The media likes 40 Days for Life — and we have the
abortion industry to thank.
No, I have not lost my mind just four days into the
campaign!
Yes, I know at the national level, the media seems to
have an agenda that’s radically in favor of abortion.
But I’m seeing 40 Days for Life campaigns getting great
coverage — and a fair shake — in local media outlets.
This is typically because the abortion center staff
complains to the media — and tell the reporters and
producers that they’re under a “violent siege” or that
“extremist protesters are harassing patients.”
Of course, when the local media go to the vigil, they
find moms praying with small children. Or high school
students kneeling in prayer. Or businessmen praying on
their lunch hour. Or an elderly couple praying quietly.
When this happens, the local media, pro-life or not,
sees the vigil volunteers as the underdogs — and the
abortion center workers come off as intolerant.
The staff’s overreaction is the catalyst for 40 Days
for Life getting a fair treatment.
I just did a local media interview for a 40 Days for
Life campaign, and this never fails. Here are a few
examples.
The Fairfield Daily Republic reported on the local
40 Days for Life kickoff event — and included a
picture of Catholic Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento
leading the crowd of about 150 in prayer.
The opening vigil was held in front of a Planned
Parenthood facility. One volunteer told the reporter
that people would go there to pray “until they close
this place.”
While the article quoted talking points from the
Planned Parenthood web site, no one from the
organization would speak to the reporter on the record.
In reference to the Planned Parenthood staff, another
volunteer said, “We are here to pray for them as well.
We’re not here to finger-point.”
For a link to the full story from the Fairfield Daily
Republic, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2270
KFDA-TV, the local CBS affiliate, covered the 40 Days
for Life kickoff in Amarillo — and gave a very
accurate description of the typical vigil: “There was
no yelling, no protesting and no arguing, just a
peaceful gathering of those fighting to end abortion.”
Local coordinator Stephanie Frausto noted that
abortions are not performed at the facility where the
vigil is held, but it’s often the first stop for
abortion-minded women.
“So we are always here,” she said.
The reporter also noted, “While they prayed and sang
songs, several also shared their testimonies, because
they’re not just pushing to end abortion, but to also
heal those who have had one.”
To see the video from KFDA-TV, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2270
Victoria’s first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign got
the attention of the Goldstream News Gazette, which
interviewed vigil participants outside a local
abortion center.
“We are praying for women and their unborn children,”
said volunteer Steve Weatherbe. “We are praying for
women to change their minds and to keep their babies.”
People praying are restricted by a 30-meter buffer
zone — that’s about 100 feet. But they did not let
that discourage them.
The reporter quoted a member of a local pro-abortion
group, who said she was “appalled it is going on for
40 days.” She predictably called the 40 Days for Life
event “harassment.”
“This is not a protest,” countered Weatherbe. “It’s
a prayer vigil.”
The only harassment anyone noted came in the form
of pro-abortion slogans that were spray-painted on
the sidewalk. Police are investigating the vandalism.
For a link to the full story from the Goldstream News
Gazette, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2270
40 Days for Life is about being a light in the darkness.
Today is the first Lord’s Day of the campaign so let’s
pray we can continue to shine the light of Christ into
the areas of our communities that need it most — the
places where innocent lives are lost every week.
What do Flint, Montreal, Quebec and London all have
in common? They are all praying to end abortion at
those dark places in their communities. Take a look!
>From time to time, we talk about the fact that many
people don’t realize there’s an abortion facility in
their community. That’s probably the case in Flint.
Joe went to pray at the abortion center for the first
time as part of the current 40 Days for Life campaign.
“I wondered if I had the right place,” he said. “The
address was correct, but there was no other indication
that this was the place.”
So he got a bit closer to the building, and could then
see that this was indeed the vigil location. “I could
see the words ‘Women’s Health Clinic’ on the second
door just inside the first. Doesn’t seem like they
are real proud of the work they do there.”
This is one of the reasons the prayer vigil is so
important. The women with appointments and the abortion
center staff certainly need our prayers. But people
passing by also need to know what is going on — often
in secret — right in their own home towns.
Joe took a picture of the poorly-marked entrance. To
see it, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2285
40 Days for Life is in 15 cities in Canada this fall —
the most ever — from coast to coast. Two of the
locations are in the province of Quebec, where French
is the primary language in most areas. This is the
sixth 40 Days for Life campaigns for Montreal, but the
first for the province’s capital city of Quebec.
The teams In Montreal and Quebec City have produced a
video to promote their efforts — with an English
version and a French version. They both show the spirit
of 40 Days for Life — in English, “pray for an end to
abortion,” and in French, “prions pour la fin de
l’avortement.”
To see the video preview of the two Quebec campaigns,
please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2285
Robert in London reports 40 Days for Life apparently
touched a nerve with a young woman on a bicycle. The
London campaign is taking place in Bedford Square — an
area he described as “genteel.”
For a brief period at lunchtime, however, that genteel
atmosphere vanished.
The woman repeatedly drove her bike into the 40 Days
for Life banners and boxes, Robert said, “overturning
them whilst shouting in a hysterically high-pitched
voice, ‘You are disgusting! Shame on you!’ All
attempts to calm her down were futile and she drove
off in a rage.”
Robert said he was reminded of the line attributed to
Ghandi: “First they ignore you. Then they laugh at
you. Then they fight you. Then you win.”
Here’s today’s devotional from Rev. Ben Sheldon,
president emeritus of Presbyterians Pro-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.”
— Matthew 25:31-46
Caring for others is not optional.
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.
To download today’s devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2011day05print.pdf
—————, have a blessed Sunday!