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Today, I’m speaking at a 40 Days for Life event in
College Park, Maryland — but I wanted to share some
exciting news about what’s happening 10,000 miles away.

Earlier this week, we sent you the video David Bereit
and I recorded in London. Today, we have a video from
Australia. We’ve never been to Australia, but this
short video shows how God is using 40 Days for Life
Down Under. Enjoy the video!

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

The campaign in Sydney kicked off with a procession to
the vigil site — the Pre-Term Foundation, the oldest
abortion facility in Sydney. An estimated 400 people
took part, including Bishop Terry Brady of the Catholic
archdiocese.

“As in previous years, the procession saw its fair
share of hecklers,” reports one of the local team
leaders. “One lady began screaming and writing on the
ground with chalk in front of the facility, until a
sudden downpour of rain stopped her mid-sentence.”

“This Lent, we are going to Calvary, to take love where
there is no love, where innocence is crucified,” said
local coordinator Paul Hanrahan.

To see some photos of the Sydney campaign — along with
that video a local group produced — please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2717

CARSON CITY, NEVADA

40 Days for Life in Nevada’s capital city started with
a well-attended candlelight vigil. The volunteers will
be praying outside a new Planned Parenthood facility
for these 40 days.

The location is not far from Nevada’s legislature,
supreme court and governor’s mansion — “just a short
walk away,” said one of the Carson City leaders.

To see some photos of the Carson City event, please
go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2717

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

This spring, Birmingham is holding its EIGHTH 40 Days
for Life campaign!

More than 100 people took part in the candlelight vigil
in front of the Planned Parenthood facility, launching
40 days of prayer and fasting. “We had four pastors
lead us in prayer. We sang in praise and heard
encouraging words from our local pregnancy resource
center director,” said Ed in Birmingham.

“Over these last four years of 40 Days for Life, we
have grown our pro-life participation greatly and
become more unified in all of our local projects as
we stand for life,” he said. “We left that evening
ready to start. Thanks be to God!”

To see some pictures of the Birmingham campaign,
please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2717

Day 5 - February 26

Intention:

May God's justice sober our society, and may mercy triumph over judgment.

Scripture:

Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.

- Genesis 9:5-6

Reflection:

The value of every human being can hardly be seen more clearly than with this verse. God, the King of the universe, has created all human beings in his image, and declares forthrightly that shedding the blood of any individual will require the blood of the one who shed it. God's concern for human beings is not limited to any particular group. Indeed, his concern is universal, and includes male and female, young and old, born and unborn, disabled and able-bodied, the citizens of every nation on earth.

Abortion, the deliberate killing of the unborn, is the shedding of innocent blood. Surely the blood of millions upon millions of innocent children cries out to God. It is true that we live in an age of grace, and yet this passage (among many other texts which express similar sentiments) should give every thinking Christian pause.

Christians of all people, entrusted with the Word of God as we are, must take a stand. We must speak out. We must do all that we can to protect the innocent, to pursue justice, and to encourage the repentance of all those who bear responsibility for this great evil. Only in this manner can we hope to forestall the judgment that must otherwise surely come.

This passage should also be seen as an encouragement to educate and disciple our children and grandchildren about what it means to be human, and the responsibility that will become theirs in this ongoing struggle.

Prayer:

O Father, forgive us for our lack of courage and our want of compassion for the unborn and for those lost and hurt by abortion. Fill us anew with your Spirit. Renew our minds, strengthen us in righteousness, help us be people of salt and light within our nation. May every human being, from conception to natural death, be treated with the respect due those made in your image. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rev. John Brown
Director, United Friends for Life (United Church of Christ)