After speaking in Arkansas over the weekend, and then joining hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers on the streets of Washington, DC, for the March for Life, I finally arrived home — where we got 6 inches of fresh snow, leaving us snowbound for the day!

Thanks to mother nature, this delay has given me time to pray and reflect on how God has blessed 40 Days for Life since it began as a national — and then international — movement just over three years ago:

• 1,085 unique local 40 Days for Life campaigns
• 337 cities in all 50 states and six other countries
• 400,000+ participants
• 13,000+ church congregations involved
• 1,200+ news stories
• 3,599 lives confirmed saved
• 43 abortion workers quit
• 9 abortion facilities closed

Simply put, God has used this campaign to save lives and renew hope to end abortion …

… but it all starts with individuals like YOU!

From March 9 – April 17, we pray that more babies will be saved, more workers will have conversions, and more abortion facilities will close during the next coordinated 40 Days for Life.

Will you see these results in your community?

You might … if you’re being called to LEAD a local 40 Days for Life effort in your town. If you are, you can apply now to host a 40 Days for Life campaign:

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

40 Days for Life has a proven, unprecedented track record of life-saving results …

… but PLEASE don’t just take my word for it!

Take the word of Abby Johnson. Abby saw firsthand what can happen during 40 Days for Life. She witnessed the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign six years ago in Bryan/College Station, Texas.

In fact, Abby had a bird’s eye view — looking out the window of her office.

Abby was the director of the Planned Parenthood abortion center where that first 40 Days for Life campaign was conducted … followed by several other 40 Days for Life campaigns over the next few years.

It was during the sixth 40 Days for Life campaign at that facility when Abby witnessed an ultrasound abortion and knew immediately in her heart that she had to get out of her job and get far away from Planned Parenthood.

But where to turn for help?

She didn’t have to even think about it. The answer was to turn to the very same people who’d been praying for her outside her window for all those years.

Just months later, Abby was in front of her old office, speaking at a 40 Days for Life kickoff event, urging the participants to continue to show the love of Christ to all the clients and other employees of that abortion center.

It was an amazing moment, and you can watch a short video that was recorded that day:

Abby’s simple message: 40 Days for Life works!

It can work in your town, too. If you feel called to lead a 40 Days for Life in YOUR community this spring, apply now — before the application deadline THIS COMING MONDAY, JANUARY 31:

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

It could be a decision that bears fruit for life.

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Need more information to help with your decision about whether or not YOU are called to lead a local 40 Days for Life campaign? Download and read the PDF Campaign Overview Report at:

http://40daysforlife.com/report

PPS: The application is only for LEADING a campaign; there is no application necessary to PARTICIPATE in your local 40 Days for Life.

After speaking at a big pro-life event in Little Rock, Arkansas, I joined hundreds of thousands of people on the streets of Washington, DC for the March for Life.

Before coming to the March for Life, our national director, David Bereit, was with former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson at the West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco.

The West Coast Walk for Life is a rapidly growing event that attracted a record crowd this year.

Check out this amazing video of David and Abby firing up the audience of 50,000 people:

The enthusiasm we saw in San Francisco and Washington is now about to spill over in cities from coast to coast — and around the world …

… Because the next 40 Days for Life campaign kicks off in just six weeks!

We’ve heard rave reviews from the national Focus on the Family radio programs last week that featured Abby Johnson and me talking about how why she left her job at a Planned Parenthood abortion center and joined the pro-life movement.

You can hear both of these programs online …

Part 1: http://tinyurl.com/4lteu4a

Part 2: http://tinyurl.com/4sg6y8h

I’ve already heard from numerous people who’ve been inspired by Abby’s story to bring 40 Days for Life to their communities for the first time — just based on what they heard on the radio!

If YOU feel led to LEAD a 40 Days for Life campaign in your town, applications for the next campaign, which runs from March 9 – April 17, are open for a few more days. Fill out the application online at:

http://40daysforlife.com/apply

Applications will remain open ONLY until next Monday, January 31. You can apply online or by mail.

