Thank you to everyone who has come out to pray at 40 Days for Life vigils. If you haven’t had a chance yet, why not go out today?

Saturdays are the busiest days of the week at many abortion centers. Perhaps the Lord is calling YOU to step out in faith today at one of the 261 campaign locations.

Recently, I was in Florida and Texas, where they had one thing they don’t have at many of those 261 locations — warm weather!

In fact, in many cities it’s downright cold. Here are some thoughts — and pictures — from people enduring cold weather with warm hearts.

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CINCINNATI, OHIO
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It was “ever so cold” when volunteers bundled up and gathered together for a nighttime prayer vigil outside Planned Parenthood with Bishop Joseph Binzer.

“We give thanks to all who’ve been able to tolerate the cold and join us in prayer throughout the campaign,” said Theresa in Cincinnati. “Thanks to all who’ve answered the call to stand united in prayer to end abortion.”

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WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK
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Gerald thanked “over 30 hardy pro-lifers fired up White Plains despite the chilly weather. Thank you for showing up and witnessing to the dignity of human life. You are making a difference!”

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ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
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Haylee prayed at the 40 Days for Life in Anchorage … concerned not with the cold, but by what she witnessed: “Young women, in a continual stream, entered the doors with sad faces and left missing the soul of their child they carried in with them.”

She prayed for those young women, but also that more “men and women of courage” would answer God’s call to join the vigil.

“My prayer is that the place of darkness might be turned to light, from despair to hope, from brokenness to wholeness, and from death to life,” she said.

“My prayer is also that Christ will convict the hearts of His Church to stand in the gap for the unborn. Don’t let another woman enter that facility without having someone there praying for her!”

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SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
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“I saw one person praying out in front of Planned Parenthood the other day,” said Pastor Matt Haag in Sioux Falls, “and my first thought was I wish there were more! But in all reality, God is there even if no one is out praying. And perhaps when I see no one there, God is actually calling me!

“I pray that you are called to take a stand, to see God at work first hand. Please join us praying to end abortion!”

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Has overcoming challenges been one of the blessings at your 40 Days for Life campaign? If you have any good news to share, please comment below.

In yesterday’s message, I talked about prayer volunteers being the first sign of mercy a woman sees after an abortion. But it is also true that on the sidewalks outside the abortion centers, you’re the last sign of hope for the women going in for an abortion.

In many cases, you’re the ONLY sign of hope. And sometimes, that one sign is all that is needed.

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ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS
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“On the second day of our 10th campaign in Attleboro, a young couple left the abortion clinic and drove across the street to where a group of our vigil volunteers were praying,” said Ron in Attleboro.

The couple said, “Thank you! We didn’t do it” — and drove happily away.

“Since Massachusetts laws allow for a large buffer zone near the clinic, we have little opportunity to engage with those who come to the clinic considering abortion,” Ron explained.

“Those present were surprised and deeply overjoyed at the news. This save is a blessing on our campaign and we continue to pray for many more in the days ahead.”

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
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Trudi in Melbourne reports that on the first day of the campaign, prayer volunteers were able to help a young mother choose life. If she had come to the abortion center the day before, there would have been no one praying outside at that hour.

Two days later, another young mother left looking very upset. “She was comforted at the gate by a counselor,” Trudi said. “Again, this was in the afternoon when no one is normally present to offer help. She was six months pregnant and the abortionist would not do late term abortions.”

She was too scared to tell her mother. She had been pregnant once before, and her mother insisted on an abortion. “Miraculously,” Trudi said, “the father saved that baby at the eleventh hour.” The mother who demanded an abortion is now the loving grandmother of a 2-year-old boy.

“But the miracles continue,” she said. The abortion center counselor DID NOT direct her to a late term abortion facility, but to a pro-life pregnancy help agency. “Unbelievable!”

The 40 Days for Life team is looking for a place for the young woman to stay. She is still too scared to tell her mother.

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URGENT PERSONAL PRAYER REQUEST
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Before today’s devotional, I have an urgent prayer request for a friend — someone who was instrumental in getting 40 Days for Life started. His name is Dr. Royal Benson, and he is fighting for his life at this moment.

For the last 13 years, Royal has served on the board of directors (ten of those years as chairman of the board) of the Coalition for Life, the organization in Bryan/College Station, Texas where 40 Days for Life began. His support and enthusiasm were instrumental in launching the first local campaign, and he helped with the expansion of 40 Days for Life to a national, and then international, effort.

He is a gifted OB-GYN, and was doctor to my wife and David Bereit’s wife. He delivered David’s son and three of my children when we lived in Texas. He is also a dear friend of Abby Johnson and her husband Doug, and delivered their baby boy last summer.

Dr. Benson is only 56 years old and is battling a serious respiratory crisis and is in ICU on a ventilator. Please pray for strength for this pro-life hero and dear friend, his wife, and his daughter during their difficult time.

Here’s the link for today’s devotional.

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: What’s the latest news about 40 Days for Life in your community? If you have stories to tell, please respond below.

We have gotten a lot of emails asking, “What kind of impact is the 40 Days for Life book having?”

Most importantly, the feedback has been very moving from everyone — from those who’ve had abortions … to volunteers … to people who had never before heard of 40 Days for Life and are now getting involved in a pro-life activity for the first time.

A recent report from Amazon.com displayed YOUR enthusiasm for the new book. It’s currently listed as top-rated in five categories…

• Christian Living: #2
• Christianity: #2
• Religion & Spirituality: #3
• Non-fiction: #4
• ALL Kindle e-books: #5

The success of the book continues to inspire hearts and send a strong message to the abortion industry. To build upon this momentum, you can do a few things:

1. Participate in your local campaign
2. Get the book from major book outlets or at
   http://40daysforlife.com/book
3. Call your local bookstores and ask them to carry the book

The book reveals what can happen through prayer when there is both hope and mercy in the most unexpected places –- the sidewalks outside abortion facilities.

Today’s devotional focuses on mercy … as do these stories from the sidewalk.

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FORT COLLNS, COLORADO
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“What do you get out of this?”

The question, from a young man smoking a cigarette outside the Planned Parenthood building, was directed at the volunteers who offered him an information card.

“We do not get anything,” replied Scott, one of the volunteers. “We are here to help you.”

So the man told his story. He has a two-year-old daughter … but his wife was inside for an abortion. “Everyone should have a choice,” the man insisted — throughout all nine months of pregnancy.

As the two men continued to talk, the young father said, “I have seen other protesters, but you are different.”

The man finally took the card Scott had offered him — it includes information about post-abortive help.

“When his wife came over to get him,” said Linda in Fort Collins, “her eyes revealed the pain in her soul. It is this pain that we so much pray to prevent from happening.”

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ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA
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Paula shared some thoughts after arriving back home after prayer in front of Planned Parenthood.

“The temperature says 12 degrees, but it feels like -3,” she said. “Cold fingers, cold nose, cold toes — but nothing is as cold and numb as what is happening behind closed doors.”

More babies died. More women were permanently scarred. “And the world seemingly, unknowingly, continues on … rushing by in traffic, shopping, eating, exercising and working right in close proximity to the destruction.”

Paula said it breaks her heart to see the women’s faces when they come out of those doors — changed forever. “Lord, I pray they find healing someday,” she said. “When will this destruction of life come to an end?”

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CANTON, OHIO
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“Sometimes I get frustrated and wonder why I go to Planned Parenthood,” said Linda in Canton. “It is like, what have I accomplished? Then God, in His great wisdom, gives me a clue.”

Linda was praying with two other volunteers when one began telling a personal story about an abortion experience. “We could see the pain in their eyes,” she said. “Although many years have passed, the pain was still there, the loss remained.”

Linda had just been praying — and trying to keep her feet warm. “And then a person shared a part of their past — and I was there to reach out and hug a fellow pro-lifer in need of understanding.”

She felt that God put the three of them there together that day to fulfill His plan. “What is God’s plan for you this week?”

For information about healing after abortion, see Rachel’s Vineyard.

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: If you have stories to share about the 40 Days for Life campaign in your town, please leave a comment below.

The first time I was invited to pray outside of an abortion facility, I didn’t really want to do it. Like me, many people’s initial reaction is to find the most heartfelt and sincere excuse. However, when we overcome that first natural hesitation and just do it, we don’t regret it. And it’s never what we thought it would be like.

When you pray outside an abortion facility at a 40 Days for Life vigil, you may affect women going into the building … the people driving by … the people who work there.

But there’s one other person your prayer experience can affect — YOU!

Here are just a few examples from the sidewalk.

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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA
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“Today I prayed for three hours in front of the Planned Parenthood in Chapel Hill,” a volunteer wrote on the 40 Days for Life blog. “The steady stream of people going in and out, the sometimes packed parking lot, other people walking in from nearby parking lots and streets, was heartbreaking.”

People outside the building generally ignored him, he said — except for two men holding babies. Whenever he looked their way, he could tell they had been looking at them. But they would quickly glance away, trying to avoid making eye contact. Why were they there? What were they thinking?

The volunteer just continued to pray. “I prayed for babies to be saved, for mothers and family members to have a change of heart and find real help elsewhere, for workers to be convicted and quit” — anything to stop what was going on inside.

“I prayed with a small stone cross in my hand, the word ‘hope’ written on it,” he said. “I pray that those considering abortion will find real hope, real help and real life in Christ.”

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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
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Another volunteer, praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Sacramento, was also seeking signs of hope.

“The clinic faces two streets,” she wrote in a 40 Days for Life blog posting. “One is a very busy — Alta Arden Way — with many cars whizzing by in both directions. The other is Wright Street, which is a far more quiet street. Our opportunity to witness is greater on the Wright Street.”

As she and others were praying together, they noticed the abortion center’s sign was in “utter disrepair. I hoped that it meant that as the clinic was losing business and … that this battered sign meant hope that soon no preborn babies would lose their lives at this location.”

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KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN
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“It was an abortion day in Kalamazoo,” a third prayer volunteer wrote. “I was new to the sidewalk.”

She had prayed at home during several campaigns, but she said the daily 40 Days for Life emails — plus God’s prompting — convinced her she had to do more.

As she and several others prayed outside Planned Parenthood, a large truck pulled up and a man got out. “He thanked us for being there and for praying,” she said. “He explained that his oldest child was aborted. All these years later he still carried that pain and loss. He lived the tragedy.”

He thanked the volunteers again, then drove away.

“If I had any doubts of my need to be there, they were instantly gone,” she wrote. “God sent the guy in the big truck to tell me that my presence mattered. God keeps showing me that our presence on the sidewalk matters.”

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

As we begin the second week of this 40 Days for Life, let’s pray that God continues to pour out His rich blessings on everyone involved!

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.

Planned Parenthood — which received $538 MILLION of your tax dollars and performed 333,964 abortions in one year alone — operates the largest abortion facility in the western hemisphere in Houston.

Of the 261 communities participating in this 40 Days for Life campaign, 127 of them are holding their peaceful vigils in the public right-of-way next to facilities run by Planned Parenthood, the biggest abortion chain in the United States — including the one deep in the heart of Texas that I just visited.

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HOUSTON, TEXAS
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The 40 Days for Life vigil takes place outside of this monster-sized, 78,000 square foot building. As I explained in the new “40 Days for Life” book, Planned Parenthood secretly used a different name to buy this massive former bank building and turn it into a late-term abortion facility.

What they underestimated was the size of the pro-life response.

The location makes it very difficult to place a pregnancy center nearby to offer free alternatives, so Christine Melchor, the local 40 Days for Life leader and the director of the Houston Coalition for Life, went to work.

Christine and her team had a pregnancy center put on wheels in a large, state-of-the-art bus — equipped with a nurse and ultrasound machine — where hundreds of lives have been saved from that building

Christine is a dedicated pro-life hero … and her story in chapter 32 of the 40 Days for Life book shows what can happen when we trust God — even when the largest abortion facility in North America comes to our community.

If you haven’t picked it up already, you can get the book at http://40daysforlife.com/book

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RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO
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“Wow!” said Jen in Rio Rancho, a community which is conducting its first 40 Days for Life campaign.

“We have been able to attract some attention while standing up for life,” she said. Many people are just curious. And the reactions from passers-by? “Both positive and not-so-positive.“

Jen spoke to a young woman outside, telling her about Planned Parenthood’s abortion numbers and taxpayer funding. The woman said she didn’t believe in abortion, but was there for healthcare purposes.

“I encouraged her to seek the services of an OB/GYN rather than give any money to Planned Parenthood,” Jen explained. “She was thankful for the information.”

Jen said she appreciates everyone who has stepped out of their comfort zone to pray at the vigil. “As we shine His light in this dark culture, there will always be a backlash. I am so proud of everyone for standing firm.”

