GREAT news and prayer request
Thursday, April 24th, 2008Several breaking news items for you, and at the end I have a personal prayer request.
Let’s start with the AMAZING news…
ABORTION CLINIC CLOSES FOLLOWING 40 DAYS FOR LIFE!
The e-mail from Jose, the campaign leader of the spring 2008 Rockland County, New York, 40 Days for Life began with the words: “Mine eyes have seen the Glory of the Lord!!!”
The message went on to share the breaking news about the first abortion facility in the United States to SHUT DOWN following a local 40 Days for Life campaign!
Jose said, “Our prayers have been answered!” He had said his group would not stop until the last abortion facility in the area was closed. “The last is now gone thanks to the 40 Days for Life 24/7 vigil at 200 East Eckerson Road, New City, New York.”
Jose also went on to credit the faithfulness of many local people who have been praying at that abortion facility for many years.
According to Richard, another local 40 Days for Life leader, “The Almighty has blessed us with an awesome victory.” The abortion center announced it will be closing this Friday, April 25.
That’s TOMORROW.
Our family visited this 40 Days for Life site during their campaign — joining them at night in the snow as they held their vigil by candlelight.
As soon as I heard the news, I dug up the photo I snapped when we were there…
… And you will NEVER believe what message was on the sign of one of their young prayer volunteers!
Look at the photo for yourself:
Two Planned Parenthood facilities — where 40 Days for Life campaigns were held — have unexpectedly stopped doing abortions: in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa.
I was in Council Bluffs a few weeks ago on a Saturday — the regular day for abortions there.
When we arrived outside the Planned Parenthood, the prayer volunteers were shocked that the facility was completely closed for the day.
According to a follow-up email sent by Christine, a local 40 Days for Life volunteer and director of a Christian pregnancy center across the street from Planned Parenthood:
“The Saturday before you came was March 29th, and there have been no abortions since then. Phone calls to PP have been made. They say they are no longer doing abortions. I stand in awe of the greatness of the mercy of God!!!!!!!!”
Pam, leader of the 40 Days for Life in Lincoln, e-mailed me, “Praise God our Planned Parenthood did not do abortions the last two Fridays and a phone call revealed that at the moment they are ‘not doing abortions in Lincoln.’”
Leaders in both locations are unsure of the reason for the cessation, but they suspect it is because no abortionist is available (since both facilities previously shared the same abortionist.)
Whatever the reason, Pam sent me this wonderful update about a life saved as a result:
“I received a phone call from a pro-life friend who works for a local OB/Gyn. A woman came to their office and told them that she had an appointment scheduled with PP Lincoln and that they called and canceled her appointment because ‘the doctor was not available’”
Pam finished by saying, “The woman took this as a sign from God that she should not have an abortion and has committed to having her baby!!! Wow our prayers are answered!”
BABIES BORN WHO WERE SAVED DURING 40 DAYS FOR LIFE
The seeds of faith planted during the fall 2007 campaign are now bearing fruit as we are starting to get reports of babies being born who were spared from abortion by the 40 Days for Life.
Here are just a few…
1.) Wynette, leader of the SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA campaign writes: “Some very good news… sidewalk counselor, Jennifer, who during the 40 Days for Life compassionately assisted a young woman she met in front of Planned Parenthood in downtown Sacramento, e-mailed me joyfully announcing that a baby boy was born recently as a result of the prayerful presence! Thanks and praise be to God! Jennifer happily adds ‘we are becoming like family’ with regards to herself, new Mom, and new baby. Your prayers are still needed, however, as the baby boy weighs only 2.5 pounds, though the doctors say he is doing GREAT, so we are very, very thankful that Jennifer was able to help a young Mother choose LIFE for her child!”
2.) While doing an interview a few nights ago on the “NextWave Live” show on EWTN radio, host Stephanie Wood told me that a baby was recently born in GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, after being saved from abortion by the local 40 Days for Life campaign. The baby was named Bella!
3.) A few days ago, I shared with you the story related by a pastor in PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, about a baby spared from abortion by the 40 Days for Life effort. A follow-up message from Joanne, the local campaign leader included a 4D ultrasound picture of Baby Robert at 26 weeks in the womb. Here it is:
We have reviewed the 2,181 surveys submitted with input on where this national effort needs to go from here.
Your insights were eye-opening, and two things became crystal clear to us:
1.) This fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign is going to be a blockbuster effort, requiring a massive scaling-up effort on the part of the national team.
2.) There is a tremendous need to build on the momentum following a 40 Days for Life. Tools and training are desperately needed to educate, equip, and empower local people to establish and/or grow pro-life efforts to “fight the good fight” for the long haul.
These are HUGE opportunities…
…But so are the daunting challenges we will have to face.
Why God has given such an enormous mission to a fledgling little effort like 40 Days for Life is beyond me.
Our national team is made up of only one employee (me — with a tiny office in the corner of my bedroom) and our handful of dedicated volunteers have worked round the clock without receiving a nickel of compensation.
And to top it all off, we’re flat broke.
At the conclusion of this spring’s 40 Days for Life, there was exactly $351 in our organization account, and we have received no funding since that time.
(Isn’t it just like God to give us an opportunity to stretch our faith while doing His work?)
Bottom line — you’ve made it very clear that we have an opportunity to “strike while the iron is hot” and make a decisive impact that could mark the beginning of the end of abortion in America…
…And with much prayer and planning, we are almost ready to announce an aggressive strategic plan to do just that…
…But I have to be totally honest and tell you that we can’t do it on our own.
We’re going to need your prayers and your help.
Next Tuesday, watch your inbox for an e-mail from me with the subject line “Major announcement.”
In that message, I’ll let you know when we will be unveiling the big plans for the rest of 2008 and how you can help make a lifesaving impact.
In the meantime, our national team, my family, and I would deeply appreciate your prayers.
The best is yet to come!
In Christ,
David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
P.S.- Several people e-mailed to say that they didn’t get the reports from my visit last week to the White House for the Pope’s arrival ceremony. It was an amazing day, and the pictures and audio reports are now all posted online at:
