Before I share the EXCITING NEWS about another abortion facility director who just quit her job during the 40 Days for Life campaign outside her facility’s doors …

… I wanted to give you a quick update on our progress toward the matching challenge of $118,500 …

We’re four days into the seven-day matching period and thus far, we’ve received one-time gifts and monthly pledges amounting to $45,800 — a great start, but less than half. We certainly don’t want to miss out on the amazing generosity of the donors who put forward this challenge by not hitting the match!

REMEMBER — every gift given between now and midnight next Tuesday, May 17 — up to the $118,500 amount — will be DOUBLED!

Make a ONE-TIME gift now:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=onetime

And the annualized amount of every monthly pledge (multiply the monthly amount by 12) made between now and midnight next Tuesday, May 17will be annualized (multiplied by 12) and then DOUBLED!

Make a MONTHLY PLEDGE now:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=monthly

And if you itemize on your taxes, 40 Days for Life is a 501c3 non-profit, and your contribution DOES qualify for a deduction.

Please help TODAY if at all possible — and thank you to everyone who has given already!!

Now for the exciting news …

If you listened to the MOMENTUM webcast and teleconference on Tuesday evening, you heard about the many AMAZING victories God provided in response to your prayers during 40 Days for Life.

One of those victories in particular was absolutely an answer to many prayers.

The director of an abortion facility where a 40 Days for Life campaign was conducted for the FIRST TIME this spring just quit her job, thanking the 40 Days for Life effort for helping her to get out of the abortion industry!

This is one of TEN abortion center workers who walked away from their jobs during this campaign alone …

… and one of 53 who have quit the abortion business since the first coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign in 2007.

Praise God!

This is a very sensitive situation for the former clinic director (who we’ve been working closely with throughout this process) so I’m not going to identify the person or the location. She will no doubt face pressure when her former bosses learn the truth.

Members of the local 40 Days for Life team and pro-lifers in the region have offered to assist this former abortion center worker find new employment. So please keep this courageous lady in your prayers!

But, there’s even more good news from around the country — and the world!

To hear other inspiring stories from three additional local 40 Days for Life campaigns sharing the blessings they experienced, listen to this short audio report:

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

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/momentum.mp3

Let’s keep this momentum growing until abortion ends!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Here are those links again for contributing to 40 Days for Life today — and having your gift DOUBLED to help reach the $118,500 matching challenge.

One-time gift:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=onetime

Monthly pledge:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=monthly

Your gift may also be mailed to:

40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road, Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA 22408

Well, the largest 40 Days for Life campaign ever is history — for now!

What an amazing 40-day journey we’ve been on, as 247 cities in nine countries prayed, fasted, stood vigil, and conducted outreach to end abortion.

Thanks to YOU for responding to the Holy Spirit this spring! These efforts have been richly blessed.

I just got home late last night from speaking at the closing event in Germantown, Maryland. Before that, I was in Los Angeles, California at a closing rally.

The L.A. rally lasted into the night. It was too dark for my video camera — but I do have the audio from that event for you.

As you listen to the audio recording, you’ll hear the incredible story about how 40 Days for Life began for me personally this spring …

… and the HUGE blessing in how it ended for me — meeting a baby saved from abortion during previous campaigns in Orange, California!

To listen to the talk online, click the arrow to start the player:

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

http://40daysforlife.s3.amazonaws.com/shawnla.mp3

I hope you get lots of encouragement as we all discern how to move forward from here!

40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that recognizes abortion as a local problem … and you have shown the willingness to act on your faith to be the local solution.

Many cities that have conducted 40 Days for Life campaigns have asked “What’s next?”

Here are some of the things going on in just a few of the cities that just wrapped up 40 Days for Life:

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ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
—————————————————–

The Alexandria team recognizes that prayer at the abortion center can’t stop. The local coordinators are launching an effort to have people praying on the sidewalks at least on the days that abortions are performed. It’s a proven fact that this prayer presence can change minds.

—————————————————–
LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA
—————————————————–

Local leaders in Lawrenceville have noted a decline in activity at Planned Parenthood – fewer customers obviously means fewer abortions. They know that means they can’t stop. There are also plans to network with other Georgia campaigns to increase opportunities for sidewalk counseling.

