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Todays’s email.

I am headed, along with our national director, David
Bereit, to Nashville, to speak at a prayer rally that
will kick off the 2012 Care Net pregnancy center
conference. Pregnancy centers have a huge impact at
the local level — and they now outnumber abortion
facilities in the United States 3 to 1.

Speaking of impact at the local level, I have some
great news to share ... plus some prayer requests
for some 40 Days for Life campaigns:

* One group believes big changes may be taking place
at the abortion center where numerous 40 Days for
Life vigils are been held. The local team is asking
for extra prayer because this situation involves
“an especially notorious and aggressive abortionist.”

* Several campaigns are having parking issues. With no
public parking nearby, campaigns must find business
owners willing to offer parking spots for vigil
participants. It may not sound like much, but lack
of parking could significantly cut into vigil
attendance and limit these campaigns’ effectiveness.

Please keep these situations — and the many local
40 Days for Life leadership teams who are making
tremendous personal sacrifices during this campaign
— in your prayers.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

“It’s just heartbreaking to see them go in,” said one
40 Days for Life volunteer, who watched as women were
dropped off at the abortion facility. But, she said,
“We had one lady leave without going in. Praise God!”

Ernie, the local coordinator, also sent some pictures
of a candlelight vigil that drew more than 300 people.
Bishop Gregory Parkes led the group in prayer.

“When people go and peacefully pray in front of local
abortion facilities, lives are spared,” said Ernie.
“God works through us. We just have to go and be His
loving witness! Have you signed up to go and pray?”

To see the pictures of this 40 Days for Life event
in Pensacola, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3427

SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN

“It’s amazing that perfect strangers will pull into
the parking lot where we are praying,” said Mike, the
local 40 Days for Life director, “and trust us enough
to share their personal stories.”

A young woman drove up and told prayer volunteers
that was pregnant with her second child. She said
her boyfriend had told her, “If you love me, you
will abort the baby.”

She, in turn, told him, “I don’t love you that much!”
She said she was keeping the baby, and then took some
information to share with her boyfriend.

Mike says it appears this woman just needed moral
support and practical information. “Praise God that
we were there to be of service to her,” he said. “We
will continue to pray for her and her unborn child.”

BRYAN / COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

The local team in Bryan / College Station is taking
a fresh approach to the “community outreach” portion
of 40 Days for Life.

“We have five vehicles sporting huge 40 Days for Life
decals on both sides of their car,” said Bobby, the
local coordinator. The campaign team had these decals
made up, then offered them to people who spend a lot
of time on the road — guaranteeing that thousands
of people will see them.

In addition, 40 Days for Life yard signs are popping
up in high-traffic areas around the community, and
people are being encouraged to wear 40 Days for Life
shirts on Wednesdays.

As a result, more people are now asking, “I keep
seeing this 40 Days for Life everywhere. What is
that?” It provides a great opportunity to talk about
the campaign — and why it’s so important.

To see pictures of these rolling 40 Days for Life
billboards-on-wheels, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3427

Day 15 - October 10

Intention:

May God's people awaken to the fact that we are our brothers' keepers.

Scripture:

Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground."

-- Genesis 4:8-10

Reflection:

"Methinks he doth protest too much ..."

The Bible is filled with passages that speak to our obligation to care for our fellow human beings. From the many commands in the books of Moses enjoining love of family, neighbors and even strangers, to Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, the injunction to care for others is inescapable.

In this account, the guilt-stricken Cain tries to shrug off his obligation to his own kin by dismissing it as an unreasonable duty. A la Shakespeare, though, "methinks he doth protest too much." Cain's objection doesn't stem from his sense of proper boundaries of responsibility, but from his own self-centered sense of self-preservation.

Christ said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). This is the standard of divine love. It required God to sacrifice what was most precious to Him for the temporal and eternal well being of all humankind (see John 3:16). Though on a much-reduced scale, he expects us to do the same.

Trying to duck our obligation to others is futile. We can't get away with simply dismissing others, especially the most vulnerable among us: the pre-born, the disabled, the sick and the aged. As with Cain, God sees and hears their suffering and will call us to account for what we do -- or do not do -- for them.

Prayer:

Father, help us to embrace the fact that we are our "brother's keeper." When, due to selfish motives, we try to cast off this responsibility please call to us to account. We would be pleasing to you and to our "brother." Through the help and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rev. Rob Schenck
President, Faith and Action