DAY 30: More mothers changed their minds
I’m in the San Diego area today, and looking forward to meeting a lot of people at a couple of events here. But I’m also thinking about what’s going on with 40 Days for Life eight time zones away.
40 Days for Life has spread rapidly through England over the past two years. Despite persecution and attacks from the media and a highly secular culture, the peaceful prayer vigils are having a HUGE effect. Here are just a few examples.
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MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND
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40 Days for Life volunteers held a prayer service in front of the abortion facility, with group and individual prayer, testimony and hymns. After a time, a woman came out of the building to complain.
She said the local organizer had agreed that it would be a “silent protest” during operating hours, and that the volunteers “were causing great distress to her vulnerable clients and disrupting her work.” She said if it continued, they would take further action.
“There is, of course, no agreement between myself and the clinic for a silence-only prayer vigil and never will be,” said Andy, the local coordinator. “The police visited us during our halfway service outside the clinic and told me he had no problem with us singing and praying … he wished us a good night’s singing and left.”
Andy said he is amazed that the vigil has had such an effect on the abortion center. “I didn’t expect us to be where we are now so soon into the first campaign!”
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LONDON, ENGLAND
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Tony, who was praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil on London’s Brixton Street, watched as a couple left the Marie Stopes abortion facility and said they were keeping their baby. “The man was in tears of joy,” he said, “and the woman had a huge smile.”
The couple described their experience inside as “horrible” and “in fact they were dying to get away.”
They said the staff discussed problems that could develop with a high-risk pregnancy, and did so in rather insensitive terms. The man responded with some choice words and they both exited the building.
“It seems no one talked to them before they went in,” Tony said, “so it seems the prayer works even without the chit-chat first, which is great!”
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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
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“I am happy to announce that three more mothers have changed their minds,” said Aline in Birmingham.
The first mother changed her mind after seeing the ultrasound of her baby. She saw her child and decided she could not have the abortion. This had an immediate effect on another mother, who decided to keep her baby as well.
“The third expectant mother was approached by a volunteer who made her aware of the consequences of abortion,” Aline said. Still, this woman and her boyfriend went in anyway. “But after a while, they walked out happy and stopped to thank the volunteer who had spoken to her.”
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OXFORD, ENGLAND
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The campaigns in the UK have most assuredly gotten the attention of those who support legal abortion. There’s even an online petition inviting vigil participants to leave the pavement and go home.
A column in the British edition of the Huffington Post bears the title “40 Days of Lies.” The content is as you might expect: “Certainly the tactic of intimidating clinic staff, patients and landlords until a clinic is forced to shut down won’t wash in the UK.”
Robert in England sent the photo above, showing some of the prayer volunteers at Oxford’s first-time 40 Days for Life campaign. A picture is indeed worth a thousand words.
Here’s the link to today’s devotional.
For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: Have you had an experience with 40 Days for Life that has had a deep impact on you personally? If you have, please share your story by leaving a comment below.
October 25th, 2012 at 12:32 am
May God continue to change hearts! So beautiful to hear of so many women AND men choosing life for their babies!
October 25th, 2012 at 5:03 am
Almost 3 years ago, I became a part of 40 Days for Life, during this time, I was, and still am, with Lutherans For Life, here in Fort Wayne, Indiana… I am originally from Toronto, Ontario Canada, where my late Aunt was an abortionist, as well as a GYOB… Woman Doctor for women health needs… For the longest time, whilst we were growing up, my Aunt in the 60s and 70s, aborted many unborn children… it took me till last year to forgive her, I was so full of shame and had been very angry towards her, it blinded me… but, members in Lutherans for Life and the people with 40 Days for Life, helped me to finally forgive her, with the help of our Lord, Jesus, Himself… I am asking and praying that everyone who is pro-life, please, please, forgive the doctors, nurses, and the parents of the unborn… only the Lord, God, Himself, can change their hearts… we, as prayer warriors, are here to guide and to counsel as many wayward people who are pro-choice.. even though we cannot force them to think our way, we can pray that the Lord, touches their minds and hearts to help save their unborn and to be healed and comforted by the love of our God. In Jesus Name, we pray, Amen.