—————————————————–
BEAUMONT, TEXAS
—————————————————–

The Beaumont campaign used its closing rally to invite volunteers to keep praying at the abortion center – and more. “We are more determined than ever for the formation of a permanent group in our area for an ongoing prayer group to diligently pray daily against abortion,” said Eileen in Beaumont.

—————————————————–
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
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In a posting on the 40 Days for Life blog, Rae summed up this time of discernment very clearly.

“Our campaign has been marked by a growing awareness that abortion is not a problem in a vacuum, but a product of the despair and hopelessness that is a way of life where Christ is not known,” Rae wrote.

The women and men entering the abortion center all lacked hope. “We are finding ourselves more dedicated than ever to being Christ for the world, here where life and death are as palpable as on the streets of Jerusalem when Jesus carried His cross and walked through the clueless crowds towards His death.”

Rae said the group found, to their surprise, “that trying to save the babies has led us to a more intimate relationship with Christ and a thirst for helping Him in His saving mission to the world.”

And that’s exactly why we carry on. We’ll have much more to say in the weeks and months ahead, but for now we’ll take a break from daily e-mail so we, too, can refresh, recharge and renew.

Click here to read today’s devotional.

Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.

There’s no way I can really express the appreciation I have for everything you’ve done during this campaign — your prayers, your participation, your persistence.

You provide tremendous HOPE for our future!

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Any additional stories from 40 Days for Life in your community? Please respond below.

Abortion pierces the heart like no other issue — especially when a rape is involved.

I have more reports from around the globe; but before that, I want to share with you one of the most touching notes I’ve ever received regarding a rape case.

This Sunday, give thanks for the love of God, which is penetrating the most desperate situations and bringing hope where the world often claims there is no hope.

——————————————————-
FROM THE 40 DAYS FOR LIFE BLOG
——————————————————-

“I want to thank my mother, who did not succumb to the pressure to abort me after being raped 30 years ago,” said this 40 Days for Life participant. “Today, she chokes up with emotion whenever she tells me how special and important I am to her life! Praise God!”

I simply cannot imagine what that pressure would have been like. This is one of the so-called hard cases where abortion is somehow deemed acceptable. But as this woman’s life shows, this is not about statistics or “difficult choices.” It’s about human beings.

“I am not perfect. But because I was given the chance to live, I can and do strive for holiness,” she wrote. “Thank you, pro-lifers, for recognizing AND reminding me that I am beautifully and wonderfully made in God’s image.”

Abortion supporters, she said, “will have people like me think that we are monsters who must be punished for the crime of our father. I know what he did was wrong; but I pray for him and hope to see him in heaven as a repentant sinner.”

I tell you, her story inspires ME. But for her part, she humbly says that she is inspired by … YOU!

“Reading all of these responses makes me so enthusiastic about going back to pray … to save more lives,” she said. “God bless you all and keep up the good work!”

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LONDON, ENGLAND
——————————————————-

One of the 40 Days for Life team members in London was interviewed on the radio recently. The reporter for City University Radio asked Dan Blackman about the vigil and about the campaign, of course.

But she also asked about some of those “hard cases” where some people say abortion can be justified — yes, including cases were the pregnancy occurs as the result of an assault.

Dan answered the reporter’s questions calmly, directly — and accurately.

To listen to the interview online, click the arrow to start the player:

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

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/london.mp3

Here’s a photo of the 40 Days for Life vigil in London:

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ITHACA, NEW YORK
——————————————————-

Every Saturday, Mary Anne in Ithaca keeps seeing two people standing on the porch at Planned Parenthood wearing escort vests.

“We continue to pray for these two escorts,” she said, “that one day they will be escorted out of that place and be free.”

Mary Anne says 40 Days for Life is having a definite impact. “We received some comments from those walking by us, saying we are doing the right thing.” Those people are always invited to join the vigil.

“Praise God for all His graces and mercy,” she said. “We should never underestimate the power of prayer. The Lord is touching hearts.”

Here are some of the children who were praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Ithaca:

Click here to read today’s devotional.

Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Are there special people in your town who are making a difference with your 40 Days for Life campaign? Please share the good news by replying below.