Here’s the link for today’s devotional.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Any miracles at your 40 Days for Life vigil? Please share them with everyone by posting a comment below.

It’s the first Monday of this 40 Days for Life.

And Monday is the day when we report to you on lives that have been saved from abortion thus far during this campaign … but first I have a special surprise for you!

You can instantly download the “Day 6″ chapter of the brand-new 40 Days for Life book (in PDF format) — FREE!

The chapter tells the riveting story of a life saved from abortion at the last possible second — and is the chapter about which we’ve received the most positive feedback. It will bless the start of your week!

Every life saved through 40 Days for Life is due to two things:

1. The grace of God
2. The faithfulness of His people

And the “Day 6″ chapter reveals that powerfully. Enjoy!

Now, here’s the report on some of the 47 lives saved thus far — that we know of — during this campaign.

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ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
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“Through your prayers and the efforts of people just like you on the sidewalk we’ve seen three women leave the Planned Parenthood abortion facility today, not getting abortions,” said Brian, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in St. Louis — and that happened just in the first few hours of Day 1!

“One young couple walked right past the prayer volunteers and sidewalk counselor, but just 10 minutes later they walked out looking for some help,” he said. A counselor took a few minutes with them and found out she was pregnant. The young woman was, however, open to other options.

Brian said the counselor “was able to escort this young couple over to our friends at the mobile medical center right across the street to receive all the help they needed to choose life.”

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BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
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Terri in Bakersfield shared the story of a young woman who drove more than an hour — by herself — for an RU-486 abortion.

The woman speaks Spanish — but Terri only knows a few words in the language. Thankfully, among the prayer volunteers were several who are fluent in Spanish and quickly offered to help.

The volunteers were able to tell the woman that they loved her — and loved her baby. “At first, she was stone faced,” Terri said, “but when one of the prayer ladies started crying, tears ran down her face!”

A few minutes later, a family with two small children introduced themselves to the young woman, “which melted her heart even more!”

The volunteers were able to offer assistance — baby gifts, gas money … and even the possibility of a place for her to live — “and a lot of hugs,” Terri added. “She left thanking us with a big smile and a grateful heart.”

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PENSACOLA, FLORIDA
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The day before the campaign started, Ernie in Pensacola received a new report of abortion numbers for Escambia County, the county in which Pensacola is located.

“The number of abortions continues to decline,” he said. In 2006 — the year before 40 Days for Life started — Escambia County recorded 2,659 abortions. The 2012 total was 1,645 — more than 1,000 fewer abortions each year!

“Through your faithful witness, prayer, fasting and the grace of God, we have observed a 38% drop in the number of abortions in Pensacola since the start of 40 Days for Life,” Ernie said. “Praise be to God!”

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Once you download the Day 6 chapter and read it, please reply to this email and let me know what you think!

And to order the book, all you have to do is go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/book.

It was just last month that I heard the annual grumbling about the way the national media ignored the March for Life — when “only” about half a million pro-life people gathered in Washington, DC.

But when you compare national and local media, it’s like night and day. And this means MANY people are hearing about 40 Days for Life for the first time.

The secular media usually expects a 40 Days for Life vigil to be filled with angry Christians. When the local reporters arrive, however, they see the real story — which is quite different from the stereotype. This often results in excellent — and fair — media coverage.

Here are just a few examples:

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ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA
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The 40 Days for Life campaign was covered in the St. Cloud Times this week. “This is a first for us and a major breakthrough in people finding out about 40 Days For Life,” said Judy in St. Cloud.

“Our focus is prayer,” Jan, a prayer volunteer, told the reporter. “This is one way to witness to the public how we feel about building a culture of life. I believe very strongly in life, and I believe abortion should be ended,” she said.

She invited people to join the vigil — but to come prepared, since there was snow in the forecast with temperatures promising to dip well below freezing.

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BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
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Birmingham’s Fox affiliate, WBRC-TV, interviewed Ed Carrick, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator.

The reporter noted that “this is going to be a peaceful movement with no yelling or screaming. They simply want to offer alternatives to abortions.”

Ed talked about his experiences when he first began praying outside the local abortion center.

“I watched as the women come out; they were pretty much devastated,” he said. “Some were in pain. They were definitely at a loss for why they were there and what’s happening to them.

