Before I share a very special gift with you for Thanksgiving, I had to let you know that …

… YOU DID IT!!

On the “Believe” teleconference and webcast a couple of weeks ago, we announced that a group of incredibly generous donors made a matching challenge that would double all gifts made to 40 Days for Life within one week of the call — up to $85,000.

We had hoped to double that $85,000, but instead you SHATTERED that match!

The grand total after the match came to …

… $213,035!!

Clearly God wants this work to expand over the coming months and well into 2010!

We are now rapidly moving forward with plans for the spring 40 Days for Life campaign — stay tuned over the coming weeks for details about the application period — and the new “Ending Abortion” initiative that will educate, equip, and empower pro-lifers around the globe.

(If you didn’t have a chance to contribute last week but still wish to make a gift to 40 Days for Life, in Thanksgiving for how God has blessed this effort, visit: http://www.40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm)

Here’s my solemn promise: every penny that has been given to 40 Days for Life will be used in the most effective and efficient way possible to save the maximum number of innocent lives from abortion.

Now, for my Thanksgiving gift to YOU …

Last Friday, November 20, I traveled to Kalispell, Montana, for the celebration event as the local Planned Parenthood abortion center went out of business following a 40 Days for Life campaign outside its doors.

It was AMAZING.

Fortunately, everything was filmed. Here’s a short 9-minute clip of the highlights:

This inspirational video will give you one more reason to give thanks during this Thanksgiving weekend!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving, and know that my family and I count you among our many blessings!

In Christ,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

Thank you for your prayers — and support!

I have just a minute, but wanted to let you know that so far, you’ve helped to raise ** $78,160 ** toward the $85,000 matching challenge!

Some gifts are still coming in the mail, so I’m sure the total is currently higher than that, but I knew you’d want to know just HOW CLOSE we are.

We’re catching up with the wave of new donations, so if you’ve already made your gift to 40 Days for Life, THANK YOU!!

If you haven’t yet, the deadline for your donation to be instantly DOUBLED is tonight (Tuesday) at midnight.

Make a one-time gift (that will be DOUBLED):

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

Make a pledge of monthly support (the annualized amount of your monthly pledge will be DOUBLED):

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

Yes, contributions may also be sent by mail. Our address is:

40 Days for Life
3515-B Longmire #316
College Station, TX 77845

For those mailed gifts to be doubled, they need to be postmarked by today — Tuesday, November 17.

This is simply AMAZING — you are on the verge of helping 40 Days for Life raise $170,000 in just one week…

… Think how much this will accelerate our unified efforts to end abortion!

Thank you SO MUCH, and keep praying!

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- Thanks for your patience with all the messages during this crazy week. I’m about to take a break from e-mail so I can spend time with my family over the next few days — before flying to Kalispell, Montana this Friday for the celebration as the local Planned Parenthood abortion center CLOSES DOWN after a 40 Days for Life was held outside its doors!

P.P.S.- Thought you’d enjoy some of the comments others shared with us while investing in this work over the last few days:

This campaign has completely changed me.
–Nikki

Just being a SMALL part of this ministry is BIG for God.
–Marlene

The fruits are evident. God bless!!!
–Delia

In memory of my parents, who cherished the life of preborns and are now with the Lord.
–Edith

Thank God our prayers up-lifting you all have helped. I shall continue to pray. Our God reigns!
–Eleanor

Merry Christmas (a little early!) and God Bless You!
–Maria

40 Days for Life has become a blessing in my life. It has focused me on the power of prayer and fasting and I now no longer feel helpless against the evil of abortion and its spread. It also resulted in my praying outside of an abortion clinic for the first time — to palpably feel the evil and see the chain-locked dumpsters was chilling and frightening. It made me realize that 40 Days for Life will come under attack from the principalities of evil and we must pray for the protection of this organization from pride and corruption of its purposes. God bless and protect us all.
–Anne

Praise God for His blessings! Praise God for 40 Days for Life!
–Ken

We are waiting for the conversion of our local abortionist. We BELIEVE!
–Jamie

Two of my grandchildren lost their lives to abortion. Thank you for inspiring so many to get involved on God’s work of saving lives.
–Anonymous

