DAY 19: Lives are being saved every day
Just one item today – a report from Brad Taylor, the 40 Days for Life leader in Perth, on Australia’s west coast. Brad’s words show the challenges posed by abortion are worldwide; but so is Christ’s love and mercy.
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA
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It’s been an amazing start to this 40 Days for Life in Perth. Sometimes when we are on the very frontlines of the battle, we don’t hear all the encouraging news, or really comprehend the tremendous impact of our actions.
Many of us are aware of the strident opposition we have faced, not only to the conduct of the 40-day vigil at all (especially the first time), but in particular to the display of any sort of signage at the vigil site.
This is not surprising given how effective such signs are in conveying the truth about abortion and the alternatives available, and in dissuading women from making a choice they will later regret, at the last possible moment to do so. The signs we use are of course not gratuitous, but life affirming, offering real hope and free help to anyone who wants it.
The battle of the signs is one it seems we have to have – and win – every year, and this year has been no exception. Once again, senior police have stepped in to rule that we do in fact have the right to display life-affirming images and slogans outside a place of death.
The fact that this is so offensive to some in the community speaks much more to their values and agendas, than it does to any innate offensiveness contained in our G-rated images. How else could someone take offense at a sign offering free medical and financial assistance, crisis accommodation and other help to those members of our society who may be at that moment most in need?
Opposition comes in many forms. The opposition I personally hate the most is that passive, apathetic spirit that manifests itself so frequently in the Church in relation to critical issues such as abortion.
By contrast, copping some abuse yelled out the window of a passing car is a positive encouragement. I personally experienced no less than six such occurrences in one morning this week; the best one being a young man who stopped to berate me: “Why don’t you go and do something productive with your time instead of making young girls upset and stuff.”
I can’t say how encouraging this was for me, expletives and all, because this young man understood something that most of our fellow Christians have not: women are being hurt in that place, and it is our responsibility as fellow citizens to address the injustice. Sure, the young man hadn’t figured out the real nature of the injustice or the damage being done, but after allowing for that, his response was awesome. When the blinkers come off these men they will be powerful advocates for life.
As Jesus said in Revelation, I would rather you were hot or cold. It is a tremendous privilege to work with a team of prayer volunteers who truly are “hot” – moved by the things that move the heart of God, willing to put their own comfort and reputation at stake, and to take a stand in the public square. No matter the cost. It is a privilege to stand with you in prayer, and before the throne of God.
The fact is that your presence outside the abortion clinic, and your prayers, and your signs, are having a powerful effect. Pregnancy resource centres in the city are reporting significantly higher numbers of women accessing their services, and going on to choose life.
We don’t know their details; chances are as we stand outside the abortion centre through the heat of the day we are even unaware that anyone has even been affected; and yet lives are being saved through your commitment every day.
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Thanks to Brad Taylor for some great insights from Down Under!
Here’s the link to today’s devotional.
May this Lord’s day be filled with blessings for you and all of your loved ones!
Yours In Christ,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: How has your prayer experience with 40 Days for Life affected you? Please leave a comment below.
March 3rd, 2013 at 9:05 am
My son’s school is across the street from an abortion clinic…before 40 Days for Life volunteers began praying there, I did not know the clinic existed. Every day I drive by with a van full of boisterous children and see people praying, bringing to light that which is secret, evil, and dark in our community. What a WITNESS. I am just so incredibly thankful for the men and women who stand out there. I am reminded to pray ferverently for them, and for the women, men, and babies going into the clinic. Thank you to everyone involved in this campaign–you impact believers and non-believers alike.
March 3rd, 2013 at 9:51 am
Every day I pray in front p/p It changes my life and i know it changes the lives
of those who are driving by and in and out of p/p CHRIST does the work not me the HOLY SPIRIT has the power to change,yesterday a young couple came out got in their car and sit talking for about 20 min while they were talking , I was praying they would make a decision for life and peace. They drove away without going in I don’t know what they decided but Christ does. We do this for his name sake, and mommies and Babies.
Darryldavid Dollar Spokane, Wa.
