40 Days for Life -- March 1 -- April 9, 2017

40 Days for Life.com ^ | 02-28-17 | 40 Days for Life staff

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40 Days for Life is the largest internationally coordinated pro-life mobilization in history, helping people in local communities end the injustice of abortion through:

Prayer & Fasting

Knowing that “with God, all things are possible,” people of faith and conscience unite in 40 days of prayer and fasting

Community Outreach

The pro-life message is taken proactively to every corner of your community during a local 40 Days for Life campaign

Peaceful Vigil

A focused, 40-day, round-the-clock prayer vigil is held outside an abortion facility or public place in your city

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Starts tomorrow -- March 1, 2017!

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Cincinnati, Ohio

February 28, 2017

“Thanks to all who joined us in prayer for the kickoff!” said one of the local leaders, as the Cincinnati team started their 18th 40 Days for Life vigil.

Volunteers were reminded of the importance of coming together for life with hope of positive change for future generations. “We can be a voice for the unborn and pray for a change of heart throughout our nation and our world,” they were told.

“Please consider signing up for some time to pray during these upcoming 40 Days for Life,” said one of the Cincinnati team members. “your presence, prayers and outreach make a positive difference — and babies are saved throughout the campaign!”

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Augusta, Maine

February 28, 2017

Volunteers at the kickoff of Augusta’s tenth 40 Days for Life vigil stood and prayed next to huge piles of snow.

Janet, the local leader, was encouraged with both the turnout and the fact that there were at least “a few patches of grass peeking out of the snow.”

One of the speakers talked about about intercessary prayer. “Intercessary prayer is standing in the gap,” she said. “While standing in the gap we are like a bridge helping people get from where they are and where they need to be in God.”

Among the kickoff topics was the importance of fasting, with another speaker explaining the different types of fasting that volunteers can engage in during the campaign.

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Are you ready?

February 28, 2017

They’re sure ready for the new 40 Days for Life campaign that starts tomorrow in Shreveport, Louisiana!

Steve Karlen and I joined a big crowd of volunteers for their kickoff rally … and we learned this campaign is about to reach a landmark.

In eleven previous vigils, the team here is aware of 99 babies whose lives have been spared from abortion. The next will be Number 100!

Chris, the local in leader in Shreveport, says “The thing about 40 Days for Life is that they train you and then join you. Their leaders are at the vigils … and helping us lead campaigns. It all starts in the grassroots … and they get everywhere!”

The volunteers couldn’t wait to add their signatures to the sides of the 40 Days for Life bus … as well as the front, the back — any available space!

We never get tired of this sort of enthusiasm … and it’s much the same at each of the more than 340 locations where vigils will start tomorrow.

Have you found your local campaign yet? If not … it’s time!

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Find a location

https://40daysforlife.com/browse-campaigns/

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Pray for and end to abortion in front of an abortion clinic.

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DAY 1: First things first

March 1, 2017

It’s here!

40 Days for Life begins TODAY — in more than 340 locations across the United States and 29 other countries … and we need YOU!

Find the closest vigil location … and step forward in faith to pray and fast for an end to abortion.

And since it’s Day 1 … it’s important to put first things first. We cannot do this without God.

That’s why “First things first” is the title of this week’s edition of the 40 Days for Life podcast …

… and it stresses the importance of prayer in our hurry-up, activity driven culture:

https://40daysforlife.com/2017/02/28/podcast-61/

As Mother Teresa said, “I am not a social worker. I do this for Jesus.”

When we pray at an abortion facility we are representing the peace, mercy and joy of Christ in the darkest corners of our culture. If He comes first, then everything else will follow in its proper order.

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And abortion anywhere else, too, though abortion in front of an abortion clinic is a bit in-your-face.

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McAllen, Texas

March 1, 2017

“McAllen’s kickoff rally was one of the most fun 40 Days for Life events I’ve ever been a part of.”

That was the excited reaction of Steve Karlen, the 40 Days for Life North American campaign director.

The 40 Days for Life team members were enthusiastically welcomed to the event. “They had a big Ford-F150 and a formation of motorcycles escort us to the site where the crowd lined the streets with lights,” Steve said.

The McAllen planners outdid themselves, with a huge stage and a band. Bishop Daniel Flores prayed with the crowd. “A news team from Univision was there as well,” said Steve. “It was just amazing.”

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Schenectady, New York

March 1, 2017

Schenectady’s 40 Days for Life campaign got off to an encouraging start as the local team launched its ninth vigil.

The local Catholic bishop led prayer at the campaign’s kickoff event, which was covered by reporters from the Albany Times-Union.

