once heard, is adapted for pro-life concerns.

It’s Friday. Jesus is on the cross. He has been killed by his enemies; he is off the scene.

But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!

It’s Friday. Abortionists continue their work 3,300 times a day, tearing off the arms and legs of little babies and crushing their heads.

But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!

It’s Friday. Pro-abortion groups receive blood money from billionaires who are as deceived as they are.

But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!

It’s Friday. Liars attempt to speak for all women and hide the pain of abortion, and ignore the evidence of how it harms women, and call abortion a blessing.

But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!

It’s Friday. People of hardened hearts guard the clinics and usher desperate women in to have their abortions, while keeping them from the pro-life people who want to give them hope.

But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!

Hope does not mean that we ignore or minimize the evils around us. It means, rather, that we see the whole picture, which is that evil is conquered because of what happened one Sunday morning.

We are called to proclaim, celebrate, and serve that victory, waiting in joyful hope for Christ’s return and the full flowering of the Culture of Life!

Indeed, Sunday’s comin’!

——————————————————
PRAYER
——————————————————

Lord, fill your people with new hope. Make us vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement, that as we engage in the difficult work ahead, we may experience the peace and joy that come only from you and that nobody can take away from us. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

——————————————————

May you and your family have a very blessed and Holy Easter.

Yours In Christ,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life