DAY 29: Be His voice for the voiceless
40 Days for Life often feels like a sprint — but it’s really a marathon!
Marathons take discipline … and often it can be hard to tell if you’re really getting anywhere. As we enter the last quarter of this effort, many campaigns are just now seeing the impact they have had over these past few weeks.
It takes a steady, faith-filled, Christ-like mind to stay the course and not get distracted. As the Apostle Paul put it, “Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).
These campaign stories illustrate that point.
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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
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Trudy reports that the 40 Days for Life campaign is going very well — and that’s no surprise. But this campaign is different. The volunteers in Jacksonville are praying in front of a vacant building.
“Our pro-life presence in front of an empty facility, whose owner, Planned Parenthood, plans to abort babies in this building, delivers our message to passersby better than an ad in the local newspaper,” Trudy said.
“If you really want a treat, join us at 1:45 pm any day, Monday through Friday, to see all of the school buses lined up on the street in front of the new Planned Parenthood,” she said. “Children, with their arms hanging out the windows, joyfully wave to us when they see our display of banners.”
Traffic often slows in front of this location. One woman called out from her car, “I didn’t have an abortion. I kept my baby!” The volunteers responded, “God bless you!” The man in the car behind her heard all of this and added, “I don’t believe in abortion either!”
Pray that Planned Parenthood never opens an abortion center in this location!
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
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Faithful prayer volunteers continue to bring the pro-life message to the street in front of Planned Parenthood in Pittsburgh — despite a couple of area businesses that would like to see them leave.
One store owner has even posted a sign for the past two campaigns, calling them hypocrites. “He needs prayers,” said one participant.
Another volunteer told of “a heartbreaking scene that was observed when a woman walked out of the Planned Parenthood strongly stating to a young woman behind her (her daughter?) ‘I don’t care what you want.’ Please pray for them.”
Nikki sent some photos from the vigil. In one, you can see a mobile ultrasound unit parked across the street from Planned Parenthood. “One girl went into it for sure instead of going in to Planned Parenthood,” Nikki said, “but we don’t know the details yet of what happened after she got on board.”
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA
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Lisa in Phoenix is thankful for the many volunteers who “continue to stand witness through many difficult situations in Phoenix.” They will keep praying at this site even after the 40 days are complete.
“The community has become more aware of the evil surrounding their neighborhood,” she said. “People are sharing stories of healing and reaching out to those in need. Local churches have taken on full vigil days to witness and pray.”
Vigil participants watch every day as women come and go. “From my years praying on the sidewalk of abortion clinics,” a volunteer said, “this is the first time where the girls are so sedated they have no tears … but this is a battle God will win. Continue to be His voice for the voiceless.”
Here’s the link to today’s devotional.
For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: Are you a first-time participant in 40 Days for Life? If so, I’d love to hear about what you’ve experienced. Please leave a comment below.
October 24th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Thank you for the work you do. I was just wondering if there was a Planned Parenthood place in Wyoming. I live in Rock Springs Wyoming. I dont think they do Obortion here in Rock Springs but IM not sure.
Jesse
October 24th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
I wish I was as courageous as these blessed people!
May Mary guide us all on the right path.
October 24th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
This is my first year standing and praying at planned parenthood during 40 days for life and my experiences have run the gambit. We had one lady stop and was HEARTBROKEN that she had had an abortion 21 years ago, That her baby boy would have been 21 the next day, and profusely thank us for standing and praying so hopefully more women would not have the heartbreak that she did. We also had a Woman who was so HEARTBROKEN that she stopped her car and yelled at us. She sadly had an abortion when she was 15 and felt she had no other options. She was so furious that we would have the gall to “tell others what to do”. What ever the emotions today, the thing that they all have in common is abortion and HEARTBREAK. So I will continue to pray for the nation who is allowing this heartbreak to continue on a daily basis. For the men and women who who are continually being heartbroken by this travesty. And for the unborn children who are heart brokenly murdered at our hands. God forgive us and help us to make this nation a nation of your again!
October 24th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
I went to the prayer vigil today for a few minutes on my lunch break. It is such a privilege to pray with others in front of the Planned Parenthood building. I was touched by the blessing of God’s work among His people through 40 Days ministry. It just seemed so right to be there…to be in alignment with God and His cause for LIFE!
