DAY 20: 219 saves, mid-point video
Today marks the half-way point of the fall 40 Days for Life campaign and, as a special treat, here is a brand-new short video from the Augusta, Maine, 40 Days for Life mid-point rally where I spoke yesterday and my family met many heroic prayer warriors:
I’ll warn you in advance — this video was shot with a little pocket camcorder clipped to a sign and the wind was gusting during parts of the rally. The picture and sound are far from perfect, but I hope you still find it inspiring.
If you have a dial-up Internet connection and cannot watch videos online, here is the audio from the event…
Listen to the Audio Online (click “Play” button to start):
Download MP3 (right-click to save file to your computer):
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/midpoint.mp3
Now for a few of the great reports pouring in at this mid-point of 40 Days for Life…
Brian in Norwich, Connecticut put out the call to the 40 Days for Life team. “This Saturday, Planned Parenthood is holding their annual two-hour demonstration against us,” he wrote. “Please come and show your support for life.”
A small handful of Planned Parenthood demonstrators — some of them paid Planned Parenthood employees — did indeed show up. But they were vastly outnumbered by people who answered the call to pray for an end to abortion.
The Norwich Bulletin published one photo of the event that is quite telling. In the foreground there are a few people holding pink Planned Parenthood signs. Behind them, however — and stretching far into the distance along the sidewalk — are people peacefully praying.
To see the amazing Norwich Bulletin photo, go to:
The woman holding the “I regret my abortion” sign is Nicole, who has been a strong voice and leader with the 40 Days for Life effort in Norwich and a real blessing to our work nationally.
Another blessing is the number of families who come out to pray at 40 Days for Life vigils.
One example is the McIntyre family in El Paso, Texas — Mike, Laura and their nine children. Six of the children took part in the vigil just last week. Bethani, the 8-year-old, was singing “Jesus Loves Me” as a young woman arrived.
She approached the clinic, but did not go inside. She just sat down for about 15 minutes — listening, as Bethani sang.
Eventually, the woman got up and walked over to the McIntyres and told them she had decided to keep her baby. All it took to change her mind was the voice of a young child singing praise to Lord from her heart.
The child had saved the child. One of the McIntyre children noted, “So this is why we come here!”
Yvonne in California’s San Gabriel Valley watched a woman walk into the abortion center — and leave a short time later. Yvonne noticed the young woman was holding a map with directions to a location that does second-trimester abortions.
“She is five months pregnant,” Yvonne said. “After informing her of services available through local pregnancy centers, churches — as well as support from all of us — she decided to choose life for her baby.”
And those are just two of the 219 children — and mothers — spared from abortion during this 40 Days for Life campaign so far!
Yet another blessing for 40 Days for Life is the number of people who’ve had experiences with abortion who deeply appreciate what you’re doing.
Stan in Buffalo, New York was praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil when a woman walked out of the nearby dry cleaning shop and came over to talk. “She said that her favorite sign was the one that offered post-abortion hope and healing,” he said. She confided that she’d had a past abortion, but had found healing and forgiveness in Jesus, and had been born again.
“She asked that we display more signs like that,” Stan said, “because so many women suffer so much from past abortions. Please pray for those who live with regret for a decision they can never undo. May they find what this woman found.”
Speaking of post-abortion healing, 40 Days for Life will be joining with Operation Outcry for a special outreach to those suffering in the wake of abortion. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 24. I’ll be bringing you more information in the days ahead.
Here’s today’s devotional from Rev. John Brown, the Director of United Friends for Life (United Church of Christ)…
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DAY 20 INTENTION
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May God’s justice sober our society, and may mercy triumph over judgment.
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SCRIPTURE
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Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.
- Genesis 9:5-6
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REFLECTION by Rev. John Brown
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The value of every human being can hardly be seen more clearly than with this verse. God, the King of the universe, has created all human beings in his image, and declares forthrightly that shedding the blood of any individual will require the blood of the one who shed it.
God’s concern for human beings is not limited to any particular group. Indeed, his concern is universal, and includes male and female, young and old, born and unborn, disabled and able-bodied, the citizens of every nation on earth.
Abortion, the deliberate killing of the unborn, is the shedding of innocent blood. Surely the blood of millions upon millions of innocent children cries out to God. It is true that we live in an age of grace, and yet this passage (among many other texts which express similar sentiments) should give every thinking Christian pause.
Christians of all people, entrusted with the Word of God as we are, must take a stand. We must speak out. We must do all that we can to protect the innocent, to pursue justice, and to encourage the repentance of all those who bear responsibility for this great evil. Only in this manner can we hope to forestall the judgment that must otherwise surely come.
This passage should also be seen as an encouragement to educate and disciple our children and grandchildren about what it means to be human, and the responsibility that will become theirs in this ongoing struggle.
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PRAYER
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O Father, forgive us for our lack of courage and our want of compassion for the unborn and for those lost and hurt by abortion. Fill us anew with your Spirit.
Renew our minds, strengthen us in righteousness, help us be people of salt and light within our nation. May every human being, from conception to natural death, be treated with the respect due those made in your image. We ask this in the name of 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/fall2009day20print.pdf
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For Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
P.S.- After you watch the mid-point rally video above, please let us know how 40 Days for Life has blessed YOU thus far by posting a reply below!
October 12th, 2009 at 8:32 am
40 Days for Life has awakened in me a passion that I had forgotten was there. It has been emotional, encouraging and frustrating. I have never participated in any kind of activism before, and as a timid person, it was very scary for me to go down to the Planned Parenthood clinic in downtown Pittsburgh, and stand on the busy sidewalk holding my sign. While I was there, however, I came to the realization that it is necessary! It has to be done! We are the only voice that those unborn babies have right now. I pray for God’s conviction to come upon the people of Pittsburgh…it is needed. There is virtually no vigil going on in Pittsburgh and the pulpits are silent. I was inspired however, by the dedication and devotion shown by a group of elderly protesters who make the trip to the clinic twice a week to hold their signs and pray, and have been doing so regularly for over 20 years! If they can do it at their age, shame on me if I make excuses!
By the way, if there is any way that I could get some literature to distribute in my neighborhood to raise awareness, I would appreciate it. Nikki Bruni
October 12th, 2009 at 8:56 am
After listening to the mid-point rally video from Maine, it gives me courage to continue to stand and pray for life. Thank you.
We will continue in Nashville to pray and “reach just a little bit higher” for Almighty God.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:06 am
David, I am very grateful and filled with JOY for the prayer warriors who are loving these women (and men) into making the decision for LIFE.
http://www.wafusa.org has the WORLD WIDE day of PRAYER for the SANCTITIY OF LIFE on Saturday, October 18. EWTN is covering this live at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.
Please ask ALL the 40 Days prayer warriors to obey Our Lady of Fatima’s requests to pray the following prayers daily:
* Make of everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. For you will thus draw down peace upon your country (Angel of Peace, 1916)
** Morning Offering (pray several times a day): My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You! (Angel of Peace, 1916)
*** O Jesus, I accept and bear with submission whatever suffering God will send me today, for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Our Lady of Fatima, July 13, 1917).
God bless you!
