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We are 10 days into this 40 Days for Life. Have you been out to pray in front of a Planned Parenthood Clinic or abortion center yet?

Day 10 - October 7

Intention:

Pray for your local pregnancy help center: for those who answer calls from women considering abortion, those who provide ultrasounds, and those who personally help mothers prepare to parent or place for adoption.

Scripture:

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

--Psalm 82:4

Reflection:

When a woman arrives at her local pregnancy help center, the hard work of "rescuing the weak" begins. They listen to her. What desperate circumstance is driving her? They act. A professional ultrasound and medical care is provided. They pray, "God use us." Then, they take up her burdens and work towards life. It is cross-bearing for the child-bearing.

Recently, I prayed for one volunteer who was working with one mother in her struggle. Here is what "rescue the weak" looked like in this one case:

Aug 3: She made an appoint-ment for Thursday to get an abortion and while she feels terrible about it, she also feels like she has no choice. Pray that her heart is changed!
Aug 10: She is 12 weeks along but missed her appointment. She had some good conversa-tions with people at the preg-nancy center. She is now considering adoption.
Aug 13: Things are down again. She now has an abortion scheduled for Monday. Pray!
Aug 17: Missed appointment! God is working in her life.
Sept 1: We've hit another rocky period. She has an abortion scheduled for tomorrow. She found out today that her parents are planning a trip to visit her and she is panicking.
Sept 15: Missed third appointment. But feels like she has no choice. Please pray today.
Sept 20: She fears her parents but has agreed to another ultrasound (a breakthrough).
Sept 22: I was there with her for her ultrasound. She saw her baby moving and made the realization that she wants to carry her baby.

Please keep praying against attack by the enemy. We are overwhelmed by seeing God's hand move in this situation and are so very thankful for the prayers lifted up by each one of you. God is good!

Prayer:

Father, we praise you for this one sister who gave herself, heart and soul, to rescue this one mother and baby. O may you empower the hundreds more today who are serving in our pregnancy help centers. Grant those answering calls, providing ultrasound and following up with a bold spirit of truth, love and perseverance.

Rev. John Ensor
Vice President, Heartbeat International

“Hang in there!” is one way to say it. In Cincinnati,
the thought was “persevere.” In Puerto Rico, it was
“commitment.” In Pittsburgh, “stand faithfully.”

And really, to put it all together, we are all called
to make a commitment, stand faithfully and persevere in
our witness — and most of all, as Paul says, in prayer.

Here are few stories of those who are doing just that.

CINCINNATI, OHIO

A rainy day greeted the 40 Days for Life team for the
campaign’s opening, “but, of course, we weren’t going
to let that stop us,” said Mary in Cincinnati. “By the
time we held our official opening prayer hour in the
early evening it was clear and dry.”

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Binzer of Cincinnati’s Catholic
archdiocese led prayer and spoke about the importance
of public witness to the sanctity of life.

He reminded vigil participants that even if you don’t
often see the fruits of your sacrifices and hear from
the mothers’ lips that their babies are going to be
saved, we need to persevere.

“You could feel the unity of all those present,”
Mary said.

To see photos from the Cincinnati 40 Days for Life
campaign, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2322

BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO

“People in Puerto Rico are coming together, sharing
their gifts and talents, and committing to vigil hours,”
said Zulimar, the coordinator of Puerto Rico’s first
40 Days for Life campaign.

On the campaign’s first day, there was a pro-abortion
demonstration in front of the cathedral in San Juan
that got media attention. “We responded letting the
community know about the 40 Days for Life campaign and
encouraged all Christians to join the prayer vigil,”
Zulimar said.

The bishop of San Juan also responded, saying that
“more than this being a religious issue, it is a
matter of human rights. It is a matter of the most
fundamental right that a human being has: the right
to live.”

The day ended with encouraging results as the abortionist
left early, closing the clinic for the day as vigil
participants — on their knees — prayed faithfully.

To see a picture from 40 Days for Life in Bayamon,
please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2322

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

Nikki sent me an e-mail about two of the volunteers at
the vigil in Pittsburgh, who are showing that 40 Days
for Life is blessed by both pro-life veterans and
newcomers praying outside the abortion facility.

There’s Bob, who “stands in front of Planned Parenthood,
holding his sign, every abortion day, and has been
doing it faithfully for almost 20 years. Rain, snow,
freezing cold or blistering heat — he is there.”

Nikki, the local coordinator, also mentioned Jessica,
who had signed up for a prayer time, but then e-mailed
to say she wasn’t really sure.

“I encouraged her that others would be there to welcome
her, and she came,” Nikki said. “She was very blessed
by the experience and said she will be back, and will
try to get a group from her church to come as well.”

To see photos from 40 Days for Life in Pittsburgh,
please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2322