DAY 31: Three abortion workers quit
When a 40 Days for Life vigil is just getting started, abortion workers first consider you a religious zealot, then a radical. As time goes on, you’re seen as someone who simply has nothing better to do with your time.
But toward the end of the campaign, you become a question for them. The stereotypes wear off and the abortion center staffers see you as a human being … and they ask themselves the question, “What good do I really do here?”
We are now at that point.
During this campaign, we’ve had reports of three abortion center employees who have left their jobs — and a few others are thinking about it. In the majority of these cases, the stories will remain confidential.
When former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson experienced a conversion, quit her job and walked into my office at the Coalition for Life next door, she lost not just an income but close personal friends. These workers will experience the same. So please keep them in your prayers as they transition out of the abortion business and find hope and healing.
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THE VISITOR’S WIFE
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At one 40 Days for Life vigil, a man walked up to the prayer volunteers with a request. “My wife works in there,” he said, pointing towards the abortion center.
“I am against abortion and I’m trying hard to convince her to quit,” he said. “Would you pray with me to get her out of there?” Of course, the vigil participants did just that.
Another volunteer reports that an abortion center employee stopped on her way in and struck up a conversation, asking — very sincerely — why there were people outside praying. She listened intently, took some pro-life information from the volunteer, and promised to study it.
The leaders at one 40 Days for Life location have been watching as employees come and go, and the turnover has been noteworthy. Over the past few years, more than 20 people have quit and been replaced. The local 40 Days for Life team is not sure if all of these people have changed their minds about abortion, but it’s certainly clear that this facility has a hard time retaining staff.
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THE ABORTION CENTER EMPLOYEE
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At another 40 Days for Life location, there’s been a very clear change of heart. There was an employee who would come out of the office — and criticize prayer volunteers for harassing women entering the building.
One day, however, there seemed to be something different. The employee appeared upset, and said they really didn’t want to be there, but needed the job.
A volunteer briefly told of how Abby Johnson had left Planned Parenthood — and wrote about her experiences in a book called “Unplanned.” The worker grabbed a smart phone. Volunteers think it may have been to Google “Abby Johnson” right there on the spot.
Several days later, one of the vigil participants saw this employee while out shopping – and the employee said the people praying were not really harassing women. This worker hasn’t been seen at the abortion center since then.
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THE ABORTIONIST’S WIFE
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The wife of the abortionist will speak to vigil participants from time to time outside the abortion center. One day recently, she stopped at the end of the driveway to tell two volunteers there would not be any abortions that day.
As she began to pull into the street, she stopped again and said, “Thank you for your prayers!”
“We both just stood there for a moment as she drove away and said to each other, ‘Did she just thank us for our prayers?’” said one volunteer. “Needless to say, we will continue to pray even harder.”
Here’s the link to today’s devotional.
For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: What’s new with your 40 Days for Life campaign? Please share the news with everyone! You can do so by leaving a comment below.
October 26th, 2012 at 10:18 am
This morning, my fiance and I were praying outside of Planned Parenthood, where out local 40 Days for Life takes place, when a woman in a car stopped, rolled down her window, and thanked us for what we do. With tears in her eyes, she said many years ago she herself had an abortion, and now regrets it. She knows she would have been able to take care of her child, and wonders what he/she would be like. She had to drive off quickly as traffic was building up, but we thanked her for stopping by and let her know we’d be praying for her. My heart breaks for her loss, and for the pain she is surely feeling. I will be praying for her today and in the weeks to come. It is these encounters that encourage me to never cease in my prayers for all of those affected by abortion.
October 26th, 2012 at 10:34 am
Let us pray for the conversion of all people involved in the abortion industry. God Bless!
October 26th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
I am a volunteer who prays in front of an abortion clinic on Wednesdays from 12:00 to 1:00. Every week so far men have stopped their cars in front of us to let us know that they are grateful for our prayers. One man was a teacher from the local high school. Another young man stated that he got his girlfriend pregnant and they both considered abortion. They changed their minds and now have a two year old little girl who is the “love of their lives”. A woman walking by shouted PRAISE THE LORD. Many, many positive honks and thumbs up from cars passing by. All of this was God saying good work my faithful servents. All of this happened in just that one hour time frame.