October 12th, 2009 at 9:10 am
David-great video–we will press on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carole
October 12th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Lets us all pray for an end to abortion in our world.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:02 am
A clinic worker gratefully accepted “Testamony of an ex-abortion provider” and the “Centurions” pamplets from us (can be ordered from Priests for Life). I was grateful to be able to be Jesus’ instrument to bring the truth and God’s love to her. Also, a lady coming out from an abortion who was so sad accepted our post-abortion healing pamplets and I was able to tell her not to turn away from Jesus in her sadness, but to turn to Jesus for forgiveness, that He wants to be part of her life and wants to heal and forgive her. She could not talk, as she was about to cry, but she kept knodding her head “yes” and hugged us. She was so receptive to listening. I never would have been able to bring Jesus’ love to this lady if it wasn’t for 40 Days for Life. I am grateful! I am grateful for 40 Days for Life teaching me that love and mercy is the only way on the sidewalk of the clinic. So many tell me they can not come out to the clinic because it is so sad for them or too hard for them. Many abandoned Jesus during the crucifixion, but his mother Mary and the apostle John stood beneath the cross. We happen to stand under a large tree on the sidewalk. I tell the volunteers we are like Mary and John standing at the crucifixion. We are the ones that refuse to abandon Jesus during the crucifixion, only now Jesus is being crucified in the babies, the mothers and fathers, and the poor clinic workers caught in this lie. Heaven is our reward, this earth is the time to stand under the cross or to be like Simon and help carry Jesus’ cross or Veronica and show compassion in wiping the face of Jesus, for Jesus said whatever you did to the least “you did it to me” in Matthew 25. If we want to be with Jesus in the Resurrection then we must not abandon Him in the way of the cross and crucifixion. Nobody said it would be fun or easy, but it is rewarding and does bring us closer to Jesus.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Hello,
I heard the quiet call from the Holy Spirit when my Priest made his call for help. I signed up for an hour and my sons begged me to take them along.
Don’t doubt your children. These teens literally stood from 4:15pm-6:30pm praying the roasry. God made my eyes open more and continues to each day. We need to do this more!
October 12th, 2009 at 11:01 am
This is my second involvement in 40 Days for Life. In the past we would also sporadically go down to the abortion clinic on Saturday and join the regulars there in the rosary and Divine Mercy prayers. In the past three Saturday’s we have witnessed and heard of numerous lives saved while the 40 days banner and vigils have been there. I personally met a young man who changed his mind and went inside the clinic, got his money back and took his girlfriend home. It is a profound feeling to know you were instrumental in helping save a life.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:08 am
David, I was moved to tears by the story of little Jacai, saved from abortion due to someone praying during 40 Days for Life and being there to minister to Jacai’s hurting mother, who then CHOSE LIFE for her baby. HALLELUJAH!!!! We so appreciate your ministry and your faithfulness. You are such an encouragenment in all that you do for the cause of LIFE. I extend a huge thanks to you and your precious family for all of the sacrifices you make to be on the road to share your passion for Life throughout the United States. Your reminder to have faith and believe that what we are doing will make a difference was so encouraging. May our dear Lord continue to add His blessings to your efforts, and may we soon have a country that no longer tolerates the heinous act of killing its innocents.
October 12th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Human Life Alliance will provide literature at no cost to anyone interested. I am with Organized for Life and we encourage people like Nikke Brunni to spread the word face to face with literature in hand. Visit our website for more information. For literature you can contact us (oflusa.com) and we will get the literature for you or you can call them on your own at: 651-484-1040. God Bless you for going out and standing up for those who can’t.
Lynda Teutsch
October 12th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
God bless you David for your inspirational speech in Maine. I was brought to tears as I often am at the killing center here in Buffalo. I am praying for your family to persevere in this 5th national campaign. God Bless.
October 12th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Nikki,
Thank you for sharing your experience…it is very inspiring! If you find the group of elderly protesters inspiring…know that they are very inspired by new people like you enthusiastically coming out and joining in! What great hope you give us! Keep up the good praying…it is working!
Kathy
October 12th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Thank you for all you’ve done and are currently doing. I fully support what you are doing and I am so grateful for your faithfulness. I pray God will continue to bless all of you.
October 12th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
One of the greatest blessing for me in participating in 40 Days for Life, besides the fact that is saves the lives of unborn babies, is that it has changed me.
It has helped bring me out of my denial. This is a battle that we must continue. If babies were being shot down in the streets of our nation, would the pulpit remain silent then.
Children and women are being slaugtered behind closed doors by the thousands everyday in our nation, while our Congress and President have the audacity to call that healthcare and demand that the American people pay for this holocaust!