Local media outlets have been all over 40 Days for Life campaigns since we kicked off in 247 cities just last Wednesday …

… and we’ve seen great — and positive — coverage of YOUR campaigns!

Here are just a few examples:

——————————————————-
LANSING, MICHIGAN
——————————————————-

Chris Veneklase of the 40 Days for Life team in Lansing had an opportunity to talk about the campaign on Tony Conley’s morning program on WILS-AM. It’s a secular station that also features nationally syndicated hosts such as Laura Ingraham.

Things got very personal – and quite moving – when it came to a discussion of the overwhelming number of abortions that are recommended when doctors discover that a child in the womb has Down syndrome.

Tony Conley said he tried to get a representative of Planned Parenthood to come on the program. But no one was interested.

Listen to the audio online (it’s powerful!) (click arrow to start):

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

Tony Conley Morning Show 3/11/11

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MODESTO, CALIFORNIA
——————————————————-

This marks the first 40 Days for Life campaign in Modesto, and the local team was featured in a story in the local newspaper, the Modesto Bee.

It’s not a political or noisy protest, said local coordinator Mark Jeffords.
“It’s a Christian prayer vigil, definitely not a protest,” he said. “We’re trying to raise public awareness. There won’t be any shouting.”

Mark emphasized that the campaign is “also are trying to reach out to the women. We want to tell them about the Modesto Pregnancy Center. They also have services for women. I hope the women realize there’s a person in their bodies who is coming into the world and also understand that they’re not alone.”

To see the full story in the Modesto Bee, please go to:

http://tinyurl.com/4psm3ec

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LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
——————————————————-

The first-time 40 Days for Life campaign in Lafayette got the attention of the Journal and Courier locally.

In this case, a Planned Parenthood representative DID speak to the reporter, rattling off the standard line about vigil participants “harassing patients.”

The newspaper also included a picture, which proved to be worth more than a thousand Planned Parenthood talking points. The picture shows two people quietly praying on the sidewalk – no “harassment” whatsoever!

“We’re simply there praying,” said Lafayette campaign coordinator Judy Watson. “How could anybody not want that?”

To see the Lafayette Journal and Courier story – and the picture – please go to:

http://tinyurl.com/4f96e7l

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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
——————————————————-

As part of their community outreach, the 40 Days for Life team in Tallahassee participated in a memorial service for aborted babies at a local cemetery – and WCTV, the local CBS affiliate, reported on the event.

The station interviewed local coordinator Chris Moleski for the report. She said that 40 Days for Life “is a campaign that has been developed to give people an opportunity to bring about an end to abortion through prayer, fasting and community outreach.”

To see the WCTV story – including the video of the news report – please go to:

http://tinyurl.com/4j6sw4f

Click here to read today’s devotional.

Click here to download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: If you have good news to report about 40 Days for Life in your community, please post a comment below.

The biggest 40 Days for Life campaign EVER is just one week away!

40 days of prayer and fasting … 40 days of constant vigil … and 40 days of community outreach — it begins next Wednesday, March 9, in 247 locations across the United States, Canada, Australia, England, Ireland, Spain, Belize, Armenia and the nation of Georgia.

More than 50 of these communities are taking part in 40 Days for Life for the first time — this promises to be an amazing spring!

To help get ready for the kickoff of 40 Days for Life, I have a special gift for you today.

Recently, our 40 Days for Life national director, David Bereit, was presented with the Henry Hyde Life Leadership Award at an event in Chicago.

While there, David gave a rousing speech called “Do It Anyway!” He shared his personal pro-life testimony — including many of the struggles, setbacks, and obstacles faced along the way — before motivating the hundreds in attendance to overcome their own challenges and “Do It Anyway!”

The entire presentation was recorded by the event organizers, and we just posted the audio online.

If you are trying to discern the unique role that God has for YOU in this lifesaving work — make time to listen to this recording or download the MP3 today:

Listen to the audio report online (click arrow to start):

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

http://40daysforlife.s3.amazonaws.com/doitanyway.mp3

When you finish listening, please post a comment with your thoughts below!

Let’s overcome whatever obstacles are holding us back; let’s “Do It Anyway!” — and look forward to what God has in store!