October 25th, 2012 at 5:25 am
I totally support your work to save these innocent lives. Here in Victoria Australia our State Parliament passed a law approving all abortions, for any reason, with no protection from pain for the baby in spite of constant protests from pro life groups. I know of people who have protested outside the Marie Stopes abortion clinic weekly for several years, but abortions are still going on there, and the protestors are still protesting.
October 25th, 2012 at 6:07 am
Dear Shawn,
I have faithfully been reading your daily updates and have been blessed by them. I have a daughter in England doing mission work in the Birmingham area. So I was very excited to see this mornings update about what was happening there. I forwarded your e-mail to her and asked her to share the info with her friends. She knows about the 40 Days for Life, this is my first involvement with it in the Grand Rapids area of Michigan. I have only been able to be on site for prayer once, but am praying regularly at home for the rescue of the unborn and the parents thereof as well.
Blessings,
Roxanne Zuidema
October 25th, 2012 at 6:21 am
Let us pray for an end to abortion in the world. God Bless!
October 25th, 2012 at 8:04 am
May God be with the prayer warriors in England! You are making such a huge difference, and we know how difficult it is to “rock the boat” over there. My prayers are with all of you.
October 25th, 2012 at 8:34 am
Hi,
Where did the folks in Oxford get the black and white posters of the fetus–they are powerful?
Gregg Cornell
October 25th, 2012 at 8:48 am
Leamington ON Canada
About one week ago under a perfectly blue cloudless sky as the walk was coming to an end a cloud in the form of a dove appeared Praise God
October 25th, 2012 at 10:02 am
It is very encouraging to see the effects of the prayers in the various cities in England. Let us remember all the volunteers who are able to be at various sites to pray. Those of us at home keep all in our daily
prayers. God be with all of you.
October 25th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Just being at the prayer vigils here in Memphis is a spiritual blessing filling me with joy. It’s beautiful, especially considering some of us are from different “flavors” of Christianity, but one in Christ. Yesterday one of our leaders patiently listened to an angry man unload all his objections to the pro-life cause and the church. She quietly and lovingly answered all his questions. Another very sweet, loving prayer warriors handed out at least five rosaries to passersby, showering them with her bubbling joy, hope and love. One young man passing by crossed the busy street just to accept one of her rosaries and speak for a moment. Although many drivers shout ‘THANKS,’ wave and honk in a friendly way, we rejoiced when a very angry driver laid on his horn and flipped us off, and another irate woman driver screamed an obscenity at us. We felt blessed, and were reminded of our brothers and sisters who suffer much worse for the sake of Christ. We also get to share Christ’s love and prayer with people who just hang out and others who are catching the bus right there on the same busy corner. Every time I stand there, I hold signs and other literature that were given to me by other volunteers. Thank you, faithful 40 Days leaders and fellow prayers, for offering me this wonderful opportunity.
October 25th, 2012 at 10:46 am
As a United Methodist, I am encouraged to hear that there is a 40 Days for Life campaign in Oxford, England. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, studied for the Anglican priesthood at Oxford U.
Do not be discouraged by the slander of the HuffPost and others. Clearly you are striking a nerve, and making a positive impact for life.
My prayers are with you, and with all of us who are participating in 40 Days for Life.
October 25th, 2012 at 11:35 am
Thank you, Patty, for your very thorough and compassionate reminder! Excellent! Thanks to all the very courageous prayer warriors in the UK!! awesome!! I, TOO, was very impressed with the fetus picture with black background…are they available stateside, does anyone know? These are wonderful daily reports and comments. GLORY and PRAISE to our Lord Jesus Christ, both now and forever!!!!
October 25th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Remember Hospitals are built to cure People not Kill Babies
Jude Anthony.
October 25th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
I Thank and Praise our Loving God, 399 precious little lives are saved by our faithful presence outside these facilities, our prayers and sacrifices rising to Heaven. Just wonderful news, especially from England… Thank you Patty, our sister in faith for your sharing of how important forgiveness is….Abortionists, all working in this industry of death have souls our loving God wants to be saved, their hearts changed…. and we are to continue to pray for this to happen and is a big part of Ending Abortion. United together in prayer with our One God and each other all things are possible… Also to David Kane from Victoria we are not protesting, we certainly are wanting the end of Abortion but the main mentality is gentle, loving prayerful presence to change hearts…. of the mothers, fathers going in…and fasting to offer sacrifice to rid the evil in this industry.
