An ordinary day of sidewalk counseling in Fairview Heights, Illinois quickly took a dark turn.
"I'm a funeral director...I'm here to pick up a baby," said a woman arriving to a Planned Parenthood mega-facility.
"You read that correctly," said longtime 40 Days for Life leader Brian Westbrook, who oversees campaigns in Fairview Heights and nearby St. Louis, Missouri. "A funeral home vehicle left the abortion facility bearing a small, heartbreaking treasure--the body of a child who will not live to grow up."
Within hours, another funeral home car showed up...and then another.
By the end of the day, three funeral home vehicles from two different funeral homes arrived at Planned Parenthood. Each departed the abortion facility with a small package bearing the remains of an aborted baby.
"We mourn for these children and all those lost to abortion," Brian said. "And yet, we keep the faith, that through our continued witness and work for life we may bring an END to abortion..."
Manhattan, New York
The Manhattan 40 Days for Life team launched a second vigil location--and the security guard at the new site is not happy about it.
"He started taking pictures of me with his cell phone and using his radio [to call] someone," reported a Manhattan vigil participant, who was repeatedly questioned about what she was doing on the sidewalk.
When efforts to intimidate the vigil participant into going home failed, the police showed up.
"Are you from 40 Days for Life?" the officer asked the prayer warrior.
But when the volunteer said, "Yes," the police officer simply smiled politely and said, "OK."
Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi 40 Days for Life leader Tobias is looking to prevent abortions long before women ever considering having them.
He and his team engage in chastity outreach to help make sure young women don't find themselves contemplating abortion. Tobias recently took his message to the radio.
He's also actively educating area university students on the harms of abortion and the benefits of chastity.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
— Ephesians 4:31-32
Dearest God, You tell us in Proverbs that the foolish and the wicked lack wisdom and understanding. I pray you will trouble the souls of those in the abortion industry so that they hunger for truth and cry out for freedom.