Expecting great things,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: To find the closest 40 Days for Life campaign to you — and GET INVOLVED — please visit:

http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm

If you listened to the TIPPING POINT webcast and teleconference on Tuesday evening, you heard about the many AMAZING victories God provided in response to your prayers during 40 Days for Life.

Then Thursday, I asked you to pray about an abortion center in Michigan that is on the verge of closing — becoming the NINTH abortion facility to shut its doors forever following a 40 Days for Life campaign outside its doors.

Well, the prayer was answered — but not in the way I was expecting! It turns out the ninth abortion center closing has already been recorded — in Seattle, Washington.

“In Seattle our first and second 40 Days campaigns took place in front of the Planned Parenthood facility nearest the University of Washington,” said Aaron, who led those campaigns in Seattle.

During the second campaign, that center stopped doing surgical abortions. Planned Parenthood then put the facility up for rent — and now their web site confirms this location is permanently CLOSED!

“God is good,” said Aaron, “and He honors prayer!”

The abortion facility in Sacramento, California that was the site of a 40 Days for Life campaign this fall is also struggling right now.

The clinic manager and two other clinic employees were just laid-off by the clinic owner due to “dwindling finances” at the clinic.

“Their client numbers were dropping,” said Wynette, the 40 Days for Life leader in Sacramento, “so budget cuts had to be made.”

Wynette added, “The clinic manager did tell me that only three employees remain and that they are open for business, but that business is REALLY down.”

Members of the 40 Days for Life team have offered to assist the three former workers — knowing it isn’t easy to be without a job as Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching. Wynette also says, “we continue to pray for conversion of hearts and minds, so that this employment layoff becomes a life-long detachment from the abortion industry.”

Those are just two more breaking news stories that show why it is so important for the work of 40 Days for Life to keep growing.

Here’s a short, inspiring audio recording of three more of this fall’s local 40 Days for Life campaigns sharing the blessings they experienced (including another abortion facility closing).

Listen to the audio report online (click arrow to start):

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

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/tippingpoint.mp3

IMPORTANT UPDATE! One of the big announcements from Tuesday night’s “Tipping Point” webcast is that a small group of generous supporters have put forward a matching grant of $100,000.

Every gift received between now and midnight next Tuesday, November 23 — up to the $100,000 amount — will be DOUBLED!

We’re four days into the seven-day matching period and thus far, we’ve received one-time gifts and monthly pledges amounting to $47,860 — a great start, but a bit less than half. We certainly don’t want to miss out by not hitting the match.

Please help TODAY if at all possible — and thank you to everyone who has given already!!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Here are the links for contributing to 40 Days for Life today — and having your gift doubled while helping to reach that $100,000 matching challenge.

One-time gift:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=onetime

Monthly pledge:

http://40daysforlife.com/donate.cfm?selected=monthly

Today we begin a 40-day journey of prayer, fasting, vigil and outreach in 238 locations around North America — and beyond.

As we start, I recall the first 40 Days for Life effort six years ago in Bryan/College Station, Texas. As we prayed for God’s guidance on what to do about the evil of abortion in our community, we were reminded of how God has used 40-day periods of time in order to bring about transformation and conversion.

We were reminded of Noah and 40 days in the flood, of Moses on the mountain, of Jesus and in the desert. When God repeats himself, He does so for a reason.

The message of 40 days is simple, yet profound.

I’d like to share some of the online comments I’ve read — from people just like you — who are speaking from their hearts about the mission that begins today:

• “I got involved in the movement last fall, following the example of an online friend. I had heard about it before but was uncertain, and a little scared… However, as I discovered it is a beautiful way to do something positive, and help save lives.”
• “I have committed to standing in front of our local Planned Parenthood office for one hour each week for the 40 days… I will ask you, my friends, to pray for the end of abortion, and for me, as I step out of my comfort zone, and get involved in a cause I believe in, the end of abortion.”
• “Please consider helping out with this effort. It is an amazing ministry that has produced real results in our community and across the country.”

If you have a few minutes, listen to this audio clip from our local leaders. It will remind you of what’s at stake and why it’s important for YOU to pray and act.