From a fellow Victorian and a Australian
Sue Bentley
October 25th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
What beautiful, touching photos and testimonies. Many thanks to our Christian brother and sisters in the UK!
October 25th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I always find it amusing when our prayer vigils are described as “intimidating”. The reality is that WE aren’t intimidating – but the Truth we stand for is!
October 25th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
These are a couple of wonderful events that occurred in Sharonville, Ohio and were emailed to me last week!
“Today, something great happened, and my kids were able to witness this and encourage a young woman. This woman was speaking to a small group of prayer warriors when we arrived to pray at the clinic. They had just befriended a young woman who was looking at “all her options”, but leaning towards choosing life for her baby (She is almost 4 months along). We walked with her to both pro-life centers in Sharonville, but found that they are both closed on Thursdays since the abortion mill is closed. Since I knew where another pregnancy center was located, we were able to connect her to that center, which is open today. This young woman was willing to follow us to the pro-life center. We walked in and introduced her to a wonderful educator, who would be helping her. She was very grateful for the kindness that the good people praying in front of the abortion mill had shown her, and she was very surprised that we would take time to escort her to the pregnancy center. She hugged all of us goodbye, as we left her and her unborn baby safe with those at the pregnancy center. My kids were given that brief moment when you can almost sense the divine. We will be praying for this young woman and her little one on the way. May our dear Lord hold her closely and encourage her in all ways, and bless her with all she needs to choose life for her little one. We will never forget them.”
Later this afternoon, someone dropped by the 40 Days for Life location and told the prayer warriors that this young woman indeed chose life!
” I had a small group of praying ladies out for their first time praying this a.m. It was great. We had a young man in his 30’s pull up in the parking lot of the restaurant and asked to buy us lunch. We passed on it because our great call was to pray. He joined us for some prayer and then told us his story. His father was a child conceived as the result of a rape. His dad has told that story to his children, and this man had a bunch of siblings all happy to be alive and in a loving family, due to his grandmother carrying to term and having his father! We were all moved to tears by this testimony.”
October 25th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
I just wanted to say that everytime I read the daily articles, I cry. I am pregnant with my eightth baby, (two went to heaven in the first trimester on God’s terms). I love being pregnant and knowing that I have a little blessing growing bigger everyday. Our schedule does not allow us to go and pray very often outside, we have not made it this year yet, but we have one of the 40 Days for Life signs in our front yard that has been there for two years. One day a Fed-Ex driver came to the door and said that what the sign said helped her understand and made up her mind. That was all she said and I didn’t ask any further. I just thanked the Lord and kept on praying. Keep up the great work you all do and we at home will continue praying for all of you praying on the sidewalks.
Blessings!!!
Wendy
October 25th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
We must continue to pray, for all those who do not respect the sanctity of life in all its forms from conception until natural death. God bless the prayer warriors of 40 Days for Life.
October 25th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
Each Wednesday our group drives the hour to stand in prayer in front of National Health Care that performs abortions. We cover a three hour period and stand in silent vigil. We have gotten someone’s attention because he has gone to the trouble to make signs that he holds up as he drives passed us. We have seen his sign “your prayers don’t work”. His latest sign is “Abortion reduces crime.” We are praying for this lost soul but his latest sign shows his total lack of knowledge of what happens during an abortion to the baby. We must pray constantly for all who witness the prayer warriors. Pat Regnier
October 25th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Dear Fellow Pro-Lifers,
We had 3 saves so far this week. I’d like to tell you about the most recent [yesterday, Wednesday 24th].
Mr. Bill Draghi is our faithful “prayer warrior” at our Woodbridge, NJ, vigil site.
He told me today that the Devil must be upset with us saving babies from abortion. A man in a swanky red car drove up & later told him they had changed their mind & decided to keep their baby.
We’re so happy to be part of this marvelous effort to save lives.
God Bless.
A voice for the defenseless poor,
Padre Van
coordinator, 40daysforlife/Woodbridge, NJ
October 26th, 2012 at 1:27 am
I am requesting prayer from all who follow the 40 Days For Life Campaign, please! We had a sweet, young couple, (she’s 16, he’s 19), walk into our Pregnancy Resource Medical Clinic Monday. She had a positive pregnancy test and an ultrasound showing a 6-7 wk. baby with a beating heart! Theyleft so happy with their baby’s pictures and she said that she planned to tell her parents Wednesday. Today we received a call from a Mother, who said that her daughter had been seen by us on Monday and that she was trying to find a place where she could get RU486, the abortion pill! We told her that we do not perform or refer for abortion, but we could provide information to her about abortion. The mother did come in with her daughter, who was in tears, saying that she had to do this so that she can get on with her life. Using “Before You Decide” CareNet booklet, information was given to both, but the mother seemed undetered and left with her daughter after being told again that we do not refer for abortion.