“And I guess to see the pain and suffering in their face, I said I would really like to do something about this, so I kept coming.”

Ed added that churches in the Birmingham community have raised money to fund pro-life pregnancy centers so clients can be supported financially, spiritually, emotionally and medically.

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BRIGHTON, ENGLAND
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The Brighton campaign received coverage in a local newspaper, The Argus, which published the photo above.

Caroline Hubert, the Brighton campaign coordinator, told the reporter that society is in the midst of an abortion crisis.

The paper interviewed an abortion center spokesman who complained that vigil participants “intimidated” clients. The photo accompanying the article shows a young woman, smiling and holding 40 Days for Life pamphlets.

“There is no intimidation,” Caroline said. “It’s peaceful — and any person who is taking part has to sign a statement of peace. We’re there to pray, we’re not there for anything else.”

She noted that there were 4,000 abortions in the Brighton and Hove area each year. That equals more than two classrooms of schoolchildren … aborted every WEEK.

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

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Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Have you received any special blessings as a result of your 40 Days for Life participation? If so, please share them by posting a reply below.

This week marked the beginning of 40 Days for Life vigils in many places. But one particular location has inspired many. Five years ago, I couldn’t have predicted 40 Days for Life going beyond the United States. But it did!

Even as God has taken this campaign to other countries, I would have never imagined that Moscow would ever launch 40 Days for Life. But on Wednesday of this week, that’s exactly what happened.

The international reach of 40 Days for Life keeps growing, with 24 locations outside the United States this time, including the first-ever sites in Wales, Nigeria and South Africa in addition to Russia.

There are 261 locations in all. So please get involved in the closest campaign.

Here’s a look at just a few of the countries hosting 40 Days for Life.

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA
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Pastors and their congregations from seven different churches in Moscow have each agreed to take one day a week to pray at the vigil. They’ve also opened up their churches for people who wish to pray.

“I see a great grace for this campaign,” said Arevik, the campaign coordinator. “I have met a lot of young and talented persons from my church whom I didn’t know before. They are writing about abortion … and care about human life.”

According to a report released recently, the number of abortions in Russia exceeds the number of live births.

“It is so painful to hear from women that had abortions before they met Jesus,” Arevik said. “Russia needs to be healed from this spiritual disease.”

Please keep this campaign — and this entire nation — in your prayers these next 40 days.

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AUSTRALIA
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There are seven 40 Days for Life campaigns in progress in Australia (where it is currently summertime), stretching from coast to coast. It may be halfway around the world from the United States, but the problems are the same … and so are the answers.

“I have been moved by the prayerfulness and commitment of the hundreds of people involved giving witness to Christ’s love, with many being young adults,” said Bishop Julian Porteous of Sydney, one of many Australian religious leaders commending the 40 Days for Life mission.

“In light of the rising attacks on life, faith and family,” he said, “this loving witness is needed all the more.”

The Australian team produced the excellent video posted above. I really recommend that you take a look! The message applies … wherever you’re praying and fasting for an end to abortion.

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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
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“The first day in Cape Town was exciting and long,” said Colette, the local coordinator. “This morning there were lots of teenagers going to school and taking pamphlets and asking questions. We got a very positive response from the community.”

The prayer volunteers did receive a few negative comments, but Colette said it was nothing to worry about.

“We have stood at this abortion centre before,” she said, “but what I have noticed today was that the number of clients has declined.” On this particular day at the Marie Stopes facility, there were only four clients.

“The clinic got very upset with us and wanted us to move,” Colette said, “but we had a permit with us that stated we will be there till 24 March.”

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: As always, if you have a story to share about the blessings of 40 Days for Life, please post a reply below.

Today’s post is different from most of our updates.

In chapter 36 of the new 40 Days for Life book, I write about the notorious abortionist LeRoy Carhart.

In that chapter, I tell about Carhart’s aggressive late-term abortion business, my interesting experience with him on an airplane … and the inspiring story of 40 Days for Life volunteers responding to his new late-term abortion facility in Germantown, Maryland.

What is not in the book, however, is what happened last week.

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GERMANTOWN, MARYLAND
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Every abortion ends a life. An abortion that took place right before this campaign began ended two.

Germantown has just started its fifth 40 Days for Life vigil outside a facility where LeRoy Carhart travels each week to perform late-term abortions.