“Primarily, we’re here to pray for and support those faced with a wrenching decision,” Bishop Edward Scharfenberger told the newspaper. “So many times, people face this decision alone.”

“We’re here to bring truth and hope for women and men who visit Planned Parenthood,” said Viviane, the local leader. The newspaper said she called the 40 Days for Life the “last defense” to try and direct women to nearby crisis pregnancy centers and helplines before go to Planned Parenthood for an abortion. “They have another choice, and the choice is life,” she said.

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DAY 2: Planned Parenthood in panic mode

March 2, 2017

Of the 340+ locations where peaceful 40 Days for Life prayer vigils are under way … more than 130 of them are outside Planned Parenthood offices.

And the Planned Parenthood boss is not having a good 2017.

In a recent interview, Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards indicated that because of the changing political climate in the United States, her organization is preparing for the worst-case scenario.

While Planned Parenthood insists that the half-billion dollars in taxpayer funding it receives every year does not pay for abortion … this cash props up the abortion giant, allowing it to remain in business.

While there is certainly a political side to all of this, there’s also a spiritual side. And the bottom line is that it’s time to pray — more fervently than ever — for an end to abortion.

Certainly that applies to those of you praying outside Planned Parenthood facilities … but it applies to all of us as well. All of our prayers — gathered together as one — can make an enormous difference!

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San Antonio, Texas

March 2, 2017

As the 40 Days for Life bus pulled up to the kickoff event outside Planned Parenthood in San Antonio, the team onboard was greeted in both English and Spanish.

And the greeting was returned in both languages.

“It was great to see so many Spanish-speaking volunteers,” said Steve Karlen, 40 Days for Life’s North American campaign director, “many of whom had come out to the sidewalk — to pray for an end to abortion — for the first time.”

San Antonio was one of the 89 cities that took part in the first nationally-coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign in 2007 … and this new vigil marks the 17th time this city has participated.

The enthusiasm remains high … and it’s always encouraging to see brand-new volunteers joining in the prayer and fasting at a well-established campaign.

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Columbia, Missouri

March 2, 2017

When the Columbia team kicked off their 40 Days for Life vigil with a march around the Planned Parenthood facility, they had some unexpected company.

Pro-abortion protesters joined them on the walk!

Some of them were costumed members of a group that calls itself the Guild of Silly Heathens.

Kathy, the local 40 Days for Life leader, said as the volunteers lined up for their march, the demonstrators got in line behind them — and started walking!

“They began to drop out after the first round,” she said, “and only a few were left at the end. They left with our silent prayers for conversion and sincere wishes for safe travels.”

Kathy said the entire event was peaceful, and there were no confrontations of any kind.

One of the local television stations covered the kickoff, with Kathy telling the reporter that 40 Days for Life volunteers will help connect women with life-affirming assistance.

“We’ll also be out here offering help to women who may be seeking an abortion, telling them where free resources are where they can seek alternatives and help,” she said.

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DAY 3: The Lord’s call for unity

March 3, 2017

By the grace of God, we see in the pro-life movement different faith communities coming together to defend the most innocent among us.

“Our kickoff was a very special anointed time!” wrote one of the 40 Days for Life team members in Atlanta, Georgia.

Volunteers gathered at First Alliance Church to prepare their hearts for the 40-day journey ahead.

“There were many beautiful Holy Spirit moments at our kickoff,” the Atlanta leader said, “but something that really delighted my heart was seeing Protestant and Catholic, black and white coming together in prayer to seek God’s heart and pray for our community. Already this shows the healing power of God that He longs to pour out everywhere!”

And that is just part of the beauty of 40 Days for Life!

We realize there are divisions among us … but we stand as one when it comes to petitioning our Father in heaven to put an end to the evil of abortion.

Take time today to seek Him in prayer — if possible, at one of the 340+ 40 Days for Life vigils around the world.

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Malaga, Spain

March 3, 2017

“The hours of prayer and fasting have begun in front of the Ginecenter abortion facility in Málaga,” said Juan, one of the local leaders in this Spanish city.

The volunteers are making good on their promise “to go out and give public testimony of the gospel and our faith in the darkest periphery of our society: the door to the abortion center, where the most defenseless are put to death — with the total indifference of so many.”

Malaga’s first 40 Days for Life vigil is dedicated to prayer for the conversion of abortion center workers, for women who think about abortion, for those who have already aborted and for the conversion of minds and hearts of stone within the community.

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Hallam, England

March 3, 2017

The Hallam-area 40 Days for Life vigil takes place outside a BPAS facility in Doncaster.

BPAS is one of the principal abortion chains in the United Kingdom.

The local team there passed a long a phone of “our wonderfully kind and gentle prayer volunteers who witnessed outside the BPAS late-term abortion center.”