October 24th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
I have so appreciated all the updates. It really is inspiring to see what can be done. I’m trying to think of what i can do beyond the 40 DAYS FOR LIFE.
October 24th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
One suggestion for those that want to continue being active after the 40DFL vigil is to start asking your group if they would continue coming out to your target abortion clinic (AC), during the AC’s business hours, for one hour a week until the next 40DFL. Make out a schedule, then contact all of the prayer warriors to have them pick a time and day. Try to have a minimum of two per hour for a start. We will be trying this at our AC this vigil.
Another suggestion: Learn Sidewalk Counselling techniques.
Let’s pray for each other’s success.
October 24th, 2012 at 8:12 pm
Praise God!For His eye is on the sparrow and I know He is watching You.I thank God for 40 days for life—-I love all the beautiful signs for Life and all the Beautiful people holding them.God Bless you all.I pray that the Holy Spirit moves upon the hearts of the blind–so they will see the truth behind abortion. Where do you get those signs?I would love to have one in my front yard.
October 24th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
God bless all of you! I am so touched that you are there to bear witness to our Lord and to speak for those who have tiny voices, or no voice at all. Please know that I pray for you and with you. Stay strong and stay happy.
October 25th, 2012 at 12:28 am
I have not been able to participate in the 40 days for life this year due to aging health problems, but my prayers are always with the entire campaign, everyone who attends, and I know that some day this evil will all come to an end. So, evenyone, please keep on keepin’ on.
October 25th, 2012 at 1:16 am
I thank God for the 40 Days for Life volunteers. May God blrss your efforts . While walking in darkness, 49 years ago, I had an abortion. It was soon thereafter that the Lord spoke to my heart and caused me to realize what I had done, murdered my unborn child. I still pray and seek forgiveness for that deed. It is my prayer that abortion will be outlawed, and all Planned Parenthood Centers will be closed dowm permanently. May God strengthen and protect all 40 Days for Life volunteers wherever they are located. I thank God for each of you.
Lauraine, Coatesville, PA
October 25th, 2012 at 1:56 am
This is my second year for 40 days of Life – in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. I try to go as often as I can, go and stand ( sit- bad back) in front of Metropolitan Hospital where they perform abortions. Some hostile insults but mostly approval honks of support. Praying that this campaign will save
babes from being killed at this location. We all offer our prayers to God to end the evil of abortion>
October 25th, 2012 at 9:41 am
This is my first time with 40 days for life. It has changed my life in that every time I go to pray at Planned Parenthood I just feel the power of the Holy Spirit. I know that I am praying for a worker in the clinic..someone who is struggling with what she/he is doing. I also have been reading Isaiah and I know that this terrible injustice is not going to keep going on…the Lord will provide His justice. On a particular cloudy day I was musing on that God will roll in like one of these clouds and these horrendous acts will be stopped and All will know that it is the Lord our God that abhors these murders. My husband & I have always been pro-life, in fact we have adopted two children because of our beliefs but 40 days for life is the definite next step to taking our stand with the Lord. Thank you for this opportunity and challenge.
October 25th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
This was my first year to participate in 40 Days for Life. I had been wanting to get involved in the pro-life cause for some time now and I happened to hear about 40 Days on Facebook. I drove 3 hours to pray outside of the Planned Parenthood in Fayetteville, AR on October 15th and 16th. This is the town where 6 years ago to the day I found out that I was pregnant and scheduled an abortion. Thankfully a pro-life group was there for me and helped me make the right decision and I have a beautiful 5 year old daughter now. I was really wanting a chance to sidewalk council and pay forward the kindness once shown to me. But even better than that, not a single person arrived at the clinic the entire time we were praying outside! It was a blessing just to be there and take part. 99% of the people passing by in their cars waved approval at us, blew kisses, pointed at children in their back seat, or honked. People are beseeching God to end abortion and He is answering our prayers. :)
October 25th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
We are so overjoyed to report that on Tuesday, the 23rd of Oct., the San Jose prayer warriors and sidewalk councelors met and helped a woman decide on life for her child! She decided not to abort her child and we prayed and ldlistened to her story. She had no money for gas, so I drove her to St Juan Diego Womans center to get spiritual counceling and personal support. She has hope in the world now because as she told me in my car, “I’m glad I met you too. There are good people in this world.”
October 29th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Just think about the opportunity the priests will have for future altar boys.