May God have mercy on us!
October 12th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Great Video. I had a day off today. I had thought about going to 40 Days for Life prayer protest in Grand Rapids Michigan, but did not reserve a time. My daughter had come in from Boston so we entertained all weekend and I did not schedule. At 6:15am I was awakened with an urgent call. My teacher wife forgot her computer and needed it asap, if she came home, it would cost her an hour, so I immediately dressed and since the clinic is only a few more minutes, I decided that God was using this to get me there by 7am. When I arrived, I began my prayer walk when I heard the loud roar of a truck engine, and a garbage truck pulled into the drive and proceeded to go to empty the contents of the trash bin. As I heard the metal bonking noises and the hydraulics lifting the container to empty the contents, I had a horrible realization. As the truck came out, I knelt as the “funeral” vehicle went by and wept. I tried to keep from crying more, and buried myself into prayer. The loneliness of this morning was intense and hundreds of cars went by as I slowly walked, thinking about what may have been thrown out. What kind of business would do this..? I was staggering. Another protestor joined me, a nurse. I told her about what I saw earlier. She then told me a personal story of why she was there, her son had impregnated a girl he never would have married. The fetus was at great risk. The woman cried steadily as she poured out her soul. Then she had a great ending, she had talked him out of the abortion, and she was raising the child, a bundle of joy, with the limited help of the son. She said it was hard, very hard! But she had been successful. It was a great story to leave with.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
HI DAVID,
I’VE BEEN TRYING TO CALL MAYOR DAYLEY’S OFFICE, ABOUT THE BUBBLE ZONE, THERE NOT ANSWERING THERE PHONE’S.
LINDA AND TOM
PA.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
As an undergraduate college student I face a lot of pressures daily to give up the fight for life because so many seem to be against it, but reading these blogs and hearing the stories of so many lives being saved has really touched my heart and brought me hope again, thank you to all of you who fight for an end to abortion.
October 12th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Here is a wonderful story I read on World Net Daily today. It is about a victim of rape that chose life and forgiveness.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=112324
Laura
Toronto,Canada
October 12th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Great video! It was very encouraging, and the story about Jakai (sp?) near the end was especially inspiring and touching. Thanks for posting it.
October 12th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
To whom it may concern:
Please tell me when & where are the next pray activities around Harford County, MD.
Thanks for the attention is giving to this note.
Sincerelly,
Jeannette
October 12th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Thank you SO much for this website and the devos…. it has really spurred me on as I pray to end abortion. I recently went to the local Planned Parenthood to pray and it has really impacted me. I want to be that voice for the precious babies!!! Thank you and I am praying that God will show mercy on our nation!
October 12th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Dear David,
We have been Pro Life all of our lives.
We are now 71 and 66 Years young and today is our 46th wedding anniversary!
We have done it all to fight abortion,,,
Now our children are on the front lines fighting abortion with their children.
I remember well when our daughter Teresa was in Junior High, at age 14, 29 years ago. She had just read a little book on euthanasia.
Teresa looked up at me with big tears in her eyes and asked “Mother, They are talking about Nanny” Her great grandmother whom she dearly loves!
At the time I was president of Right To Life in our town.
Now Richard and I pray over an hour a day every morning, even Sundays,
For all 40 days for Life intentions. We keep Family and friends informed.
And we love you all. We keep in touch with the local 40 Days for Life in our area. Every morning during 40 Days for life one of the first things I do is read your email letter, David. It really touches our hearts and sets our day of prayer,
Love Richard and Janet Marie King
October 12th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Your testimony and passion are an inspiration to all those involved in the pro-life movement. God bless you and your efforts to fight this terrible crime. Mother Theresa said that a country will never know peace in they allow abortions to be performed. Let us all pray for the women who are contemplating having an abortion that they will choose life. And let us pray for the conversion of hearts of our political leaders that they will turn away from their abortion agenda and fight for the rights of all people, especially the unborn, to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
In short, women do not have a “right” to do what they want with “their” bodies as:
1. It is not their body, but the Lord’s vessel that is carrying a child, a living fetus, soon to be a child.
2. Whatever the circumstances behind her impregnation, there is a father who has rights to that child, so a unilateral decision to abort is only half her “choice”.
