DAY 15: In any language
I just got an e-mail from Canberra, Australia asking if they can do a 40 Days for Life in 2011. I’m just trying to make it through this fall!
Honestly, the international enthusiasm for this lifesaving campaign has been unexpected since we first launched 40 Days for Life in the United States just three years ago.
Here’s a quick tour of some of the international campaigns that are seeing amazing results.
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MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK
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Moncton is one of nine campaigns in Canada right now. And as you might suspect, there are signs in French that read “40 Jours pour la Vie.”
The sign the woman is holding is a translation of the poster the man is carrying — “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”
“The prayer site across from the Dr. Georges Dumont Hospital is tremendous for public exposure — such a humungous amount of traffic all day long,” wrote Peter Ryan in New Brunswick Right to Life’s blog. “If those people did not know before about the hospital doing abortions, they sure are finding out now.”
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HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
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The 40 Days for Life team in this Canadian location employs bilingual posters as well. The two languages are English … and Mandarin Chinese!
“We have many Chinese students attending St. Mary’s University and they walk past us as they go from school to the main street of Halifax,” said Julie. A Chinese pastor did the translation, and he invites Chinese students with questions to contact him.
“Abortion is a given in their country,” she said. “All of these students will not have any brothers or sisters.”
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HOLBAEK, DENMARK
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As is the case in Moncton and Halifax, abortions in Holbæk are done in a hospital. 40 Days for Life vigil participants hold two large banners outside.
One offers a familiar pro-life sentiment: “Abortion stops a beating heart.” The other reads, “Choose Jesus. ‘Whoever receives one such little child in My name receives Me.’”
Susanne in Holbæk reports the campaign is getting much positive attention — though there was a young woman who stood across the street with a banner of her own that read, “Thank God for free abortion. We already have too many disregarded and unwanted children present in this world.” She was soon joined by several others.
“We kept on praying and called for Jesus to intercede,” Susanne said. “They disappeared as suddenly as they came.”
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LONDON, ENGLAND
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“We had the first member of staff tell us she has quit her job there,” said one of the 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers outside the Marie Stopes abortion facility in London. “We should continue praying and being there for the rest.”
In addition, at least three more babies have been saved from abortion!
The London campaign is receiving a lot of support — though not every passerby has a favorable view.
“I am used to abuse in the hospital,” said one volunteer, who is a nurse. “But the anger I heard out of the businesswomen was difficult to take. ‘Stop abusing women!’ I heard repeatedly. They seemed completely unaware that I am a woman, too!”
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Where to from here?
The London team has received inquiries about the campaign from interested people in Russia, Ghana and Colombia. I’ve also gotten e-mail from people in France and Spain, asking about to bringing 40 Days for Life to those countries.
Let’s see what God has in store!
Here’s today’s devotional from Rev. Rob Schenck, President of Faith and Action…
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DAY 15 INTENTION
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May God’s people awaken to the fact that we are our brothers’ keepers.
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SCRIPTURE
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Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.”
– Genesis 4:8-10
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REFLECTION by Rev. Rob Schenck, Faith and Action
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“Methinks he doth protest too much …”
The Bible is filled with passages that speak to our obligation to care for our fellow human beings. From the many commands in the books of Moses enjoining love of family, neighbors and even strangers, to Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, the injunction to care for others is inescapable.
In this account, the guilt-stricken Cain tries to shrug off his obligation to his own kin by dismissing it as an unreasonable duty. A la Shakespeare, though, “methinks he doth protest too much.” Cain’s objection doesn’t stem from his sense of proper boundaries of responsibility, but from his own self-centered sense of self-preservation.
Christ said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). This is the standard of divine love. It required God to sacrifice what was most precious to Him for the temporal and eternal well being of all humankind (see John 3:16). Though on a much-reduced scale, he expects us to do the same.
Trying to duck our obligation to others is futile. We can’t get away with simply dismissing others, especially the most vulnerable among us: the pre-born, the disabled, the sick and the aged. As with Cain, God sees and hears their suffering and will call us to account for what we do — or do not do — for them.
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PRAYER
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Father, help us to embrace the fact that we are our “brother’s keeper.” When, due to selfish motives, we try to cast off this responsibility please call to us to account. We would be pleasing to you and to our “brother.” Through the help and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2010day15print.pdf
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For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: What’s new with 40 Days for Life in your city? Please leave a comment below.