According to the Hallam volunteers, more than 40 unborn children lose their lives at this location every week.

“We are interceding for these children and loving them in their greatest hour of need,” the team member said. “We are praying for their parents and families and for those who currently work at this BPAS clinic.”

The Hallam vigil is one of 11 taking place in the UK this spring.

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DAY 4: Great media coverage!

March 4, 2017

This week, the kickoff of the largest spring 40 Days for Life campaign ever — in 340+ cities — received great coverage from both secular and religious media!

We saw a number of excellent national and local stories … including a feature in The Washington Times.

WASHINGTON, DC

The vigil in front of the main Planned Parenthood location in Washington kicked off in the dark in a driving rain – with reporters from the Washington Times on hand to talk to participants.

Katie, the local leader, told the newspaper that their prayerful presence outside abortion centers saves lives. “And if our presence saves lives, shouldn’t we be out here as frequently as we can to make a difference?”

There are often signs that people are stopping to think about it before going in for an abortion. “It might be as subtle as a car driving up to the clinic and then slowing down and going past,” she said, “or it might be a couple walking in and out, and you don’t really know if they decided to go through with an abortion or not. But your presence does make a difference.”

Jeanne Mancini of the March for Life spoke at the kickoff, citing Scripture to the group gathered under umbrellas.

“The light came into the world, and the darkness did not overcome it,” she said. “Thank you for being that light. Thank you for being here. The darkness of Planned Parenthood will not overcome the light because you are here.”

“There’s no motivator like meeting a mom who comes up and thanks you for helping her to get a sonogram and turn around,” said Larry, another of the Washington 40 Days for Life leaders.

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Naples, Florida

March 4, 2017

“It’s important we stand up for life at all stages,” Bishop Frank Dewane of the Venice diocese told a news team from WBBH-TV, the local NBC affiliate.

“Mostly it’s those at the beginning of life and the end of life who can’t speak up for themselves.”

While the station noted the presence of pro-abortion demonstrators outside Planned Parenthood, the reporter said the 40 Days for Life vigil participants far outnumbered them.

A Planned Parenthood spokesman repeated the organization’s familiar talking point that abortions represent only three percent of the services they provide.

That claim has been roundly refuted, even by news outlets such as the Washington Post. But the vigil participants said even one abortion is one too many.

“We believe that babies have a right to life and not to be killed at this facility,” one of the volunteers told the reporter. “We’re doing a peaceful prayer vigil for the people that are going to go into the abortion facility or find themselves pregnant and aren’t sure what they want to do.”

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Memphis, Tennessee

March 4, 2017

“We want to offer them hope,” one of the Memphis volunteers told a reporter from the local newspaper, the Commercial Appeal.

“We want them to know that God loves them and there is a plan. There’s a purpose for every life,” she said.

This is the 18th 40 Days for Life vigil in Memphis – the first was in 2008. All have been in front of Planned Parenthood – but not all in the current location. Planned Parenthood lost the lease to its original office following the fourth 40 Days for Life vigil.

Kathy, the local leader, told the newspaper that Planned Parenthood’s main business is abortion. “There’s always hope and love and adoption. No child ever chooses to die,” she said.

“It’s just a ministry that God has called me do,” said another vigil participant. “I believe like the Lord says, God is the author of life and I just want to take a stand for life. And we do it in love.”

The paper also noted that the prayer team had a full list of life-affirming resources that they made available to the women they met outside Planned Parenthood – centers that provide alternatives to abortion as well as counseling and support after an abortion.

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DAY 5: Great weather for prayer and fasting!

March 5, 2017

Usually, the “spring” campaign is really more like winter in many of the places where 40 Days for Life is taking place.

But this time … we’re hearing about great weather in a number of locations.

West Covina, California

The simple comment from the team in West Covina was “Thanking God for a beautiful day to start the spring 40 Days for Life campaign!”

But nonetheless – kudos to all of you who are putting up with cold and snow!

Anchorage, Alaska

Pat, the leader in Anchorage had a three-word summary of their kickoff event: “I was cold!”

Pat says a hearty bunch arrived for hymn, prayer and good fellowship.

“We were greeted by a protester of a different kind,” he said, “30-mile-per hour winds that blew our signs away, broke stakes that held signs in the snow, and chilled to the bones!”

Edmonton, Alberta

Cold and sunny was the weather report in Edmonton, Alberta. It was -7°C – that’s 19°F – and it was very windy.

“We were quite chilled after an hour,” said one of the local leaders, “but our kickoff had some effect: one of my ‘favorite’ abortion staffers poked her head out the front door to look around. Yes, we’ve begun — 40 days of prayer, fasting and witnessing for Life!”