I am appealing to you all because women from our area usually go to Overland Park, KS or to Tulsa, OK for an abortion. We are especially praying for the Campaigns in both of these cities, that your presence and prayers will change this mother’s heart and save her grandchild & daughter! Thank you for your faithful vigil!
October 26th, 2012 at 4:42 am
Thank you Patty Hunter for your wise and brave words.
October 26th, 2012 at 6:12 am
Sirs/madams,
I just wanted to thank everyone involved with the pro life movement all over the world but particularly here in the uk. over here we have a particular problem with the media and powers that be being in the main ‘pro choice’. we also have a problem in that th English way is not really to protest, or make a fuss about things, eg the stiff upper lip.
however it is only thanks to groups such as yours that we are beginning to wake up to this dreadful slaughter of he unborn. I for one have been asleep, until I actually chanced upon websites such as yours and actually realised what abortion was. It is interesting that Marie stopes and other centres use terms such as ‘removing the pregnancy’ and ‘gentle procedure to clear the uterus’. We know full well that the termination of a child in the womb has nothing gentle about it, and the pregnancy is in fact a human being not an abstract concept.
Thank you for opening my eyes and if the is anything I can do to help I will do,
George
October 26th, 2012 at 9:03 am
We are praying in Cleveland in front of Surgery Center that has been killing unprotected unborn children as old as 19 weeks for years and is where I walk my 40 Days for Life prayer vigil. It is on a city street that some passing cars beep their encouragement to me, a 69 yr. old man, who never expected to be prying in public protest to anything. God has called me to step out in faith to stand up and walk in reverence in support of 40 Days for Life. It is an enpowering experience for me that combines prayer, meditiation and action. My effort is rewarded many times over with a spiritual and physical renewal.
October 26th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
You are alll a continuing inspiration! I help coordinate the La Crosse WI campaign and it does get tiresome- the negative faces and thumbs down one
gets when out praying to end violence against the unborn. I have one
woman on Mondays at the same hour who goes by me in her car at rather close range and sticks her tongue out at me like a two year old who was just told “no” by an adult. I pray for her – I can see the pain in her face and many of those who “oppose” us being out in public witnessing to the truth. As one of the comments today said – we MUST pray for the people who participate in and promote abortion – till “then there was none” – that’s when we can stop-at our dying breath. Keeping you all in prayer from La Crosse WI. God Bless you on the sidewalks, at home and in the churches who pray for us.
October 29th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
The powerful unborn baby picture we’re holding is of an aborted baby at 13 weeks gestation.
With great respect, we never refer to the unborn child as a ‘foetus’, whilst scientifically correct it also helps evade the subject- when people hear the word ‘baby’ they imagine a cuddly precious newborn.
Every time our hearts beat an unborn baby dies from abortion. It has to end.
Here in Oxford I run a monthly pro-life witness at the exact spot we’re holding the 40 DfL vigil. We use the posters Gregg Cornel asked about and other, very sensitive but honest, ones. We are led in the Rosary by a heroic and steadfast Priest and usually have approx 20-25 faithful people participating. For the UK this is quite an achievement!
I think the city of Oxford is being blessed by the presence of 40 DfL and we hope to embark on another event possibly next April.
Please keep us, and the monthly prayer vigil, ever in your prayers.
October 30th, 2012 at 6:08 am
Well said Amanda ….it is a trap pro life people fall into using the word foetus …as well as ..pro -choice ..and abortion clinics …the others never describe pro life people as that but anti choice etc .
However on a more positve note how wonderful so many thousands of people have witnessed around the World this time …the more people speak to others ,and are seen by others outside mills ,hospitals etc the greater the impact.
It also encourages likeminded people to join in …and we will never know how many others pray indoors …
a HUGE THANK YOU to the remarkable people who started 40 Days for Life
Magnificent indeed ..and well done