?Long story short,? said Toni, the 40 Days for Life leader in Winston-Salem, ?prayer works! Baby saved! Keep it going!?

Toni said there was a steady stream of prayer witnesses coming to the sidewalk ? but there was also a steady stream of clients going into Planned Parenthood with abortion appointments. ?Unfortunately,? she said, ?there were more of them than there were of us. But that did not hinder the prayers and efforts to reach out to moms and dads.?

One couple with a young son came to ask for directions to Planned Parenthood. They were given information about a life-affirming pregnancy center and other helpful resources. They left, but returned shortly to say they?d decided against abortion ? and they drove away.

However, the volunteers were devastated when they came back and went inside Planned Parenthood. They exited after about 15 minutes. ?We have no idea why they went back in but they did not stay and we?re confident they chose life,? Toni said. ?Thanks be to God!?

The vigil is getting reactions from people ? and not just the ones at Planned Parenthood. There?s a doctor in the area who?s convinced vigil participants are parking in his lot. He took pictures of cars that did not belong to his patients ? and he called the police to complain.

It turns out the cars belonged to patients of another doctor, and they couldn?t park in their own doctor?s lot because Planned Parenthood patients were taking up all the spaces there.

The vigil volunteers, of course, were all properly and legally parked ? and their behavior was entirely proper. ?His silent harassment -- stalking and photographing -- is useless as we are always on the public sidewalk and have a permit,? Toni explained.

David Brandao, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

With 40 Days for Life, David wears many hats. Prior to joining the 40 Days for Life team, he was an award-winning radio and TV journalist. He has also served as a board member for a pregnancy help center and as publications director for a major national pro-life organization.