October 6th, 2010 at 10:31 am
I live about three and a half hours from Melbourne but I have signed up for two days this month, to join with those praying and fasting for 40 Days for Life. I will travel by Public Transport. Meantime I am traveling by private bus on 9th October with a group of pro-lifers from this region (North East Victoria not far from where the Ovens and King Rivers meet and then flow into the Murray) to “March for the Babies” (aka “The Freedom to be Born”). Hundreds, especially family groups, but also youth and elderly people, will walk joyfully, proclaiming the beauty of the gift of Life, for a couple of kilometers through the streets of Melbourne to the Parliament House. There speakers will address the crowd demanding the repeal of the infamous Abortion Bill passed two years ago by the Victorian Parliament. This vile legislation allows abortion at any stage of pregnancy and would compel a doctor to refer for an abortion against his conscience. Late term abortions have increased by an enormous rate since that time. I urge you all to pray that every MP who voted for this deadly legislation lose his or her seat in the upcoming 2010 Elections.
October 6th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Last Sunday, at the LifeChain prayer, I purposely took the “Abortion hurts Women” sign & knelt on the sidewalk. We were on the busy thoroughfare in our town. Most people were respectful as they drove by, and some thanked us for being there. There were a few, though, who chose to use bad language, and wave without all the fingers extended … and I thought the same thing as the volunteer in London, “Don’t they know I’m a woman too?” But more than that, I prayed harder, because the sign I chose to hold stated who I was… a woman hurt by abortion, and I don’t want it to happen to anybody else. God, end abortion.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
The Will of God, subtle and profound, spreads slowly, openly and honestly conquering our immediate perversions and calling all to conversion.
In Christ
Ed Benya, S.J.
October 6th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
So grateful to be able to view the visual reports of what 40 Days for Life is doing around the world. It’s encouraging. Often the lonliness of this fight threatens to weary the willing worker. Seeing our fellow comrades around the world and hearing the reports is so nice.
~~ Our brothers keeper, we are. Ez3:18 “If you do not warn them (about what i say concerning this, that they will die) …the wicked will die in their iniquity, however their blood will be on your hands.”
~~How far we have come as a complacent nation that we, who once defended the oppressed, turn our blind eye to a populous who cannot utter a word for themselves.
October 6th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Proverbs 24:11
Rescue those being led away
to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
As with each 40 Days for Life campaign I continue to be amazed at the way God is answering our prayers.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
May soon we could also hold banners in Argentina with signs in Spanish saying: “40 días por la vida”!. God is committed to stop this crime and is counting on our help. Let´s help Him no matter where we live. His love knows of no language or country frontiers. Love to you all.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Hello to all my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus! I know God is calling me to be active in the Pro-Life movement. I participated in our parishes life chain the other day and became so filled with joy, that I did not want it to end. The next day I went and prayed in front of an abortion mill. Once again, I was filled with a joy that words will not extol. I am going again today to pray in front of another mill. It seems strange that at such a location I would experience joy, but it is a joy that I have found nowhere else! It is like God is telling me, “Be a joy filled Christian!” The possibility of saving an unborn child or a mother from the despair of killing her child, is something to do cartwheels about! So when you are out there in the battle field, wear your SMILE! Wave to anyone that looks at you. Especially those that temporarily disagree with our position. If you are able to pray in front of an abortion mill, bring your children. If you do not have children invite those that do. These poor mothers need the reminder of who they carry in their womb. Jesus already defeated death, but He wants to see who is willing to fight for LIFE! I join with all of you in prayer for those who just do not know what they are doing to the least of His children.
Pax Christi
Corey
October 6th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Shawn et al:
Thank you for starting this with David. The positive response around the world to 40 days shows God is on our side.
Continued prayers for all,
Melinda
October 6th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Back in 2002 when I found out I was pregnant, my husband’s first response was to tell me that I needed to have an abortion. He listed all the reasons we were not ready to have a child at that time. But to me it was not a matter of us being ready, it was a matter of the truth that the baby was already here, growing inside of me. I refused to have the abortion. And he ended up trying to punish me by being very mean to me the rest of our marriage and did eventually hurt our child which resulted in me leaving him and saving the life of my child a second time. In the fall of 2008 I participated in the 40 days for life campaign by taking my daughter to the site and we both held signs and prayed. It was very healing for me. I refused to have an abortion and brought my daughter into the world. And even when my husband tried to attack her again, I saved her again. Abortion occurs when people no longer value life. And that removal of value for life can result in child abuse as well. Thank you 40 Days for Life for providing a way for people to participate in saying loud and clear that to devalue life in the womb or outside of the womb, it is the same. My daughter and I are living our lives and enjoying ourselves. She has the life God gave to her.
October 6th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Hi friends for life!
Without going into details, the Burlington Vermont site has gone through much, much persecution this campaign. One of the team leaders told me that she does not remember it ever being this difficult. If old ugly works so hard, then God works even harder for his Children. We know He loves us and protects us and we expect amazing things from him.