March 3rd, 2013 at 10:10 am
What a wonderful testimony from Brad Taylor! Indeed, apathy about this issue is more poisonous than even open hostility. I will put all of those people in Australia in my prayers. In fact, we need to pray for everyone around the world, since there is no 1st Amendment in any of these countries.
March 3rd, 2013 at 10:23 am
Wow! So well said. Are we willing to be inconvenienced to spend some time praying for those battling with the decision of abortion, or for those experiencing the pain of having had an abortion, or for those who are working in the abortion industry? I am going this Wednesday to pray at the Planned Parenthood in Gilroy, CA. There is no 40 Days for Life campaign there yet. Please continue to pray that someone will step forward to lead one–I know I am not the one to lead it right now. Their website says that the offer “Abortion Services”; I don’t know if that is just medical or if it’s surgical, too. We will keep PRAYING!! Lord, may abortion in America end!! Heal our land. May we turn to you with all of our hearts. May we truly love one another–even our unborn children. May we trust in you each and every moment of every day to provide for us and to help us in every difficulty that we face. Lord, you are GREATER than any challenge we face. Thank you for your GREAT love for us.
March 3rd, 2013 at 10:33 am
Thank you Brad for telling how those expressing the loudest objections to our prayer vigils may become strong advocates for life in the future.
It’s also encouraging to see that pregnancy resource centers in your city are experiencing increases in the number of clients.
March 3rd, 2013 at 2:03 pm
David Bereit and Shawn Carney hosted a 10 hour webcast in 2010.
During the webcast they encouraged all post abortive women to get healing and attend a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat. I went online and found a retreat that was being hosted in two weeks. They were full but the woman I talked to was so moved by my experience that she added me to the list. It was the most blessed weekend of my life. While on the retreat, I met a local coordinator from Forty days for Life and the local coordinator for Silent No More. I got a poster, tee shirt and headed out to the Forty days for Life Fall 2010. There were about six woman with Silent No More posters praying together. We felt so empowered by the love and support of each other and our prayers that we decided to go to the March for Life in 2011. Thirteen of us from Arizona flew to Washington D.C. and gave our testimonies on the steps of the Supreme Court. My testimony is posted on You tube and I just recently posted it on CNN. Thank you David and Shawn for leading me to healing which gave me the courage to use my voice to speak out for the voiceless.
March 3rd, 2013 at 4:57 pm
At church this morning, I spoke with a number of pro-life leaders, inviting them to pray with us at the mid-point rally we are having today which includes a 1/2 mile walk to the local Planned Parenthood and 1/2 mile walk back to city hall. One commented that she would not be coming today and that she had prayed outside PP before with the feeling of being helpless and unable to do anything… if only I had been able to put into words how we need to humble ourselves and let God do the work. I had already put out a guarantee on Facebook, in faith, that anyone who came out to join us today would receive a blessing from God. What others and I have discovered is that when we feel helpless, we are humbled and as we pray we experience God’s answer… He will do the work and bring glory to Himself. I pray that all those who are pro-life will humble themselves and pray, seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways, then stand and see the hand of the Lord at work, bringing glory to Himself. Just stand and see the Glory of God! By the way, fasting is one of the ways a person can really humble himself and feel weak. “When I am weak, He is strong.” This promise, which we offer to moms and their babies, is for us, too. I pray that pro-life leaders, pastors, and others will have second thoughts and join us on the streets. I believe the lighthouse needs to be near the destructive rocky coast where those most at risk can see the light and avoid destruction. I am praying now for a crisis pregnancy center in the immediate vicinity of the local Planned Parenthood. There are numerous empty offices in the same location. Will you all pray with me on this. Thanks, and happy Sunday!
March 3rd, 2013 at 7:12 pm
40 Days of Life is blossoming in Boston’s clinic, thanks to Rita Russo. It is very encouraging that people are coming out to the clinic. I intend to go Tuesday with my daughter. Hope you get this one.
March 3rd, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Praying 2013 will be the year that the right to life is restored to all Americans. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.