October 26th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Please pray for my daughter AND her husband who Both work at a Planned Parenthood in Washington. Pray that God will move their hearts in such a way that they HAVE to leave their jobs. Pray that God will open job opportunities for them to transition easily into.
October 26th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
The abortion facility in Dayton, OH has been unexpectedly closed two days this week. Faithful prayer warriors still kept their vigil even through the cold and rain. Office workers in the abortion facility were able to peek through the windows and see the steady stream of praying people arrive to pray on the sidewalks. As God’s people arrived, they first rejoiced and praised Him for the empty parking lot. We thank our Mighty Lord for two abortion-free days this week and we continue to pray for the closing of the entire operation. And may His Name alone be glorified both now and evermore!
October 26th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
I am a volunteer at the north I 35 clinic”whole woman’s health” on thursdays . Yesterday an african-american woman and a man stoped their car in front of the clinic around 2:40 . She started sayin that we were protesting in front of the clinic. I told her that we were not, that we were praying. She didn’t let me finish and continued saying that those persons were choosing abortion because they didn’t know about other resources/ options. I said that we were also giving them panflets with information that contained resources. The tuesday captain talked to them and gave some of them. At the end of the conversation they agreed with us and they and got a better idea of what we were doing in the campaing. It was nice to talk to those people.
that same day, the tuesday captain talked to a woman and gave her panflets. It seemed to me that she was not understanding english. I aproached her and talked in spanish asking what she was doing at the clinic. She told that went there for a pregnancy test and that the results were positive and she was not sure if having or not the baby. I talked aboaut the physical and emotional effects that abortion had and recommended the places were she could go to receive different help; That a real option was keeping the baby or give her/him in adoption. She shoed interest on it but I told her that i didn’t know much of the process but people in those centers could answear all her questions. she said was going to read the papers and that was going to call them. She looked like a Salvadorian or Hondurian women. Thanks for all the work everybody is doing in this campaign.
October 26th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
I was truly moved this evening reading about the change of hearts at the abortion mills. I have not been able to go to Planned Parenthood, but have been praying every day for the success of the “40 Days of Life” God be with us at the election.
Sincerely,
Marie O’Brien
October 27th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
Today I sensed the Lord directing me to the local 40 Days for Life vigil outside of the Planned Parenthood facility here in San Jose, CA. I have been wanting to go for some time now and was glad to be able to go today. While there I really sensed the peace, presence and grace of the Lord. At one point a young couple came out, got into their SUV and drove off. It made me wonder how a couple feels after an abortion procedure, how there must be a strong sense of sadness and regret that perhaps does not pass as quickly as they might have hoped, and how they must wonder about the child they’d never in this life know. I pray for all such couples that they would choose life and if they have not made that choice that they would still choose to know the Lord, who is life, forgiveness, salvation, love and peace. God bless all 40 Days volunteers and supporters ~ May your faith not waiver and your vigil be fruitful and productive, saving lives and souls for eternity. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen
October 28th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
I have always benn pro life and prayed sporadically for the unborn, their mothers and fathers, and for a change in law. But during an extended fast at the beginning of this year, God clearly directed me to pray consistently for the end of abortion. Little did I know that in April I would be privileged to host the staff of Bound4Life and participate in the Esther Call here in Dallas, TX. then in August, my radio co-host and I dedicated the whole month of interviews to the sanctity of life and were challenged and encouraged by many leaders on the front lines of the pro life movement including Alveda King and David Bereit.
I mentor many women and I have yet to meet any who did not regret their abortion(s). Some think of their lost child EVERY day and have great difficulty receiving forgiveness. In many cases the mothers of these women insisted on their abortion threatening to withdraw support if they have the baby.
Let’s remember to pray for courage, conviction, support and encouragement for the family members who are also profoundly affected by the birth of the child.
Blessing on ALL who pray for and support life.