With all the amazing energy we’re seeing across America and around the world, I think this is going to be a great campaign … and I can hardly wait to get started!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

There’s a lot happening over the next few days — and I hope I get to see you — but first, two updates …

UPDATE 1: Applications for the next 40 Days for Life campaign (March 9 – April 17) are running at record levels for a spring campaign! If you feel called to LEAD a campaign where you live, visit:

http://40daysforlife.com/apply

UPDATE 2: We’re hearing rave reviews from the two-part Focus on the Family radio show about 40 Days for Life and former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson that aired Wednesday and Thursday! The recordings of both shows are now online:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/FocusOnTheFamilyDailyBroadcast

Now, about the next few days …

On January 22, America will memorialize the 38th anniversary of the unjust Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that imposed abortion on all 50 states — opening the way for the deaths of more than 52 million babies and the wounding of millions of women and men.

To mark this somber occasion, hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans will take to the streets — from coast to coast — to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

I’m getting ready to fly to Little Rock, Arkansas, where I will be speaking at a huge pro-life event on Saturday before catching a flight to Washington, DC for events on Sunday and Monday surrounding the March for Life.

Our national director, David Bereit, heads out at 3 AM to fly to San Francisco for events Friday and Saturday surrounding the West Coast Walk for Life before catching a red-eye flight back to DC.

If you’re coming to the big events on either coast, we’d love to see you!

Here’s where we’ll be — and when …

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21 (SAN FRANCISCO)

12 NOON: Oakland Standing Up 4 Life Walk
Oakland City Hall
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
Oakland, California
DAVID BEREIT will be participating

http://www.issues4life.org/oakland.html

7:30 PM: Interfaith Service for Life
St. Mary’s Cathedral
1111 Gough St.
San Francisco, California
DAVID BEREIT will speak, and the service
will be followed by a reception in the
Cathedral Hall

http://www.walkforlifewc.com/event.htm

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 (SAN FRANCISCO)

11:00 AM: West Coast Walk for Life
Gather at Justin Herman Plaza
1 Market St.
San Francisco, California
DAVID BEREIT and ABBY JOHNSON will speak

http://www.walkforlifewc.com

3:00 PM: Youth Rally following the Walk for Life
Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion
Entrance at Marina Blvd. and Buchanan St.
DAVID BEREIT will be speaking

http://youthrally.blogspot.com

EWTN TV will be covering the San Francisco
events live and plans to interview DAVID BEREIT

Check cable/satellite listings for channel
or watch live online at http://www.ewtn.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 (WASHINGTON, D.C.)

8:00 AM: Students for Life of America conference
Bethesda North Marriott
5701 Marinelli Rd., Bethesda, Maryland
(right outside of Washington, DC, walking
distance from White Flint DC Metro Station)
DAVID BEREIT, SHAWN CARNEY, and ABBY JOHNSON
will arrive and attend throughout the day

http://studentsforlife.org/conference

6:00 PM: Evening session at Students for Life
conference; DAVID BEREIT will introduce ABBY
JOHNSON to receive Defender of Life award

MONDAY, JANUARY 24 (WASHINGTON, D.C.)

8:30 AM: ProLifeCon
Pro-life bloggers and online technology conference
Family Research Council headquarters
801 G Street NW, Washington,
DAVID BEREIT will speak at about 11:00

To register or watch the online webcast:

http://www.frc.org/prolifecon

12 NOON: March for Life
Rally on the National Mall at 4th St NW,
then march up Capitol Hill to the U.S.
Supreme Court building
DAVID BEREIT, SHAWN CARNEY, and ABBY JOHNSON
will all be participating

http://www.marchforlife.org

EWTN TV will be covering the Washington, DC
events live and plans to interview DAVID BEREIT
and ABBY JOHNSON (tentatively) between 12 and 1