If only I had more.
–Darryl

So thankful to Jesus for all that He is doing to save babies and stop abortion!
–Lisa

I had never heard of 40 Days for Life [before this campaign]. The timing of the voting on the health reform bill and Abby’s conversion could only be from God.
–Mary

I wish I could do more. If I get a job, I will make it monthly.
–Tom (gave $100)

Thanks for all the excellent information, encouragement and leadership.
–Dorothy

40 Days for Life has so blessed me – I had to give something. Thank you for your incredible work on behalf of life.
–Marie

I am convinced that 40 Days for Life is what it is going to take to put an end to abortion. Since abortion is satanic, it is going to take prayer and fasting to put an end to this atrocity, one abortion clinic at a time.
–Gerald

Thanks for all that you do! You show us how to take a leap of faith with trust in God.
–James

I am very grateful and humbled by the opportunity to be a part of the miracles that God is doing through this work. Thank you for the sacrifices you make for women and unborn children. This is indeed God’s work!
–Anna

So amazed at what God is doing through you for ultimately the end of this holocaust.
–Suzanne

It is very exciting to see how God is blessing your efforts and those of the volunteers.
–Elaine

We love how 40 Days for Life is actively involving more and more people who oppose abortion in working together.
–Joanne

I have recently joined in on the 40 Days for Life campaign in the fall as a post abortive mother. Thanks for all you guys and your families do for the defense of innocent babies, their fathers, mothers and all those whose lives are affected by this horrific act.
–Linda

When I told my church how our prayers had saved babies and closed down abortion buildings, it really brought home to them how important our prayers are.
–Margaret

May God bless you abundantly! We are so thrilled to be a part of 40 Days for Life! Can hardly wait for the next action item!
–Kathy

I foresee God raising up a might army!!! God guide, bless and strengthen us, and like Jericho, may the walls of Planned Parenthood come tumbling down.
–Maureen

I want to spread the word more and more about what 40 Days for Life can do in our community.
–Mary

I love the peaceful and prayerful way you go about 40 Days for Life.
–Nancy

I’m currently out of work. But I received a small severance package and I know that God rewards the generous, so, here goes nothing! Spend it wisely as you have spent our funds in the past.
–Carol

Onward, Christian soldiers!!! It’s a pleasure to donate into this LIFE-saving campaign!!!
–Priscilla

Make a one-time gift (that will be DOUBLED):

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

Make a pledge of monthly support (the annualized amount of your monthly pledge will be DOUBLED):

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

THANK YOU for your prayers on behalf of the 40 Days for Life effort!

We know that the powerful results of this fall’s campaign are due — first and foremost — to the power of prayer. And we know we can always count on you to remind us about the importance of prayer.

Here’s a short message that accompanied a donation to 40 Days for Life over the weekend:

Please BE CAREFUL as you branch out that the foundation of prayer and fasting remains strong. That’s what has made this movement different from past efforts, and that is what has brought about the amazing results you have seen.

Amen, and thank you for this very wise reminder!

40 Days for Life is a testament to the power of prayer and fasting, and that will always be at the heart of everything we do.

With that in mind, I ask for your prayers for a developing situation in Michigan.

In addition to the other two abortion centers that closed during this fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign, there’s now real hope that MORE abortion facilities will be closing soon.

Albert Hodari is an abortionist who owns a chain of abortion centers in Michigan. Three of this fall’s 40 Days for Life vigils took place outside his facilities. In the days since the fall campaign ended, “for sale” signs have suddenly appeared outside two of those abortion centers — as well as at another of his locations.

There’s intense speculation about what’s going on with Hodari and exactly why these properties are for sale. But I have no doubt — not for even a second — that the power of prayer is at work. Skeptics might call this a coincidence. With God, however, there’s no such thing as coincidence.

Could more abortion centers be closing soon? God willing, the answer will be YES.

So please keep praying!

By the way, many of you have asked for an update on our matching grant challenge.

Our benefactors promised to double any contributions to 40 Days for Life — up to a total of $85,000 — either made online or postmarked before midnight TOMORROW, November 17.

Thus far, 449 people have generously responded, with gifts and pledges totaling $58,965!

Thank you all — we’re getting close!!

