At last — the final message for this fall’s 40 Days for Life!

This specific campaign may be over, but ever since the start of 40 Days for Life we knew that this would only be the BEGINNING of the end of abortion.

As long as abortion continues to ravage our nation, there is much work still to do.

We’ve really only just begun.

I look forward to continuing to labor side-by-side with you in the Lord’s harvest field now until that glorious day when no more women cry and no more children die!

Before sharing a final batch of success stories from around the country, here are a few quick items:

1. PRAYER REQUEST — Our national team is actively praying and discerning how to move forward from here to keep the positive momentum growing. Over the next couple of weeks, important decisions will be made — with your input, the input of local campaign leaders, and the input of national pro-life leaders. Please pray that God grants wisdom and clarity as we seek to do His will through this vital work.

2. SURVEY — Your feedback is needed to help shape the future direction of this effort. Regardless of your level of involvement in this fall’s campaign, I would greatly appreciate if you would take 3-4 minutes to answer 11 quick questions on a simple online survey. Every answer will be read and used in determining what’s next. Just go to: http://snipurl.com/1tcg7 

3. LIMITED AVAILABILITY — As mentioned in previous messages, I will be taking a much needed break from this blog and e-mail over the next several days. Thanks for your understanding, and don’t worry — as soon as we have any news on what will happen next, I’ll get back in touch to let you know!

4. ONE MORE THANK YOU — I wanted to especially thank Carmen Pate and Fr. Frank Pavone who wrote the wonderful daily devotionals throughout 40 Days for Life, and gave such wise spiritual guidance to this entire effort.

5. IN MEMORY OF REGIS — In the final report at the bottom of this message you will learn about Regis Burlas, a dear man in his late 80’s, who died in a car crash turning into the parking lot for the 40 Days for Life vigil in Jacksonville, Florida, this past Saturday night. In a very real way, he gave his life doing God’s work. Earlier today, I recorded a short interview with the leader of the Jacksonville campaign, who shared a touching reflection about Regis’ life and service. Please take the 9 minutes to listen to the audio — you will be deeply moved. In addition to praying for the family members left behind, let’s honor the legacy of this heroic man who died while working to help others live.

Listen Online (press “Play” button):

Â
Download MP3 (right-click to save to your computer):

http://www.40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/regis.mp3

Now, here are more amazing 40 Days for Life success stories from across America…

DALLAS, TEXAS:

We had 1,994 people sign in at the vigil site. The last day, we held a Jericho March so for seven hours we had different groups walking the two mile walk around Planned Parenthood. We had a Youth for Truth Rally and after had the youth distribute literature to the whole neighborhood! Also, during the vigil, Susan G. Komen had their Race for the Cure, so we held our Strike for Truth the same day, viewed by the 35,000 runners for their race. We made it on Fox 4 News! And they got the story right: “A Pro-life group holding signs because they think Susan G. Komen should not be giving money to Planned Parenthood!” Our plan now is to get our bishop to send a letter out to all the diocese so hopefully we can dry up their funding to PP.

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY:

The biggest miracle for the 40 Days For Life local campaign is we were able to fill all prayer time, 6:00am – 6:00pm, for the entire 40 days in one of the most liberal states in the US. Being yelled at, cursed at, and spit on did not deter our local “prayer warriors” from coming back to the vigil site again and again. Also, despite having little support from local religious leaders, our small core team was able to rally over 200 of the faithful in our town to participate in our on-site vigil. As we wind up the 40 Days For Life Campaign, our prayer here in Hamilton, NJ is that this beautiful, prayerful national movement will mark the beginning of a re-invigorated national grass-roots pro-life movement — one our political & religious leaders will be forced to recognize and act on. Mother Teresa, as usual, hit the nail on the head when she said “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” We are done waiting for our religious and political leaders to act. It’s time for us to stand up for what is right, for what is moral. Its time for us to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves, the unborn.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA:

More than 1,300 pro-life advocates from Southwest Florida, including 80 clergy members and a variety of faith-based organizations, participated in silent prayer, peaceful vigil and fasting outside the Sarasota Planned Parenthood facility during the 40-day period. The local campaign included participation from a mix of major religious denominations including Southern, Independent & Missionary Baptists, Roman Catholics, Inter, Trans & Non-Denominationals, Lutheran, Evangelicals, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Fundamentalists, Nazarene, and Methodists, among others. Faith-based organizations that participated in the campaign included Christian Coalition, Right to Life, Knights of Columbus and Council of Catholic Women, among others. This campaign has galvanized our community, raised public awareness and will now continue this important cause throughout the year.