Check cable/satellite listings for channel
or watch live online at http://www.ewtn.com

2:00 PM: National Pro-Life Youth Rally
Corner of 1st St NE and D St NE
Washington, DC
DAVID BEREIT will emcee the event and speak
at 2:30 and 4:00, SHAWN CARNEY will speak at
2:59 and 4:29, and ABBY JOHNSON will speak
at 3:15 (all times approximate)

http://www.nationalprolifeyouthrally.com

7:00 PM: Rose Dinner (sponsored by March for Life)
Regency Ballroom, Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC
DAVID BEREIT and SHAWN CARNEY will attend

http://marchforlife.org/content/view/65/70/

For real-time updates about where we are at any given time, follow 40 Days for Life on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/40daysforlife

Well, I’ve got to run to get ready for my flight. If you can make it to any of these events, please be sure to come up and say “hello,” David!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

Two big things are happening right now…

FIRST — Focus on the Family is airing a two-part interview with me and former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson (and author of the bestselling book “Unplanned”) today and tomorrow. Focus on the Family flew Abby and me to their headquarters in Colorado to meet with their president, Jim Daly. Jim interviewed us for their radio program.

In this exclusive interview you will hear…

• What it’s like to work inside Planned Parenthood
• What changed Abby’s heart on abortion
• The crucial role 40 Days for Life had in Abby leaving the abortion industry

Focus on the Family will be airing this two-part radio show today, January 19, and tomorrow, January 20, to a worldwide audience.

This show will air on 2,000 radio outlets in the United States and will also be available for online listening — spread the word!

To learn more about today’s broadcast — and find a station you may listen on — please visit:

http://listen.family.org/daily/A000002417.cfm

For tomorrow’s broadcast of the second half of the discussion, please visit:

http://listen.family.org/daily/A000002418.cfm

If there’s no station near you — or you just don’t have a chance to listen — recordings of both programs will be posted AFTER they are broadcast at:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/FocusOnTheFamilyDailyBroadcast

Here’s the best part! The show concludes with the president of Focus on the Family, Jim Daly, giving a strong call to action for people to participate in 40 Days for Life …

… which leads to the next big item!

SECOND — Applications for the spring 40 Days for Life campaign opened just a few days ago — and we’re already far ahead of where we’ve EVER been before going into a spring campaign …

… and the applications are open until January 31!

If you feel called to LEAD a 40 Days for Life campaign in your community, don’t wait. Apply now at:

http://40daysforlife.com/report

With God’s help, we’re expecting amazing things to happen between March 9 and April 17!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

Do you feel called or have you ever considered leading a 40 Days for Life campaign in your community?

If so … it’s time to apply!

Applications to lead a local campaign are NOW OPEN for the next internationally coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign that will be held from March 9 – April 17.

(IMPORTANT: You do not have to apply to participate in a local 40 Days for Life. Only those who want to LEAD a campaign need to apply.)

These leadership applications will be open for the next two weeks.

Here’s the link to more information and the application form for those who feel called to lead a local 40 Days for Life campaign: http://40daysforlife.com/apply

That’s a pretty long page! Leading a local 40 Days for Life campaign is a bold undertaking that requires determination, heart, and — above all — faith. And we wanted to describe everything a leader gets when the campaign application is approved by the national team.

You can apply online or by mail. Complete instructions are available at the link above.

Ready to make a decision today? GO FOR IT!

Need more time? PRAY ABOUT IT!

You’ve got two weeks to keep this matter in prayer — and we’ll send you additional information over the coming days to help discern if you’re being called to lead a 40 Days for Life in your community.

Here’s that link to apply for the spring 40 Days for Life campaign one more time:

http://40daysforlife.com/apply

**PLEASE NOTE** Online applications must be received by midnight on Monday, January 31. Mail applications must be postmarked by Monday, January 31.

With everything that’s at stake at this crucial moment in history, let’s mobilize the Body of Christ and bring an end to the tragedy of abortion!