We’ve only asked for money one other time this year, and we purposely keep financial requests to a bare minimum. We want to spend as much of our time as possible on the 40 Days for Life mission.

Your assistance in helping us reach that $85,000 matching grant will ensure that our life-saving mission gets all our attention as we move forward.

If you have not yet participated in this effort — and are able to do so — here are the links…

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

If you feel called to make a one-time gift that will be instantly DOUBLED, go to:

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

Yes, contributions may also be sent by mail. Our address is:

40 Days for Life
3515-B Longmire #316
College Station, TX 77845

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

Thanks for your prayers — and your support.

You are making a powerful impact!

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

Three important items …

1.) O’Reilly Factor video and transcript
2.) Transparency about financial challenges
3.) How to DOUBLE your money in a down economy

Let’s dive right in …

—————————————————–
1.) O’REILLY FACTOR VIDEO AND TRANSCRIPT
—————————————————–

God has truly blessed 40 Days for Life. We’re still receiving reports from local campaigns, and the number of babies (and mothers) saved from abortion during this fall has now risen to …

605!!

Two clinics where 40 Days for Life vigils were held are closing their doors forever — and there’s now a “for sale” sign on at least one other location!

Eight abortion industry workers have quit their jobs this fall, including Abby Johnson, director of the Planned Parenthood abortion center in Bryan/College Station, Texas — where 40 Days for Life began — who experienced a spiritual conversion and left her job after seeing an ultrasound abortion and having a change of heart. Abby has now joined the prayer efforts outside of her former workplace.

Indeed, God’s blessings have far exceeded anything we could have ever hoped for. And now, thanks to the power of Abby’s conversion story, people from coast to coast are learning about 40 Days for Life — many for the first time.

Abby, along with 40 Days for Life campaign director Shawn Carney, appeared on the Fox News Channel’s O’Reilly Factor Wednesday night. If you haven’t seen this courageous woman yet, here’s your chance!

Click here to see the 5-minute video:

Fox News video

Or click here to read the transcript:

Fox News story

This tremendous blessing is a direct result of people just like you praying to God for an end to abortion; I have no doubt that He’s hearing your prayers and that we will continue to see the fruit of these efforts grow and grow.

—————————————————–
2.) TRANSPARENCY ABOUT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
—————————————————–

So why would God give this fledgling effort — which has only been up and running for the last two and a half years — such a huge mission?

I honestly don’t know.

But He continues to show us that He has much bigger plans for us that will require great faith.

During this fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign, we knew how much was at stake. So we invested everything we could into the campaign to ensure that there would be no regrets at the end.

In addition to conducting two enormously impactful 40 Days for Life campaigns this year, our national team was also called upon to help organize the Stop the Abortion Mandate Coalition — a collaborative project of 70+ pro-life and pro-family groups that rallied unprecedented grassroots opposition to government funded abortion in health care.

We hadn’t budgeted any funds for this, but the urgency of the situation demanded immediate action.

Together, we’ve made progress on this front. But there is still much work to be done as the battle shifts to the U.S. Senate this coming week.

Early next year, we are also preparing to launch a brand new effort to build on the momentum of 40 Days for Life — the “Ending Abortion” initiative that will educate, equip, and empower pro-lifers in communities across North America and around the globe.

And now, with no idea who might financially partner with us on these brand-new initiatives — and with no guarantees of what the future will hold — we are taking a huge leap of faith to press forward with these big plans.

There’s a simple reason why we’re doing it: 40 Days for Life is the single most impactful pro-life project we have ever taken part in. Period.

Until now, we’ve only publicly asked for financial help three times — ever.

We haven’t had to ask again up to this point, because God has been faithful — and because the generosity of many people in the past carried us through a very successful fall campaign.

We’ve squeezed every penny we possibly could and have worked round-the-clock to ensure the success of this vital mission.

My family and I — as well as our national team members and their families — are committed to continue working our hearts out to see this effort through to completion, regardless of the huge challenges, because we know how important it is.

But at this crucial moment when we have unprecedented opportunities to change the course of history, 40 Days for Life has heavily depleted its funds.

Isn’t that just like God to give us an opportunity to stretch our faith while doing His work?