EL PASO, TEXAS:

We were blessed to experience the Holy Spirit moving in our city. Many have been spiritually renewed and are willing to actively continue in the fight against the evil of abortion. 16 babies were saved from being torn from the wombs of their mothers. With that the lives of their parents were spared the aftermath of an abortion experience. We look forward to seeing what God has in store for our nation.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA:

Top 10 Blessings of Pensacola’s 40 Days for Life:

1. Community Awareness: many did not realize Pensacola has two abortion clinics and did not know where they were.
2. Mobilize people that have never been outside an abortion clinic
3. After 15 years we have broken the stereotype that it is dangerous to pray at the abortion clinic and we have proved to Pensacola that peaceful, prayerful vigil can save lives!
4. To see how the spirit of the long time pro-lifers (some 20+ years) go from one of discouragement to one of HOPE.
5. Immense spiritual growth and graces received from praying at the abortion clinic 
6. Overcome the TREMENDOUS negative impact of two abortionist murders and bombings that occurred approximately 15 years ago in Pensacola. This has been a significant challenge to overcome. This set back the pro-life movement in the community several years and has allowed the abortion clinics to flourish. NOT ANYMORE after 40 Days for Life. Instead of 2-3 people gathered on Fridays, this past Friday we had 50 and every week it has been growing!! We have redefined the Pro-Life movement in Pensacola. There is so much to build upon and you can feel the tide turning. Pensacola is cautiously becoming pro-life again. 
7. Witness how Jesus transfigures the ugly horror of abortion into a beautiful display of public prayer. That we raise others minds and heart to God as they drive by.
8. One clinic closed for 3 weeks (the first 3 weeks of 40 Days for Life) 
9. 6 post-abortive women seeking healing
10. Total of 84 lives saved over 40 Days. To have the husband of one woman come up to us and say that because you were out here we decided not to abort. To hear that one woman say she woke up and decided not to abort her child when she heard a man call out “Save your Baby!”

MERRILLVILLE, INDIANA:

We had two women who chose life for their babies!!! We also had two women who didn’t take the morning after pill. We spoke with a lady who picked up a job application, who we didn’t see return with her application. We spoke with women about contraception, who didn’t go into Planned Parenthood. We now have people who want to continue sidewalk counseling after 40 Days for Life!!! 40 Days for Life was wonderful!!!

RENO/TAHOE, NEVADA:

Being new to the Pro-Life Effort, I heeded the advice of those who have put their lives into the Pro-Life effort and did not take our vigil to the sidewalk of the abortion center, opting to cover our region in Prayer to End Abortion, Morning, Noon and Night for 40 Days from churches and homes rather than the sidewalk of the abortion center. But in unity with the campaigns nationwide, we stood vigil for 24 hours on Saturday, Nov 3, from 12:01 am until midnight that night. Throughout the campaign, we had slowly grown as a community committed to Praying to End Abortion, as one or another Church stepped forward each week. But during the 24 hour vigil, something miraculous happened. A true community was formed, friendships were forged and the human connection and commitment to this effort was made by those who participated. There is something special about standing with someone you’ve just met, at midnight, holding Holy Candles, Praying to End Abortion. For Reno/Tahoe, the 40 Days, rather than being over, has merely been the spark need to ignite the fire in our belly. We look forward to being here for the long haul. We wait in anticipation to see what other miracles God has in store for us.

CENTRAL TEXAS:

Seven Central Texas cities (Temple, Belton, Nolanvile Harker Heights, Killeen, Copperas Cove, and Lampasas) participated. Twenty two (known) churches, 345 adults, 30 children, 68 (undisclosed church affiliation) participated in the prayer vigil outside the abortion clinic. Approximately 100 people attended the closing event. Pastors gave us a word of encouragement, the “remnant” was exhorted for their faithfulness and God was praised for answered prayer. The ceremony ended with uplifting words and a celebration of life with a challenge to continue in the fight until abortion is ended in America. At least four babies were saved in Central Texas and countless people impacted by our constant presence at the abortion clinic. The biggest good story is one I heard of tonight… A neighbor that lives close by the clinic was convicted by the prayer vigil and about a week or two ago, he gave his heart to Jesus Christ!

FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA:

On day 39 a baby was SAVED from abortion and a young mother spared!!!!! Praise God!!!

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND:

God’s great blessings include:

–> A young couple listening to our reasons for standing on that sidewalk offered to pray, asked us for Rosary beads, and committed to learning and praying the Rosary together!

–> Two Spanish-speaking people overcame our language barrier to learn more about what Planned Parenthood is doing and have offered to ask their entire church to actively oppose PP’s plan to indoctrinate our children.

–> Pro-life veterans have found encouragement in our supportive prayerful presence.

–> The Massachusetts faithful, even those who have had to travel far out of their way, have joined us on the sidewalk in Providence to pray for an end to abortion.

–> Protestants have bravely come to the aid of Rosary-praying Catholics after witnessing hostile outbursts against us. They have called us a “sign” and a “calling” to them; their coming forth in prayer has been the greatest visible blessing of our 40 Days For Life campaign!