Looking forward to what God has in store for the
40 Days for Life campaign from March 9 – April 17!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
http://40daysforlife.com/apply

PS: If you haven’t already read it, a great starting point would be to download and read the freshly-updated
40 Days for Life Campaign Overview Report PDF document:

http://40daysforlife.com/report

YOU made “Unplanned” a TOP 10 national bestseller — in two different ways. Let me explain …

*** FIRST ***

On Monday night … 21,613 people participated in the “Unplanned” webcast, where Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood clinic director, revealed the shocking details of what she witnessed inside the abortion industry … and why she resigned and joined the pro-life movement.

You can still listen to or download the entire audio recording of the webcast online at:

http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=16864185

The webcast was held on the eve of the launch of “Unplanned” — Abby’s landmark book, published by Tyndale House, Focus on the Family, and Ignatius Press in an historic collaborative venture between Protestant, Evangelical and Catholic organizations.

On Monday night and Tuesday, you were given the opportunity to grab the very first copies of “Unplanned” — to help get the book off to a BIG start. And you did!

On DAY ONE of the release of “Unplanned,” Ignatius Press — which published a special edition of the book with additional bonus content — e-mailed me:

“I can tell you this — we’ve NEVER had this many orders in one day in our history!”

Sales were so strong that Ignatius’ entire first print run of “Unplanned” SOLD OUT — and they’re now in the process of getting it rapidly reprinted!

And, thanks to you, in the first 24 hours of release, “Unplanned” shot up to the #8 bestseller on Amazon and #3 at Barnes & Noble — UNBELIEVABLE!! You made it a Top 10 national bestseller!

The book is still doing great, and has stayed in the top 100 bestselling books in America since release.

As people are now reading “Unplanned,” amazing reviews are pouring in from leaders, journalists, book reviewers, and organizations.

As one example, I urge you to read the great review by my good friend and top pro-life blogger, Jill Stanek, which was featured on WorldNetDaily:

http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=250077

Jill explains how “Unplanned” reveals the vital role40 Days for Life played in Abby’s conversion, and Jill kindly adds: “In my opinion, the 40 Days for Life campaign has been the most successful pro-life invention of the last decade, maybe more.”

That brings me to the second (and more important) way YOU made a national bestseller.

*** SECOND ***

Your prayers — and the prayers of hundreds of thousands of other faithful believers — are what made Abby’s story a reality in the first place.

When Abby first walked out of her Planned Parenthood facility — during the 40 Days for Life campaign with a round-the-clock prayer vigil outside — she came to my office next door in tears, expressing deep remorse and her urgent desire to get out of the abortion industry forever. Abby told me: “If you weren’t there, I wouldn’t be here.”

Abby knows from personal experience the power of 40 days of prayer, fasting, vigil, and outreach — the components that make up a 40 Days for Life campaign.

And Abby understands why 40 Days for Life has generated such profound results:

* 1,085 campaigns have been conducted in 337 cities
across America and six other countries

* More than 400,000 people have participated from
over 13,000 church congregations

* 3,599 lives have been spared from abortion — and
those are just the ones we know about

* 43 abortion workers have walked away from their
jobs in the abortion industry, including Abby

* Nine abortion facilities have completely shut down
following local 40 Days for Life campaigns outside

The next 40 Days for Life campaign will be held from March 9 through April 17, and YOUR community has the opportunity to experience transformational results like these.

If God is stirring your heart to help bring 40 Days for Life to your community — or to help make your next local campaign the biggest and best ever — I would encourage you to download our freshly-updated
“40 Days for Life Campaign Overview Report” as a PDF document at:

http://40daysforlife.com/report

Applications for the spring 40 Days for Life open next Monday, January 17.

While you’re waiting, enjoy reading the report — which will help you find out what’s involved in conducting a 40 Days for Life campaign in your city, and determine if it’s a fit.

We have no idea what God has in store for the next 40 Days for Life, but based on the miracles He has accomplished during every other past campaign, we’re expecting BIG things!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

This is unprecedented!!

Over the last 36 hours, 5,182 people have already registered to join Monday night’s webcast where Abby Johnson — former Planned Parenthood clinic director and employee of the year — will finally reveal the shocking details of what she saw inside the abortion business … and why she resigned her job and joined the pro-life movement.

Abby’s entire story has never been revealed publicly … UNTIL NOW!

If you haven’t registered for the LIVE event being held on Monday, January 10 at 9 PM Eastern (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific) it’s still not too late.

Go to: http://UnplannedWebcast.com

This webcast is a sneak preview of the no-holds-barred revelations which fill the pages of Abby’s landmark new tell-all book — UNPLANNED — which will be released to the world one day after the webcast … a day the abortion industry is dreading!

UNPLANNED doesn’t even come out until next week, and it is already rapidly climbing bestseller lists.

When you sign up for the webcast, you’ll get the entire first chapter of UNPLANNED for free — before the book is even released!

Get Chapter One of UNPLANNED now at:
http://UnplannedWebcast.com

Here’s what leaders are saying about UNPLANNED:

• MARJORIE DANNENFELSER, Susan B. Anthony List — “Abby’s story is one of great moral courage in an age that groans for it. Hers is a modern parable of hope for us all, witnessing to the truth that sets the human heart free. A riveting story.”
• JIM DALY, Focus on the Family — “Think love and kindness can’t make a difference in the abortion debate? Read Abby Johnson’s story and find out how a pro-life ministry’s peaceful and respectful witness forever changed the heart of this former Planned Parenthood clinic director.”
• DR. ALVEDA KING, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — “Unplanned is a powerful and compelling testimony of the power of prayer and love. A story of courage, conviction, and conversion, the book will draw you into Abby’s life and her journey as her eyes are opened to the truth.”
• ARCHBISHOP CHARLES CHAPUT, Archdiocese of Denver — “Beautifully written, intimate and honest. A wonderful portrait of the power of truth and grace working in the human heart.”
• KRISTAN HAWKINS, Students for Life of America — “Unplanned is going to be revolutionary to the abortion debate. It perfectly illustrates how we can end abortion by reaching across to those on the other side to change hearts and minds. Abby’s story shows that no one, not even the Director of a Planned Parenthood clinic, is out of reach.”
• RANDY ALCORN, Author — “I’m grateful to Abby Johnson for having the courage to tell her story as a former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Unplanned. In this unique and compelling book, Abby shows the compassionate hearts of some of her coworkers, takes responsibility for her own participation in abortions, and shares the journey of how God in his grace and mercy delivered her from blindness.”
• PEGGY HARTSHORN, Heartbeat International — “I could not put this book down. Abby’s honest and riveting account sheds light on the fact that some Christians are conflicted but satisfied with the goal of ‘making abortion safe and rare.’ Abby finally had the courage to face the truth about abortion because of the way Christ’s love was reflected through the prayer, courage, and support of individual Christians.”
• TONY PERKINS, Family Research Council — “In Unplanned, Abby shares intimate details of the happenings that ultimately led her to leave her career as a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic director for ‘the other side of the fence,’ where she now ardently advocates for the rights of the unborn. If you have ever peacefully protested and prayed for an end to abortion, Abby’s story will provide tremendous insights — and encourage you never to give up.”
• FR. FRANK PAVONE, Priests for Life — “If we can better understand why someone has an abortion or how someone gets into the abortion industry and then how she comes out, we can come to understand the key to how our entire society can begin to emerge from the darkness of abortion. I thank her for her courage.”
• EDUARDO VERASTEGUI, Actor, star of Bella — “Abby understands how good people can be misled, as she was, to support abortion under the guise of helping women. This is the remarkable story of how one director of a Planned Parenthood clinic came to realize the truth about abortion — and what she did about it.”
• JUDIE BROWN, American Life League — “This remarkable book is destined to reshape the culture of death into a culture of love, life, and hope … it’s a life-changer!”
• FR. BENEDICT GROESCHEL, CFR, Host of “Sunday Night Live” on EWTN — “The moving story of the shocking truth of abortion and how God’s love and forgiveness transformed Abby’s life.”
• LILA ROSE, Live Action — “Abby Johnson is one of the bravest women I know. Once she realized the truth, Abby had the courage to leave the abortion industry and become a powerful voice of the defenseless. Her inspiring story challenges us to face the truth about the abortion industry and its many victims.”
• JIM SEDLAK, STOPP International — “Abby pulls down the walls of Planned Parenthood and lets us see the denial that takes place inside. Her story reveals the power of God. I highly recommend this book!”
• THERESA BURKE, PH.D., Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries — “Abby Johnson made her living upon the false presumption that abortion is good for women and compassionate for their babies. But one day she changed her mind. This book will help others to reach a similar moment of illumination and sanity.”
• JIM HUGHES, Campaign Life Coalition — “Abby is a courageous young woman who embraced the truth when she found it.”
• PETER KREEFT, Author and Professor at Boston College — “A compellingly candid story! Not argument or ideology but data — first-person facts and utterly honest feelings.”