As I was praying about what to do, God reminded me of you and the thousands of other faithful friends across the country who have been a part of this amazing movement.

Well, God is giving me this opportunity to come to you with the news that we are in significant need of financial help right now — if we are to move forward on any of these plans.

Thanks to your prayers and participation, 40 Days for Life is in a unique position to save thousands of children from abortion in cities all across North America and around the globe.

But we can’t do what needs to be done unless friends like you sacrifice with us.

I guess that’s what I’m asking you for: sacrifice.

Our family and the national team is willing to endure the hardships and inconveniences necessary to “fight the good fight” and help end the tragedy of abortion.

I hope you will join us in making whatever sacrifice God puts on your heart today.

Ask God what He wants you to do to help. Then respond to Him — not to me.

I know the economy has been hard on many of us, so I’m simply asking you to do whatever you can after tithing to your local church and taking care of your family.

Here’s my solemn promise to you: every dollar you give to 40 Days for Life will be used in the most effective and efficient way possible to save innocent lives from abortion.

And please keep this work in your prayers — you have no idea how much we appreciate that!

—————————————————–
3.) HOW TO DOUBLE YOUR MONEY IN A DOWN ECONOMY
—————————————————–

Over the last few days, I’ve received touching notes from people who are contributing to this effort even though they’re currently out of work.

One of the reasons they’re taking this great leap of faith is because of a guarantee that their money is being DOUBLED.

Contribute to 40 Days for Life before midnight next Tuesday (November 17) and your gift — or the annualized amount of your monthly pledge — will be doubled — up to $85,000!

Incredibly generous donors have put up this matching challenge, and for that I’m humbled and grateful. They’ve answered the call to sacrificially invest in this work in a way that would encourage others to help as well.

I would like to personally thank the 234 people who have already contributed toward the match — your investment will help take this important work to the next level!

For everyone else — REMEMBER: The matching challenge will only double gifts or pledges made by midnight Tuesday.

We’re at the half-way point time wise for the matching challenge, and at $34,990, we are close to half of the total — but we’re not there yet.

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 now 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
3515-B Longmire #316
College Station, TX 77845

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

This is a crucial moment and we hope that you will respond generously. Thank you!

—————————————————–

Well, that’s a lot to cover, but with all that’s at stake right now — I figured you’d want to know all the important news!

God bless you for all you’ve done to help 40 Days for Life get to this point.

I can’t wait to see what God has in store for 2010 and beyond!

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- If you have any question about making a gift that I haven’t answered or that isn’t answered at http://www.40daysforlife.com/donate, just reply to this e-mail and we’ll do our best to get back with an answer before the matching challenge expires.

I had to let you know about a BIG victory!

If you’ve been following the story of Abby Johnson, the courageous woman who just quit her job as director of the Planned Parenthood abortion center in Bryan/College Station, Texas — the place where 40 Days for Life began — there’s good news to report.

Planned Parenthood’s misguided effort to muzzle their former employee has failed!

Planned Parenthood went to court YESTERDAY, seeking a restraining order against both Abby and the Coalition for Life — the group that began 40 Days for Life in Bryan/College Station — to limit what they could say about the clinic and Abby’s conversion.

The judge said there was no compelling reason to warrant such extreme action and immediately dissolved the restraining order and dismissed their injunction.

I talked to Abby on the phone last night and she is elated at this victory over the abortion chain!

She is now speaking out against the abortion industry — something she can do even more freely after yesterday’s big court win in Texas.

I promised to send you a transcript of the BELIEVE teleconference from Monday night, so here’s the link to download it now:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/believe_transcript.pdf

If you missed the live presentation — or if you just want to go back and read about some of the amazing blessings God has provided during the fall campaign, or see more about our plans for the future, this is a great opportunity.

If you’d rather listen to the BELIEVE teleconference — or download it to your iPod — here’s the link where you can get the audio replay:
http://www.instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=9888195

One of the big announcements from the teleconference is that some of our generous supporters have put forward a matching grant of $85,000.

Every gift received between now and midnight next Tuesday, up to the $85,000 amount — will be DOUBLED!

Thus far, we have received one-time gifts and monthly pledges amounting to $22,980, so that’s a great start towards meeting that goal!

