A cold start across much of the United States — weather delays forced me to miss Monday’s kickoff event in Orlando. I finally got to Florida in time for other campaign events. More on that in a bit.
First, I can’t wait to share with you the news of a tremendous setback for Planned Parenthood!
Columbia, Missouri
Kathy had wanted to deliver the huge news at Columbia’s kickoff rally on Sunday. But the ice and snow were just too much, so she had to settle for email.
For volunteers who’ve prayed outside the local abortion center for years, her message was both a big victory and an answered prayer: “Columbia Planned Parenthood cannot do abortions in their facility!”
Kathy had learned that Planned Parenthood no longer had a license for abortions in Columbia and had been removed from the state listing of abortion facilities. Planned Parenthood quietly changed its web site to show that it now offers only abortion referrals.
“The big giant has admitted its downgrade,” Kathy said. “Please join us in thanking God for His mighty blessing, a blessing which came after nine 40 Days for Life prayer vigils. Wow!”
The only licensed abortion center in all of Missouri now is Planned Parenthood in St. Louis — where, of course, there’s a 40 Days for Life vigil now under way.
The vigil will continue in Columbia as well. Babies are still being saved there, thanks to God’s mercy ... and the prayers of the volunteers on the sidewalk.
Lakeland, Florida
After my flight was delayed and then re-routed to Tampa, I jumped in a rental car to try to catch the last half of the kickoff event in Lakeland. As I got there late, I was so excited to still see 80 volunteers at 8:30 pm, holding candles and keeping vigil on the dark sidewalk in front of the abortion facility.
The community has really come together with the leadership of Maryanne and her husband, Rick. Leaders of other ministries … including the Diocese of Orlando, Couples for Christ, and the local pregnancy center that’s not far from the abortion facility … were all there to kick off the campaign.
Devotional for Day 2, March 6, 2014
Kevin Burke, Executive Director, Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries
Intention: May the King of the Universe, who en- tered this world as a helpless infant, give us the humility to be healed.
Scripture: My power is made perfect in weakness. —2 Corinthians 12:9
Reflection: The great mystery of the Humility of God is very near and dear to the mission of those serving in pro life and in a special way, post abortion ministries across this nation. For those wounded by their participation in abortion, the door to healing of- ten feels like crossing an abyss of great fear: fear of judgment, fear of being torn apart by the pain, by self hatred and rage at those who hurt and abandoned you, and manipulated you in your time of temptation. For men in particular, entering the un- known waters of emotional vulnerability, so necessary to healing calls for a different kind of courage that feels deceptively like weakness. The door to healing is humility. It is born in the inability to no longer control the pain, to live with the consequences of that tragic decision to reject life. The hearts cries out, “I have com- mitted a grave offense against my Creator and I am consumed by regret, grief and sorrow!”
During these forty days let us pray for all who have participated in abortion and with love call them to healing and reconciliation. With healing these women and men can become as John Paul II proclaimed in the Gospel of Life, “the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life.” Jesus proclaimed, “I am the Vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5). To bear the greatest fruit, the branches must be pruned. Each level of pruning of the vine requires a deeper level of humility so that we can abandon ourselves to His will. This is not a lofty theological concept as much as it is an earthy experience of pulling weeds, tilling rocky soil, pruning and healing the vines. “If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and begin to follow in my footsteps” (Matthew 16:24).
Prayer: Lord, during these forty days, we ask that with each day of this sacred vigil, everything in us that separates us from your perfect will would be pruned from our hearts and souls. In this blessed freedom may we experience a powerful anointing of your Holy Spirit. Filled with confidence and trust may we proclaim with the mother of Jesus, “Let it be done to me, according to your Word.”