–> The First Baptist Church in Rumford committed themselves to the 40 Days For Life cause and invited the RI directors as guests to the CareNet annual banquet.

–> People with opposing viewpoints crossed the street to engage in peaceful dialog with 40 Days For Life vigil volunteers!

–> New committed volunteers will continue their pro-life efforts and encourage friends and church communities to join us after the 40 Days are over.

–> There is new hope on the faces and in the voices of witnesses who had begun to accept the inevitability of abortion during our lifetime. The tide IS turning!

COLLEGEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA:

The biggest miracle at our location has been the determination to overcome all the obstacles that were in our path from the very beginning. They are too numerous to mention but with perseverance we continued to pray, fast and stand vigil at Planned Parenthood. The Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel has had over 1,100 adorers in the first 3 weeks of opening. This is truly a miracle! 40 Days for Life is God’s work and we look forward to all the seeds that have been planted to turn our community and nation into one that respects life from conception to natural death!

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA:

Pittsburgh will be different from this day on. We had two reported saves and who knows how many hearts were affected. We rallied all faiths and remained obedient. Our prayer team was faithful and our vigils on Saturdays grew in numbers to a record 40 people (there’s that number again!) Duquesne University radio pulled $5,000 worth of Planned Parenthood advertising from their campus radio station and refunded them, refusing to give them an outlet. Robert Morris college will think twice about sending freshmen to the Planned Parenthood for community service. Pitt, Duquesne, Robert Morris, and Franciscan University students faithfully prayed and stood vigil. The gospel was shared with many women as well as drunks, gays, lesbians, and prostitutes in the area. Hopefully the new recruits who stepped out of their comfort zone to be faithful will remain that way for the next 40 days and the next 40 years to see Roe v. Wade overturned. We in Pittsburgh are confident that this is the beginning to the end of legal abortion in this country. We will never underestimate the power of unity in prayer across all denominations. We have formed friendships that will never end and are committed to make next year’s campaign more effective. We praise God for the blessing to serve Him and the time to see the fruits of our labor. Praise Jesus!

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA:

I can tell you the reason we had so many babies saved is because of all the people who were faithful to come out to stand in front of the Planned Parenthood office. We also had as many faithful who stood in Ft. Pierce where the abortion mill is and many numbers there were turned around as well. We estimated the total saved for the whole 40 Days for Life to be about 25. Thanks be to God for 40 Days for Life.

LUFKIN, TEXAS:

Lufkin prayed for 40 days with many new volunteers. We had as many as 45 people praying at the clinic on a single day. We had a college student learn about abortion for the first time. We showed Planned Parenthood that our community supports the pro-life movement by hearing all of the honks and seeing people wave at us for 40 days. We had a supporter call the Planned Parenthood looking for more information about 40 days who spoke to the security guard and invited him to his church. We saw the healing process begin for several men and women after speaking to us at the site. We had 120 people pray in front of our clinic at some time during the 40 days. We prayed for a total of 631 vigil hours. We witnessed to 1000’s of people in cars that pass by on this busy street. We saw many youth get involved for the first time through their church youth groups. We had 41 people at our Celebration Rally and we prayed in front of Planned Parenthood for most of the last 24 hours, ending the last 5 hours with a candle light vigil at the new site. We remained faithful and many have committed themselves to continue to do so until abortion is no longer in our nation. These may seem small successes to many, but to Lufkin they are amazing and I praise God for each one. Most of all I praise God that I was able to be His humble servant in this campaign.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA:

Regis Burlas, a sweet man in his late 80’s said, “I’ll come anytime, any day, Mary and I want to come stand for those tiny babies.” I scheduled them for a Sunday the first time so they could find their way on a low traffic day. I met them there and stood with them for awhile. They shared that it was their 7th wedding anniversary, they had been childhood sweethearts, gotten separated by wars and life, married, lost spouses, then after 55 years apart, they reunited and married. They came many times after that, coming to stand vigil separately and together, praying for the abortion facility to close. Last night as their car was turning into the parking lot, an oncoming car struck them and Regis died later at the hospital. Today we celebrate the life of the babies and mothers saved in these 40 days — and the life that Regis lived and spent serving the Lord in standing vigil for all the unborn. As he entered the kingdom, many tiny hands surely reached out to welcome him home and thank him for standing up for them.

Listen to the touching 9-minute audio tribute to the impact of Regis’ life here:

Listen Online (press “Play” button):

Â
Download MP3 (right-click to save to your computer):

http://www.40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/regis.mp3

Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers, fasting, and participation in this historic effort. You helped to inspire an entire nation!

Let’s continue seeking the Lord’s will, and let’s never grow weary in the efforts to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

Your Brother In Christ,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 8th, 2007 at 10:46 pm and is filed under 40 Days for Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.