Thank you to everyone who has given already!!

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.: Here are the links for contributing to the 40 Days for Life effort — and helping to reach that $85,000 matching grant:

One-time gift:
http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=onetime

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

P.P.S.: I can’t overlook the fact that it’s Veterans Day. In appreciation, let me extend a most sincere thanks to all who have served our country!

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

Even before the end of this fall’s 40 Days for Life, hundreds of calls and e-mails started pouring in with one unified message:

“We can’t stop now!”

There’s no question that we’ve just witnessed God bring about profound miracles over a 40-day period:

• 212 cities in 45 states, 5 Canadian provinces, and Denmark participated in the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in history
• Tens of thousands of faithful participants were mobilized into peaceful and effective action
• More than 580 babies were spared from abortion
• 8 clinic workers quit their jobs — including Abby Johnson, the Planned Parenthood director who experienced a profound conversion and now prays outside her former workplace
• Two more abortion facilities CLOSED DOWN

And, during the same time, 40 Days for Life helped to organize 70 other pro-life groups into the powerful “Stop the Abortion Mandate” grassroots coalition that has successfully been able to block abortion funding from health care reform — so far.

But — as so many of you have been telling us — with everything that’s at stake, we CAN’T stop now.

As long as children continue to perish and women continue to be wounded, we must press on — until abortion ends.

TONIGHT — Monday, November 9 — the national 40 Days for Life team is holding a teleconference and web simulcast to take these efforts to the next level:

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

If you haven’t already registered for this amazing event, here are the details …

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

WHAT: 40 Days for Life “BELIEVE” Teleconference and Web Simulcast

DATE: TONIGHT! Monday, November 9

TIME: 9 PM Eastern (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific)

FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via phone or webcast — it’s your choice)

SPACE IS LIMITED! REGISTER ONLINE AT:

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

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

On the call you will:

• Learn about the comprehensive 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 will be on the call live to share more about her amazing conversion — and the power of prayer
• Hear the incredible story of the closure of the Pensacola abortion facility on Day 38 of this fall’s campaign directly from the local 40 Days for Life leaders
• Find out plans for the two 40 Days for Life campaigns in 2010
• Discover the BIG NEWS about a brand-new initiative that will build on the success of a local 40 Days for Life campaign in your community
• Learn about a SURPRISE that will multiply the effectiveness of all these efforts

Though there is no obligation, we will also invite attendees on the live teleconference and webcast to financially invest in this work, if they feel led.

Here’s why …

We’ve pulled out all the stops this fall to ensure the maximum results of this campaign — which were beyond anything we could have imagined — and we haven’t asked for help one time over the last six months. (We’ve been too busy working to save lives!)

As a result, our resources have been heavily depleted — and tonight’s call will determine what the future holds for our unified efforts.

Here’s what I’m asking you to do:

1. Pray about your ongoing role in this work
2. If you haven’t already, sign up yourself for tonight’s “BELIEVE” teleconference and webcast and be on the live call:

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

3. Spread the word and encourage others to join tonight’s call. Simply forward this message to other pro-lifers so we can continue to expand this work until abortion ends!

I believe these next few months are going to be a major “tipping point” for the pro-life movement, and tonight will be a huge first step.

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- There’s limited space on the teleconference tonight, but as I’m writing this message there are still slots available. Make sure to get your spot by registering now at:

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

P.P.S.- Have a schedule conflict tonight? Go ahead and register anyway. Our system will automatically assign your spot to someone else and the whole event will be recorded. You’ll be the first to get the recording after the call is done. Sign up now at:

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

There is a REALLY BIG announcement at the end of this message — that you won’t want to miss — but first I have to share the breaking news…

Just when you think it can’t get any better, it does!

I stand today in wonder at the awesome power of God, as one miracle follows on the heels of another miracle, which follows on the heels of yet another!

Here’s the latest …

For at least 25 years, there’s been an abortion facility at 6700 North 9th Avenue in Pensacola, Florida. But last Friday — Day 38 of the fall 40 Days for Life campaign — as people prayed outside, the clinic CLOSED ITS DOORS and shut down!