It features local campaign leaders, representing these 40 Days for Life locations:

• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Toledo, Ohio
• Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Adelaide, Australia
• Columbia, Missouri
• Shreveport, Louisiana
• Indianapolis, Indiana

Listen to the audio report online (click arrow to start):

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

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/leaders.mp3

Be sure to listen to the entire 13 minutes. You’ll be rewarded by hearing the story of the “wrong number” phone call that saved a baby’s life!

As we begin this 40 Days for Life, I’ll be stopping today in Green Bay, Appleton and Madison, Wisconsin.

If you’re able to come out to the vigil today — in Wisconsin or WHEREVER you are — you’ll be blessed abundantly.

Here’s today’s devotional from David Brandao, the communications director for 40 Days for Life…

—————————————————–
DAY 1 INTENTION
—————————————————–

That we may use these 40 Days for Life to plead for God’s mercy and grace upon all those involved in the sin of abortion.

—————————————————–
SCRIPTURE
—————————————————–

Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly. Gather the people, notify the congregation. Assemble the elders; gather the children and the infants at the breast… Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare, O Lord, your people.”

– Joel 2:15-17

—————————————————–
REFLECTION by David Brandao, 40 Days for Life
—————————————————–

The toll of abortion cannot be measured. We hear estimates of almost 50 million innocent victims, but that’s only one aspect of the harm that has unfolded in abortion’s wake. There are also the mothers and fathers of these millions, as well as the grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives of the living shattered.

It’s overwhelming and depressing, but even in the midst of such unfathomable darkness, the church teaches us to have hope. Yes, it was indeed Calvary that followed Christ’s 40 days in the desert, but without Calvary there would have been no Resurrection — His victory over death that opened the gates of heaven to those who believe in and follow Him.

The psalmist encourages us to go humbly before God as we seek His will: “A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me… Give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing spirit sustain in me… O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise” (Psalm 51:12, 14, 17).

We are called to be God’s messengers; or as the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: “We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

That is the true message to all we encounter at the abortion centers and in our communities who have been deceived by the Culture of Death. We don’t bring condemnation; we bring God’s good news.

—————————————————–
PRAYER
—————————————————–

Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom, determination and stamina to carry out this mission according to Your will.

Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your truth, always doing so with a spirit of love and compassion, as was demonstrated to us by Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, Amen.

—————————————————–
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
—————————————————–

To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2010day01print.pdf

—————————————————–

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

Tomorrow — Wednesday, July 21 — we begin accepting applications for the fall 40 Days for Life campaign.

Hundreds of cities across North America — and around the globe — have expressed interest all summer and things are shaping up to be big this fall.

Are you ready to see abortion end in your community? Great! Tomorrow, we will let you know how you can apply to host a 40 Days for Life campaign from September 22 through October 31.

I also have a little bonus for you today: a short audio recording featuring nine local 40 Days for Life leaders.

These are ordinary people with extraordinary faith and courage who were exactly where you are — praying about what God wanted them to do.

They are from Indiana, Florida, Alabama, New York, Connecticut, California, Louisiana and Canada.

They took a leap of faith to lead local 40 Days for Life campaigns. Now you can hear — in their own voices — what blessings 40 Days for Life has brought to them and to their communities.

Listen to the audio report online (click arrow to start):

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

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/discern.mp3

As Jeremiah 29:11 tells us: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.”

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

If you’ve ever been to a graduation ceremony, you may have heard the event referred to as “commencement exercises.” Yes, the day marks the end of a period in the graduate’s life — but most importantly, it marks a beginning. Such is also the case with 40 Days for Life.

You may have heard me say that 40 Days for Life campaigns could well mark the beginning of the end of abortion in the communities where those campaigns are held — and across the nation and around the world.

There have been many, many, many blessings that God has given us during these 40 days. Go ahead, take a deep breath, and rejoice in the marvelous things the Lord has done!

But the truth is, this is just the start.

“The beginning of the end of abortion” means that seeds have been planted. When will the seeds sprout? When will they begin to grow and develop? When will they bear fruit?

The answer is God’s alone, of course. But who will water the seeds? Who will keep the garden free of weeds? Who will take the next steps to see that these seeds don’t wither and die — or simply lie dormant waiting for something to happen?