God is still on the throne and they might escape judgement here, but there will be an ultimate and final judgement someday.
John 10:10
John DiTore
October 13th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Praise the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, FOR ALL THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN SAVED. Only time & eternity will show how many more have been saved that we now don’t even yet know about. Iwant to pray & fast also. I do pray, but fasting is more difficult. Bless the LORD O my soul and forget not all his benifits.
Ps. ch. 125
Ann Arkansas
October 13th, 2009 at 12:32 am
It was Saturday morning, we were praying
outside Planned Parenthood in the city of Orange
CA. When a couple came to have an abortion done but because we were there and talk to them they desided to keep the Baby.
Please keep doing what you are doing, saving three at a time(mom, dad & baby.
God Bless you all.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Going to pray the rosary today at 11am for end of abortion mid point rally tomorrow in Kitchener, ON Canada please pray for my cousin who lost her baby through miscarriage last month
October 13th, 2009 at 8:31 am
I feel so convicted to do more, pray more, fast more! God bless you and thank you for all that you are doing!!!! Well done good and faithful servant!!! A relative of ours, that is unable to have children, is on her way to go bring home her baby girl that another mother is offering up through adoption! Praise God!!
October 13th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
My city is not holding a vigil this Fall so I decided to participate in some out of town events. The first one I have completed while I was visiting family in New Mexico. I had a contact there through 40Days for Life who ended up bringing with him five young men, traveling missionaries. It was a tremendous blessing to see these young hearts in MEN come out to pray with me. Just before they arrived, a rainbow appeared over the area we would be praying toward. I knew in my spirit God was reminding me no matter what happened that day, even though we can’t see Him that He is with us and His promises are good. The young men I met and I spent an hour together near the Planned Parenthood and at one point, one of the missionaries tried to reach out to a woman who was being escorted by her (I believe) boyfriend. The missionary was rejected immediately by the boyfriend and ushered his girlfriend quickly into the facility. The young man returned to our group, sat, stared ahead as his eyes watered and lips quivered in prayer. I sat down and put my arm around him and we prayed. It was quite discouraging but I hope, if she went through with the abortion, that she will find someone who will be there to tell her of the freedom and forgiveness Jesus Christ can bring as ruler of her life. Please pray for those missionaries and for that woman now. My second vigil is to be held at the end of the month in a city in my state. Thanks to all the faithful and prayerful Christians who are together with us in this effort in obedience to the Savior of all men who will hear and heed His voice.
October 15th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Dear 40 Days for Life;
I have had abortion in my past, to be exact 10 years ago. It took 10 years of torment and marijuana abuse to realize I was hidding from ABORTION. Thru an adverstising of 40days life I visited the website and I could not hold on my tears and pain. I suffer each and everyday for my past abortion. I ask God for forgiveness for killing my children. I ask God to please forgive me. Thank you 40 days for making me realize there is help out there for my soul. I know want to use 40days life in Miami, Fl as a way to help others, not make the mistake I made. May God forgive all of us Men and women who have abortions and suffer in silence for 10 and 20 years. Marina in Miami
October 18th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Well, this reminded me that I need to be very consistant in my prayers, for this ministry and some others, as I have committed, because our Heavenly Father is watching. We will be accountable for what we commit to do, for he says, Let your “Yes be Yes” and your “No , No.” Thank you for this video and out reach in your faithfulness to both, these precious unborn babies, with no mouth to speak and our Lord Jesus Christ, who hates abortion. These presious babies were formed in their mother’s womb, by “his” hands, Amen. Go in Christ, with his anointing as you speak the truth to these mother’s, may it bring his grace and mercy, to these unborn babies. Thanks from them.
Psm. 139:13