The local 40 Days for Life team didn’t even realize it at the time. Ernie Cyr, the Pensacola coordinator, heard reports that law enforcement officers went into the clinic on Friday to serve some legal papers, but no one really knew what was going on.

Then on Monday, a simple legal notice appeared in the fine-print section of the local newspaper: “As of October 30th, 2009, The Community Health Center of Pensacola will be terminating its practice.”

Ernie’s two-word response? “Praise God!”

A local TV news team did some digging, and last night their top story reported what they discovered. The clinic operated a lab, and that lab required a state license. The owners had a license at one time, but the news report documented that it expired 413 days ago. And that’s something state investigators became aware of only recently.

The clinic was given a choice: pay a huge fine or close down. The fine is $1,000 a day — for each of the 413 days the lab was without a license — which came to a whopping $413,000!

The clinic could not come up with the money … and was left with only one choice: CLOSE.

State officials told WEAR-TV that they had offered the abortion facility a reduced fine as part of a settlement agreement — but they never received a response. The abortion center staff would not talk with the TV reporters for comment, but the legal notice in the newspaper certainly suggests that the closure is permanent.

God works in mysterious — and wonderful — ways!

Here’s the WEAR-TV news report:

Now, I do have to tell you that this clinic had been the target of senseless violence in the past — a bombing in 1984 and two murders in 1994.

Because of that, many of the pro-life people in Pensacola quit coming out and opted to pray for the unborn at home or at church — or avoided pro-life efforts completely.

Although some stalwart Christian witnesses kept up their heroic efforts through the years, prayer presence at this clinic had drastically diminished because of the things that had happened.

Bottom line: the violence did not stop the abortions.

And, it drove away the very people who could have been part of the solution to the abortion crisis.

But God had other plans. A young couple named Ernie and Mary Beth moved to Pensacola and were not fully aware of the past history of the area. They heard about 40 Days for Life during a “Being Human” episode on EWTN and decided to conduct a local campaign — and then another, and then another.

It hasn’t always been easy, but throughout the three local 40 Days for Life campaigns over these last two years, Ernie and Mary Beth Cyr have seen more and more people coming back out to pray at the clinic, PEACEFULLY asking God to end abortion there.

And He did!

The TV news story reported the observable facts about a Florida health agency that took action against an unlicensed facility — but it also featured Ernie saying, “It’s just a complete joy and what a blessing for our community to have this facility close.”

During the news report, Bernadette Ensley — a University of West Florida student, and head of UWF’s Students for Life group — said it best: “For this to up and close the last weekend of 40 Days for Life is really shocking and great!”

Here are some of the Pensacola 40 Days for Life team members in front of the now-closed abortion center:

This now makes FIVE abortion centers CLOSED — facilities where people came to pray outside for an end to abortion during 40 Days for Life.

Praise God indeed, for answering your prayers and the prayers of thousands of others!

*** SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ***

Today’s amazing news makes me even more excited to announce that this coming Monday, November 9, you are invited to participate in a live teleconference and webcast where you will:

* Learn about the comprehensive results from this fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign — the impact is even bigger than you think!

* Meet Abby Johnson, former director of the Planned Parenthood abortion center in the community where 40 Days for Life began, who will be on the call live to share more about her amazing conversion — and the power of prayer

* Hear the incredible story of the closure of the Pensacola abortion facility directly from Ernie and Mary Beth Cyr

* Discover the BIG NEWS about what’s next for this nationwide movement

* And some additional surprises!

Here are the details:

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

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

WHAT: 40 Days for Life “BELIEVE” Teleconference and Webcast Announcement

DATE: Monday, November 9

TIME: 9 PM Eastern / 8 PM Central / 7 PM Mountain / 6 PM Pacific

WHO: YOU!

FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via phone or webcast — it’s your choice)

TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT, GO TO:

http://40daysforlife.com/believe

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

With the BIG plans that will be revealed during the event, we believe that this next year could be the most exciting time the pro-life movement has seen in years …

… But we’ll also be totally transparent with you about the significant challenges that must be overcome if this effort is to realize its full potential …

… And how YOU can help make a life-saving impact during this crucial next year.

Register now at:

http://40daysforlife.com/believe

I can’t wait to share the breaking news with you next Monday night!