March 4th, 2013 at 9:39 am
We would like to know where to get info for the Newburg area, for Christian alternative care for pregnant women…literature…signs, etc. We pray outside of a planned parenthood facility in Newburg, N.Y. But, we are from Peekskill, N.Y. and do not know of a Christian facility to direct someone to for help. HELP!!
March 4th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Thank you Lord for the people of 40 Days for Life, in Australia, and all around the world. It is so encouraging for we that cannot go out to pray so we pray the Rosary everyday for the end to all abortion. May God our Father in heaven Bless you and keep you safe. Thank you “All”
Elizabeth
March 4th, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Lamar, I am praying for you and with you for a pro-life clinic near the PP.
Lois and William, go to http://www.optionline.org/
On the homepage you will see a place to Locate Pregnancy Help.
March 5th, 2013 at 7:57 am
Thank you for the fight for ending of abortion. As the battle is never easy that you are witnessing in the history of the church time of great confrontation between evil and good. Apostasy and lies planted in the minds and hearts of people we are witnesses to truth and hope in Jesus Christ healing and loving power against Satan. We are the army of God. We are doing our part by prayer, fasting, repenting, and love our neighbour as ourselves. Keep up the great prayer devotional emails and know that I AM is with us and Jesus has and will win the victory for the babies saved and children are Gods adopted brothers and sisters through baptism we are saved. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us and Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us!
March 5th, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Very encouraging! Its good to get a report that helps us persevere cause we don’t often hear whats happening as a result of our stand. May God bless and strengthen us all in our calling.
March 6th, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Reflection from My Prayer Vigil on February 26, 2013
On this gray, mild Tuesday from 9:00 – 10:00 A.M., I did a brisk prayer walk around and around the block where the Planned Parenthood building is located on Beaver Street. After walking for about 25 minutes, I noticed trash lying up against the front of the building.
“Why don’t you pick up the trash?” was a thought that flashed across my mind.
“Pick up the trash?! Me?! Now?! Here?!……..Well….why not?!….Hummm, where would I find a bag?…Oh, I bet there are some empty plastic grocery bags in the trunk of my car..” These were the thoughts that played out in my mind.
At my car, I found three plastic bags. Soon I was back on the sidewalk in front to the building staring at the trash. I stepped from the sidewalk onto the garden-plot. “I hope I am not breaking any rules by stepping here. Well here goes..” I picked up soggy wrappers, broken plastic plates, paper pieces and cigarette stubs that were lodged between the dead leaves and tender green stems of spring daffodils and crocuses. I filled two and one-half bags. Then, I walked around to the parking lots side of the building to pick up crushed cans, a wet cardboard box, a black shirt and candy wrappers to fill the third bag. I walked to the dumpster to place the three bags there, but I saw that a bar was placed across the lids of the dumpster, so I walked back to the front corner of the street and set the three bags there. I planned to take one more prayer walk around the block, but the security guard came out onto the porch. He looked at the three bulging bags and frowned.
“Hello!” I smiled at him. “I just picked up those three bags of trash. I plan to take them to my car with me when I leave in a few minutes.”
He looked at me with a baffled and severe stare.
“How are you today?” I asked.
“Fine!” he said, still looking quite perplexed.
“So am I,” I smiled at him still. Then he went back indoors.
I stood on the corner by the trash bags, and prayed The Lord’s Prayer aloud. Then, I sang, “There Is a Redeemer.”
While I was driving home, this magnificent thought flooded my mind. The spring flowers that had pushed their way through the cold, dark earth and brittle brown leaves represented the power of God’s Kingdom. The cold and hard heartedness of people and the dark soil of evil’s stronghold and the brittle deadness of man setting himself up against God and the debris of poor choices and actions – all of these together cannot stop God’s Kingdom from bursting forth with its Life and Goodness and Beauty. As surely as the stems of daffodils and crocuses push their way to the surface and soon bloom their loveliness, God’s Kingdom is coming! His is an everlasting Kingdom and His dominion endures to all generations. This was a breath-taking thought that has thrilled me the rest of today!