40 Days for Life

May the truth of the final judgment shape our thoughts, priorities, and choices here on earth.

The King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."

Jesus' picture of the final judgment concludes with this sobering word: the wicked, who failed to care for others in their various needs (e.g., the hungry, the thirsty, the aliens, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned) will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous who did seek to meet those needs will end up with him, enjoying eternal life.

We know that this was no parable! Jesus has given us fair warning! Everything in God's Word points to the truth that compassionate concern and practical care for all people, especially for the poor, the destitute, the weak and needy is required of us, if indeed we hope to escape the punishment of the fire of hell.

And who are the poor and needy, if not helpless, unborn babies, as well as the aged and infirm at the other end of life? Surely the "least of these" embraces not only those at both ends of the continuum of life, but all others in between. Just how we, as Christ's true followers, respond to his admonition "inasmuch as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me" will determine whether we enjoy eternal bliss in his presence or the bleak and dreadful reality of eternal punishment in hell. Nothing in God's Word could be clearer!

Gracious and merciful Father, we gladly embrace your Word that counsels us to care for the least of your children, and we renew our dedication to defending the unborn and all whose right to life is compromised by our godless society's selfish lack of concern. Free us from our own failures and sins so that we will be truly pro-life in every area of our lives. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THREE ELEMENTS

Constant vigil

The visible, public centerpiece of 40 Days for Life is a 40-day, round-the-clock prayer vigil outside a Planned Parenthood center or other abortion facility in your community.

Those who are called to stand witness maintain a peaceful and educational presence.

This 24-hour-a-day presence send a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. It also serves as a call to repentance for those who work at the abortion center and those who patronize the facility.

If you do not have an abortion facility or Planned Parenthood office in your town, you can still conduct 40 Days for Life. However, you will need to select a different location which has some strategic significance ... perhaps near city hall, a courthouse, or a highly visible intersection.

Community outreach

40 Days for Life in Greenville, South Carolina

During 40 Days for Life, the pro-life message is proactively taken to every corner of your community. This can identify hundreds, or even thousands, of pro-life supporters.

A door-to-door petition and education drive reaches out to every household in your town or city. Informational flyers are distributed in neighborhoods to raise awareness about the local crisis of abortion. Citizens are invited to sign a petition of support for the sanctity of human life, and people are given the opportunity to visibly show their support for 40 Days for Life by wearing wristbands, placing signs in their yards, or displaying bumper stickers on their vehicles.

These people can then be encouraged to pray and join in local pro-life efforts.

Church involvement begins by meeting with local pastors, other church leaders, and members of different congregations. The Body of Christ is invited to pray together and participate in 40 Days for Life, uniting in one focused mission that can save lives and make an eternal impact.

Media outreach is conducted through carefully targeted news stories, talk shows, editorials, and letters to the editor. This enables you to get the pro-life message out to many people who would never see the inside of a local church.

If your community has a college campus, many students can be impacted through an intense 40-day campus outreach. This can consist of flyer raids, sidewalk chalking, petition drives, table displays, and much more.

Local leadership with 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life in Halifax, Nova Scotia

40 Days for Life is primarily a local campaign. Yes, there is a national team that provides information, resources and encouragement, but all campaigns are based at the local level. Each community knows best when it comes to countering the damage abortion has caused in each individual city and town.

No one is appointed as a local 40 Days for Life leader; in each community, someone must step up and accept the challenge.

The campaign is also a group effort. There needs to be a main coordinator, but there is a whole level of duties and responsibilities that must be filled in addition to the director's position:

Prayer coordinator
Vigil coordinator
Outreach coordinator
Event coordinator
Church coordinator
Communications coordinator
And possibly others, depending on your local needs.

A line from Scripture comes to mind: "Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will." Please pray for discernment and guidance. 40 Days for Life won't happen without somebody. "Somebody" could be you!

From email:

We often receive stories that get straight to the
heart of what 40 Days for Life is all about. This one
comes from Steve in Charlottesville, Virginia:

40 Days for Life is upon us and sometimes it’s
hard to muster the courage and energy to confront
the dark cloud of abortion that hangs over this
nation. However, occasionally a ray of light
shines through the darkness to remind us that God
is still there and His love is triumphant.

When I moved to Charlottesville this summer I met
a couple men who had been standing outside of
Planned Parenthood for years. In fact, one of them
had been standing for so long that he was starting
to question his service.

He said to me, “It’s very rare that I get any
positive feedback.” I told him that it was a small
town, but I knew from my experience in Houston that
lives were being changed simply by the presence of
men and women outside of the abortion clinic praying
and handing out literature.

No sooner had he crossed the street than a woman
pulled up into the Planned Parenthood parking lot
and started yelling at me. At first I thought she
angry with me. But then she told me she wanted to
tell me something.

She pointed to the back seat of her car and said she
had a grandson in a car seat that was alive because
people were standing outside of the clinic — and
she wanted to say thank you.

I ran across the street to the parking lot where my
friend was parked to tell him the good news.

But God wasn’t done!

A week later a young woman pulled off the side of
the road to tell me that she, too, had changed her
mind because people were standing outside the clinic.

This woman later sent Steve a note. Here’s what she said:

I’m not sure why I was so inclined to stop and speak
to you but remember feeling like I needed to tell
someone my story, someone who changed my thought
process when I was trying to decide whether or not I
should carry my child to term.

I cannot thank you and others like you enough for
standing up for what you believe in, because had it
not been for you all I may have made a horrible
decision and terminated my pregnancy. My girl is my
entire world, and everything I do now is so that I
can create a better life for her.

Please, do not stop doing what you are doing. I know
it may seem like your messages are falling on deaf
eyes and blind eyes, but I can assure you that me and
my daughter are proof of the power that you all have.

“So when your feet start to hurt and your back begins to
ache,” said Steve, “just remember this baby is alive today
because a group of people overcame their fears, anxieties,
and personal plans to help others.”

Amen!

I’m in Reno, Nevada today ... heading for California on
Monday, with stops in Sacramento, Vallejo, Santa Rosa and
Napa. Yes, that WILL be a busy day! But I’m blessed to
witness God use this effort coast-to-coast.

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