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

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

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26

I’ve known about this for the past few weeks, but now I can finally share the HUGE NEWS!

The director of the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Bryan/College Station, Texas — where 40 Days for Life first began — has resigned her job, experienced a profound conversion, and joined our pro-life efforts.

AMAZING!

Here’s what happened …

Abby Johnson worked at Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas for eight years. She was there when the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign was conducted outside of her workplace in the Bryan/College Station community in 2004.

She was there for the next 40 Days for Life effort as well — the one that helped to launch the first nationally coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign in the fall of 2007.

And she was there for the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that — and the one after that!

In fact, Abby was able to look out the window of Planned Parenthood and see 40 Days for Life campaigns on six different occasions — as well as the regular year-round prayer presence organized by the local Coalition for Life, under the leadership of our own 40 Days for Life campaign director Shawn Carney.

For all those years, people outside the clinic prayed for Abby.

And with all those prayers, Abby finally had a change of heart. She said, “Over the past few months I had seen a change in motivation regarding the financial impact of abortions,” she said, “and I reached my breaking point after witnessing a particular kind of abortion on an ultrasound.”

She quit her job and went across the street to the headquarters of the Coalition for Life where Shawn has been helping her over these last few weeks.

Fox News just reported on Abby’s conversion, stating:

Abby Johnson, 29, used to escort women from their cars to the clinic in the eight years she volunteered and worked for Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas. But she says she knew it was time to leave after she watched a fetus “crumple” as it was vacuumed out of a patient’s uterus in September.

“When I was working at Planned Parenthood I was extremely pro-choice,” Johnson told FoxNews.com. But after seeing the internal workings of the procedure for the first time on an ultrasound monitor, “I would say there was a definite conversion in my heart … a spiritual conversion.”

Johnson said she became disillusioned with her job after her bosses pressured her for months to increase profits by performing more and more abortions, which cost patients between $505 and $695.

“Every meeting that we had was, ‘We don’t have enough money, we don’t have enough money — we’ve got to keep these abortions coming,’” Johnson told FoxNews.com. “It’s a very lucrative business and that’s why they want to increase numbers.”

Read the whole story (and see Shawn with Abby) at:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571215,00.html

Abby finally saw the truth. The truth which Planned Parenthood often tries to hide — even from its very own management staff.

She left on good terms, and says that Planned Parenthood tried to offer her more money to stay. “But this was not about money or me being angry,” she said. “It was about my change of heart on abortion.”

Planned Parenthood has responded by going to court to seek a restraining order against both Abby and the Coalition for Life. The requested court action warns against disclosing any “confidential information.” An initial court hearing is set for November 10, so please keep Abby, Shawn, and the Coalition for Life in your prayers.

Seeing is believing, so here’s the local news report aired by KBTX-TV in Bryan/College Station (there’s a short commercial first):

Abby’s amazing conversion demonstrates the importance of a constant, persistent, peaceful prayer presence in front of abortion facilities.

From that first campaign in 2004, we’ve prayed for Abby — and for all abortion workers — that they would come to see what abortion really is, and that they would leave the deadly business. In this case, those prayers have been answered.

We are so proud of Abby’s courage to leave the abortion industry and publicly announce her reasons for leaving.

And now a familiar face has been seen praying outside Planned Parenthood in Bryan/College Station during the final days of this fall’s 40 Days for Life — yes, Abby Johnson.

God can and will do amazing things — if only we ask!

We must continue to pray and fast for more conversions just like Abby’s.

In fact, we WILL continue.

In the days ahead, you’ll learn how — together — we will keep this amazing momentum growing.

In all, eight clinic workers left their jobs during the 40 Days for Life campaign that just ended — and reports are still pouring in from across the 212 participating cities, so it could be even more!

I have another updated total for you as well. The number of babies (and their moms) spared from abortion during this campaign is now up to …

542!

Praise God for ALL these miracles!

For Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- Please keep Abby in your prayers this week. She goes on the Laura Ingraham radio show to tell her story in a few hours, and is scheduled to be on the O’Reilly Factor on Friday. May God use her testimony to change many hearts and minds!

P.P.S.- Want to share words of encouragement or prayers for Abby? Leave a reply below and we’ll make sure Abby sees your comments.