The answer, of course, is — YOU!

There are many things you can do to keep the momentum rolling. For one thing … please keep praying!

At a 40 Days for Life rally in Hagerstown, Maryland, a man told of going to pray at the abortion facility with his wife and eight children. While they were there, a woman canceled her abortion appointment and decided to keep her child.

Some days later, the man’s 4-year-old son said, “Daddy we saved a baby. When are going again?”

Any day when abortions are scheduled is an appropriate day to go and pray.

What else can you do?

• Train to be a sidewalk counselor outside the abortion facility.
• Support — and volunteer for — a pro-life pregnancy resource center.
• Start a pro-life group at your church or school.
• Promote the pro-life viewpoint in letters to the editor or calls to radio talk shows.
• Speak up for the babies in this year’s political discussions.
• And those are just a few of the many possibilities!

If you have not yet had a 40 Days for Life campaign in your community, please think and pray about bringing this prayerful outreach to your city. The dates for the next campaign are September 22 – October 31. We’ll begin taking applications this summer.

“The campaign is growing,” said Mary Anne in Ithaca, New York, which just wrapped up its second 40 Days for Life effort. “If anyone out there hears the Lord calling you to start 40 Days for Life in your area, please respond to that call. You are not alone. We are with you! What an awesome God we have!”

Were you able to attend the closing rally for your 40 Days for Life campaign? I hope you were! But if you were not able to join the celebration, I have a special “end of campaign bonus” for you.

David Brandao, our communications director of 40 Days for Life, attended the closing rally for the Virginia Beach, Virginia campaign.

Here are some pictures of their unique vigil location, followed by a powerful, moving 8-minute audio wrap-up of the closing event in Virginia Beach.

Listen to the audio report online (click arrow to start):

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

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/vabeach.mp3

As a second bonus … here is one final 40 Days for Life devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.

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DAY 41 INTENTION
——————————————————

Pray that the witness of 40 Days for Life bears abundant fruit, and that we begin again each day to storm the gates of hell until God welcomes us into the gates of heaven.

——————————————————
SCRIPTURE
——————————————————

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. On this rock I will build my church; the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

– Matthew 16:18

——————————————————
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
——————————————————

When we read this verse, we usually think that the Lord is promising that the church, which is His Body, will withstand all the attacks launched against it.

Of course, that is true. But when we think about it more carefully, we realize that in a battle, the gates do not run out into the battlefield to attack the enemy. Rather, they stand still to defend the city from the enemy attacking it.

So when the Lord says that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, who is doing the attacking?

It is the church storming the gates!

The church, all of God’s people in Christ, is called to take the offensive, to run into enemy territory, and to gain ground for Jesus Christ.

We do not wait for an invitation; we already have a command.

We prepare, but we do not wait for circumstances to be perfect; we already have one who has gone before us.

During these 40 days, we have stormed the gates. We have taken the offensive. We have pushed forward the boundaries of the kingdom. And we must keep doing so, in numerous ways.

Indeed, the gates of hell will not prevail. The gates of falsehood will flee in the presence of truth. The gates of sin will melt in the presence of grace. The gates of death will fall in the presence of the church, the People of Life!

——————————————————
PRAYER
——————————————————

Father, we praise you. We have heard the voice of your Son, and therefore we can make our voices heard.

We have done battle with the power of evil, and therefore we can have compassion on those still within its grip. We have been freed from the kingdom of darkness, and therefore we can bear witness to your Kingdom of Light.

May the witness of all your people through these 40 Days for Life bear abundant fruit, and may we begin again each day to storm the gates of hell until You welcome us into the gates of heaven.

We pray in the victorious name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

——————————————————
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
——————————————————

To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day41print.pdf

——————————————————

There’s no way I can really express the appreciation I have for everything you’ve done during this campaign — your prayers, your participation, your persistence.

You provide tremendous HOPE for our future!

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

I just returned home from Oklahoma. Early tomorrow morning I’ll be back on a plane, this time heading to California, where I’ll get to visit several more 40 Days for Life campaigns.

In between flights, praying at vigils, speaking at events, long road trips, and short nights of sleep, whenever I check e-mail, my in box is overflowing with more reports of lives saved.