According to several reports, Jennifer Morbelli arrived in at the abortion center in Germantown on February 3. She was a 29-year-old teacher from White Plains, New York. She was also 33 weeks pregnant … and had named her child Madison.

The reports state that Madison was being welcomed into the family — the family had set up an online gift register of requested baby items. But then, Jennifer was told her child had significant physical anomalies and she was advised to have an abortion.

Because of the very late stage of the pregnancy, the abortion was a multi-day procedure. She arrived at the abortion center each day, four days in a row … and each day, sidewalk counselors say she looked progressively weaker.

Finally, on February 7, she was taken to a hospital emergency room early in the morning … but the doctors could not save her. At 10 am, she was pronounced dead.

Even the Washington Post reported on this story, noting that Maryland’s chief medical officer and the local police are investigating Jennifer’s death … at the same time when Maryland’s attorney general has just launched a criminal investigation of Carhart on an unrelated matter — primarily related to illegal dumping, possibly of human fetal remains.

Michael Martelli, a 40 Days for Life leader who serves as director of the Maryland Coalition for Life, is calling on the state to close the abortion center and to suspend or revoke Carhart’s medical license. For now, the business remains open.

The volunteers in Germantown will have much to pray about over these 40 days. Yet there is always hope.

David Bereit, 40 Days for Life’s national director, attended the 40 Days for Life kickoff event in Germantown last fall — and met a baby who had been spared from abortion at Carhart’s facility.

The mother showed up for her abortion appointment, but the building was not yet open. As people prayed on the sidewalk as part of 40 Days for Life, one of the volunteers asked the woman if she needed help. They directed her to the pro-life pregnancy resource center across the street, where she was told about the many support services available and encouraged to keep her baby.

She did — and at the Germantown rally, she said it was because the morning she had been scheduled for an abortion, she was surrounded by love — love from the 40 Days for Life volunteers and love from the pregnancy center workers.

God’s love can overcome even the most profound darkness. Let us continue to pray for His mercy.

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

Yours for Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Have a story to share of how you’ve seen God working through 40 Days for Life? Post a reply below.

After just the first day of this 40 Days for Life campaign, many locations are reporting record turnouts for their opening events — and babies SAVED from abortion!

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ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
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More than 500 people – including families with their children – came to stand and pray outside Planned Parenthood as part of the Orange County kickoff.

“As the prayer ended, we witnessed the first baby saved of this 40 Days for Life 2013 campaign,” said Alejandra in Orange County. “A woman came out of Planned Parenthood and as we approached her, she told us that she couldn’t abort her baby. She had tears in her eyes. All glory to God!”

The prayer volunteers learned that the woman was in her seventh week of pregnancy. She has four other children and thought her family didn’t have sufficient resources to care for the new baby.

“We reassured her that this life was precious and wanted by God – and that we would be there for her and help her,” Alejandra said. “With God, everything is possible.”

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LANSING, MICHIGAN
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A record turnout of more than 170 at the 40 Days for Life kickoff event showed the local pro-life effort is going strong. As was the case in California, there was a strong family presence.

“Collaboration is what we need to focus on,” said Cecilia Tombelli, the local campaign director. “Alone we will not succeed. But with God – and by working together – we will.”

A representative of Right to Life of Michigan shared encouraging news. Five Michigan abortion centers have closed in the past 15 months, including a facility in Lansing – a closure that followed a three-year prayer effort.

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FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA
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David Bereit, 40 Days for Life’s national director, helped kick off the tenth campaign in Fairfax – a community in Northern Virginia, not far from Washington, DC.

At an event near the abortion center where the peaceful vigil will be held, David encouraged the volunteers to accept a challenge – 40 hours of prayer at the vigil over the next 40 days.

“Many of us put in 40 hours a week – or more – at work. Students put in around 40 hours a week on their schooling,” he said, “and we do that every week! Why can’t we make the sacrifice of coming out to pray 40 hours over these 40 days? It could be one hour every day – or two hours every other day. We know the need for prayer – here outside the abortion center – is great.”

Here’s the list of cities where 40 Days for Life is taking place. Click on the one nearest you – and sign up for the vigil!

Here’s the link to today’s devotional.

In Christ,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

PS: Is the 40 Days for Life campaign in your city getting off to a fast start? Please share any stories about the local campaign by leaving a comment below.