Today, a homeless woman approached PP with a man. They stopped right before the building and argued. We all prayed, I wasn’t even sure the couple was coming for an abortion, we prayed for peace between them and that she would choose life if she was abortion minded. The man with her was very angry and told her she had the right to choose, then we knew. More prayers, went out and as they started to enter PP I said “sister, you can choose life’. Just a few minutes later, they exited the building, she chose life for her baby.
One of the prayers ran over to her and gave her $20.00 and said “we care”. Please pray that this woman gets all the love and support she needs, that she will have a home for herself and her little one. Also, please pray that if I am meant to speak with her, that God will open the door.
Peace & Good,
Rita
Burlington Vermont
October 6th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
I just caught up on all my e-mails on the progress of 40 Days for Life. I am 79 and walking very slow and carefully so do not protest at abortion clinics, but I use Facebook and Blogger to express my views and wish to report I had a fiery discussion with some of my long time democratic friends since I am a pro life democrat just this week on abortion, expressing a warning that their inflexible attitudes on ‘choice’ might help cause their beloved young president not to be re-elected. I have long been working for the democratic party to recognize and respect pro life democrats in their midst, and am saying that many Christian democrats are staying silent who should not be forced to support irreligious ideas in the party platform. So this great party which was so courageous in their fight for civil rights has now been ‘hi-jacked’ by leftists who are determined that abortion rights must be supported regardless of the religious beliefs of Christian democrats. To me this is wholly ‘undemocratic.’ And pro life democrats like myself must keep working to restore the party to one that will reflect the views of all democrats. I know this is a frightening thought to the pro choice crowd because it will mean that belief in establishing ‘untouchable’ abortions rights may be eroding. Every victory is important as far as I am concerned in changing minds about this issue. I am now planning to do a video on the progress of 40 Days for Life for my You Tube Channel Gerry King 40. I have done many videos on the subject and now need to do another on this inspiring movement.
October 6th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
OUR BROTHERS KEEPERS!!!
Heavenly Father cleanse us and mold us to be the children that You want us to be.
Let’s also take these 40 days to ask God to cleanse us and teach us to be more God-like. It’s easy to see others defaults, but it all starts from within. Let’s lead by example…
October 6th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Thank You all for doing a wonderful job. Praying for babies and their pairents. Abortion is very bad. My mum has been going to our local 40 days for life sight and it had drematicly affected her. She couldnt look at the Abortion Clinic. She said the evil lives there. I myself cannot make it to our local 40 days for life as ive been delivering goods for my parish.
God Bless all. I will keep you all in my prayers and join with you through prayer.
October 6th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Amazing to see people from all over the globe beginning to stand togeather for life through 40 Days for life. Thank you all for your courageous stand! It sure inspire and challenges me and I’m sure many others too! Keep it up, I know that God is blessing you all.
October 7th, 2010 at 1:09 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion.
October 7th, 2010 at 3:37 am
After seeing all of the wonderful inter-denominational messages, I can’t help thinking that this may be the issue that aligns all of our Christians brothers and sisters in Christ’s true love….
For God’s glory…let us work together to bring the end to abortion and glory to our savior..
Cindy….Catholic Christian….
October 7th, 2010 at 5:38 am
God Bless all those who sacrifice their time and prayers to save the unborn!! May the Good Lord bless you now and in eternity!! The more we trust in the Lord, the more he provides! Let us continue the “good fight” and see the miracles God performs!!
Jesus, Mary, I love you— save souls!
October 7th, 2010 at 6:17 am
These reports and comments are such a vital part of the 40 days for life–
-they are such an encouragement to continue being the hands, feet and heart of Jesus to all those living in darkness and confusion.
It is the love of Jesus that will change hearts and minds , and our perseverance— no matter what.
I am so thrilled that this movement is spreading to so many countries—-it’s like a tidal wave!!! Praise God
October 7th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
My oldest daughter had an abortion at the age of 15 . I paid for the abortion and her father took her to the clinic . Then later on she had another one and I drove her there.Then I thought it was my rights as a mother to protect my daughter and end the life of these babies. I was not a christian then and since I have become one, I had to ask the Father to forgive me for this horrible sin. I know he has and now I pray for these mother’s and father’s and especially for these precious gifts from God . May God bless each and everyone who is involved in this 40 Days for Life Campaign.
October 8th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Thank you on behalf of the babies saved. And thank you for reminding us all of the babies aborted. Those aborted souls must never be forgotten, nor the mothers that had the abortions. Their pain is deep and unrelenting when they realize what they did. God bless you all.