I still think it’s a miracle any time 40 Days for Life prayer vigil participants are blessed with the knowledge that a mother has changed her mind about aborting a child.

And today, as we reach the halfway point of this campaign — it’s already happened …

… 209 times that we know of!

That’s 102 more lives spared — over THE LAST WEEK.

Here are just a few of those miracles:

• Jacksonville, Florida:

  A woman and her daughter spent about an hour in the parking lot at the abortion center, entering and leaving the business several times. Finally, they drove out of the lot. The young woman rolled down her window and said, “I am not going to have an abortion.”

  “We were there at the critical time,” said Trudy in Jacksonville. “We were there at the entrance of the driveway, offering her hope in her desperate situation.

  She saw strangers praying for her; she saw signs that gave her options; she experienced the ultimate, unconditional love from people whom she may never see again in this world. And her miraculous decision gave us peace and joy this world can not give!”

• Yakima, Washington:

  A 40 Days for Life participant described his boss as “a good Christian man,” so it shocked him when his boss said his 16-year-old daughter was pregnant and planning to have an abortion. So, the man just prayed harder.

  Two weeks later, his boss returned to say that when his daughter went to Planned Parenthood for her abortion, prayer volunteers convinced her not to go through with it. She went to a pro-life resource center instead.

• Phoenix, Arizona:

  Beth in Phoenix reports at least eleven babies have been spared from abortion during this 40 Days for Life campaign. “I praise God for our prayer warriors and gifted sidewalk counselors,” she said.

  In addition, two volunteer escorts at the Phoenix abortion center have quit! One of them shared her gratitude for the vigil participants’ presence.

• Pensacola, Florida:

  One of the prayer volunteers spoke with two women in their vehicle outside the abortion center. He handed one of them a brochure about abortion alternatives and what abortion does to women.

  “Two hours later the women drove past us, giving us the thumbs up and pointing that she kept her baby,” said Ernie in Pensacola. “What would have happened if the prayer vigil participant had not been there to hand these women this information?”

  Here’s a photo of the 40 Days for Life vigil in Pensacola:

  

I also have news on how 40 Days for Life is gathering momentum in Australia. The team in Brisbane, which is conducting its second 40 Days for Life campaign, recently had a great opportunity to spread the word about this life-saving ministry.

Daniel, who serves as Brisbane’s media and communications coordinator, was interviewed on the Vision Radio Network, a nationwide Christian broadcaster in Australia.

Listen to this 10-minute audio online (click arrow to start):

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

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/brisbane2010.mp3

Today’s devotional is from Ernest Ohlhoff, outreach director at National Right to Life.

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DAY 20 INTENTION
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We pray for humility in our work for God’s Kingdom.

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SCRIPTURE
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Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

– Philippians 2:5-8

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REFLECTION by Ernest Ohlhoff, National Right to Life
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There is no limit to what we can accomplish when we don’t care who gets the credit.

Jesus Christ’s life on earth exemplifies a total submission to the will of the Father. His humility, compassion, gentleness and thoughtfulness are reflected over and over again in the New Testament.

He was God incarnate, yet He chose to be born to a humble, working class home.

How absurd it must have seemed to the rich and powerful that the Son of God, the Messiah, the one foretold by the prophets, the ‘King of the Jews’ was born and raised as a simple peasant.

During His thirty-three years on earth, He sought no riches, claimed no secular power and gathered no possessions.

His short time on earth changed more lives, softened more hearts, and gave hope to more people, than all the rich and powerful human ‘kings’ combined.

And, at the end of His life on earth, by dying on the cross, He opened the door to eternal life for those who heed his words and follow in his footsteps.

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PRAYER
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O Lord, help us follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Let us humbly and diligently work to restore legal protection for the unborn, the disabled, the medically dependent and all innocent children of God whose lives are threatened.

Let us remember the old adage that “He can never lead who has not first learned to obey.”

And, Lord, grant us a peaceful heart as we labor in your name, 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/spring2010day20print.pdf

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As we hit the midway point of this 40 Days for Life, let’s double our efforts and finish strong!

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What great things are happening with the 40 Days for Life campaign in your community? Please share the good news by replying below.