Monday’s webcast is going to be huge, and I hope you — and everyone you know — will be there:

http://www.UnplannedWebcast.com

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

On January 11, 2011, former Planned Parenthood director and 2008 “employee of the year” Abby Johnson will FINALLY be able to reveal all the secrets from behind the closed doors of the abortion business …
and why she left to join the pro-life movement!

Abby was the director of the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Bryan/College Station, Texas. Yes — her clinic was the site of the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign back in 2004.

Six 40 Days for Life campaigns were conducted outside her workplace before Abby experienced a profound conversion during the Fall 2009 campaign … and literally walked into my office with deep remorse to tell me she wanted out of the abortion business.

Planned Parenthood immediately filed a massive lawsuit and restraining order against Abby (and me) with the intent to silence her.

But we finally WON that legal battle, and Abby is now able to blow the whistle on her former employer and reveal ALL the shocking details of her experiences inside the abortion industry … and her conversion.

Abby’s story has never been fully revealed publicly … UNTIL NOW!

On Tuesday, January 11, Abby’s story will be released to the world in a landmark book, titled “Unplanned,” which is being published jointly by Tyndale House, Focus on the Family, and Ignatius Press.

One night before — on Monday, January 10, at 9 PM Eastern (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific) — we convinced Abby to join us for a live webcast sneak preview of the no-holds-barred revelations which fill the pages of “Unplanned.”

And you’re invited!

Register for the FREE event at:

http://www.UnplannedWebcast.com

During the webcast, you will discover …

• What initially attracted Abby to volunteer and then work for Planned Parenthood — America’s largest abortion chain — even after being raised in a faithful Christian home
• The hidden personal secret that Abby had kept buried for years
• The shocking discovery that suddenly caused Abby to question everything Planned Parenthood had told her over eight years
• Planned Parenthood’s confidential plans to expand its biggest money-maker — abortion — all across America
• The abortion industry’s furious reaction when Abby decided to quit her job and join local and national pro-life efforts
• What Abby’s court battle brought to light about Planned Parenthood’s REAL agenda
• The single most effective way to reduce Planned Parenthood’s abortion business and change the hearts and minds of clinic workers

You won’t want to miss this eye-opening, one-time-only online event!

The announcement about the “Unplanned” webcast is being sent to hundreds of thousands of people around the world, and there is limited space available.

Grab your spot and register to attend NOW, before it’s too late:

http://www.UnplannedWebcast.com

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- When you register for the webcast, we’ll also send you the first chapter of Abby’s breakthrough book — for FREE! You’ll be among the very first to peek inside the pages of the book the abortion industry tried to stop. Get chapter one now at:

http://www.UnplannedWebcast.com