The Beginning of the End of Abortion -- 40 Days for Life --

40 Days for Life.com ^ | 09-28-16 | 40 Days for Life staff

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The Beginning of the End of Abortion

40 Days for Life is the largest internationally coordinated pro-life mobilization in history, helping people in local communities end the injustice of abortion through:

Prayer & Fasting

Knowing that “with God, all things are possible,” people of faith and conscience unite in 40 days of prayer and fasting

Community Outreach

The pro-life message is taken proactively to every corner of your community during a local 40 Days for Life campaign

Peaceful Vigil

A focused, 40-day, round-the-clock prayer vigil is held outside an abortion facility or public place in your city

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UNITED TOUR: Nevada and Arizona

October 28, 2016

The Nevada state rally saw a fabulous turnout of hope-filled prayer volunteers on the narrow road outside a late term abortion center … with the Stratosphere visible in the background.

The people of Las Vegas understand that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.

The crowd heard from the director of an extremely busy pregnancy center, which is located on the same road. This center serves about two dozen women on a typical day … and offers about 7 or 8 ultrasounds daily.

Also speaking was the senior pastor of a church that shares a property line with the abortion center — which gives the congregation a special sense of urgency to pray and work for this facility’s closure.

The Arizona state rally in Phoenix — the 100th city, in the 40th state, on the UNITED tour — was one of the largest events yet, with more than 300 attendees crowding the street outside a Family Planning Associates abortion center.

State senators Kimberly Yee and Nancy Barto addressed the crowd on behalf of Susan B. Anthony List about the importance of prayer — combined with voting pro-life — at this crucial moment in history.

The crowd was inspired by local 40 Days for Life leaders from across Arizona, including Anita Usher, whose story of heroic sacrifice is featured in Chapter 23 of the 40 Days for Life book.

Today it’s on to more stops in Arizona and New Mexico!

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Chapel Hill, North Carolina

October 28, 2016

A group of about a dozen was praying outside Planned Parenthood – as drivers passed by and honked.

Some seemed supportive; but as one volunteer noted, “There were also those who were laying on their horns and sometimes yelling out to us, and I’m pretty sure they weren’t saying have a great day!”

But then one of the cars slowed down and the woman who was driving spoke to them.

“I used to manage this clinic!” she called out … adding that people used to send her prayer notes.

“She thanked us for praying, and said she was on our side now,” the volunteer said. As the woman started to drive away, the vigil participant asked her name – and she told her.

“I looked her up on LinkedIn, and indeed this person worked at the Planned Parenthood in Chapel Hill until May,” the volunteer said. “Please keep her in your prayers.”

The next visitor wasn’t quite so cordial.

A young man joined the group on the sidewalk, loudly expressing his contempt for the vigil.

Two college students went to talk to him, doing their best to respectfully make an articulate case for life. We don’t know if the angry guy changed his mind, but he at least settled down a bit, and even showed a slight sign of a smile at one point as the three continued to talk.

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Dublin, Ireland

October 28, 2016

“So far we have had four confirmed saves,” said Carolyn, the 40 Days for Life leader in Dublin.

But there’s still much work to be done.

“Last week a couple cancelled their appointment at the clinic and came to our pregnancy centre,” she said. But even after meeting with the counselors there, they weren’t sure what to do.

“We kept praying,” she said, “and they sent a text to say they’re keeping the baby – but need all the help we can give. They’re coming in soon for help and support.”

The group met another young woman who was leaning towards abortion – until she had a rather disturbing dream. “She knew immediately that this was her sign,” Carolyn said, “and she called me to say she was going to keep her baby.”

Carolyn added, “I just want you to know how blessed we are to be a part of this life-changing campaign.”

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DAY 32: Great media coverage!

October 29, 2016

You won’t be surprised to hear that the media is not typically pro-life.

However, 40 days for Life campaigns are getting excellent media coverage at the local level. The media typically thinks the vigils are there to intimidate or harass, but when they go out to the vigil they see the truth — in the form of peaceful, prayerful volunteers.

The joy of our volunteers and leaders stands in stark contrast to Planned Parenthood employees, who won’t usually appear on camera, choosing instead to offer cold prepared statements.

The UNITED bus tour has been the focus of increasing — and increasingly positive — local media coverage. And Christian media has been welcoming, as always … in reports such as an excellent feature article that appeared in the National Catholic Register.

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UNITED TOUR: Arizona and New Mexico

October 29, 2016

We kicked off another day on the road with an encouraging vigil stop in Flagstaff, Arizona.

The volunteers in Flagstaff are working and praying to close down the local Planned Parenthood center. They also have the opportunity to minister to passers-by and the homeless at their location, which we were able to witness during the stop.

The 40 Days for Life campaign in Rio Rancho, New Mexico is held outside a Planned Parenthood center that doesn’t perform surgical abortions.

But at this UNITED vigil stop, the local campaign leader reminded attendees that every Planned Parenthood center promotes, sells, recommends and refers for abortions … and needs prayers outside its doors.

Our day finished with a wonderful New Mexico state rally at dusk in Albuquerque — the first UNITED event to be broadcast live on the radio!

Albuquerque has the unfortunate reputation of being the late-term abortion capital of America, but the dedication, prayers and tireless efforts of faithful people here are saving lives — including two babies saved from abortion here since the start of this campaign!

Attendees traveled from across the state, including a group that drove three hours from Las Cruces.

The bus and advance team are now on the longest drive of the entire tour, heading to events in Texas. Please pray for safe travels!

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Hollywood, Florida

October 29, 2016

Nancy, the 40 Days for Life leader, in Hollywood was thankful that for two days in a row, there were no abortions at the facility where volunteers are praying.

The first day, it was no power. The second day, it was no clients.

With no electricity, the facility couldn’t open. With no clients – it didn’t really matter that the power was back on!

“Two abortion workers arrived around 9 o’clock,” Nancy said. “The abortionist showed up with his driver at 9:45 and left by 9:55. The two employees locked the doors and drove off at 10:30.”

The volunteers, of course, stayed around to pray – and to pack up donated goods that would be delivered to the pregnancy center down the street.

Nancy was grateful to all who showed up to pray and bring donations … and especially thankful to two visitors from Ecuador, who took part in the 40 Days for Life vigil on their last day in Florida before returning home to South America.

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Bratislava, Slovakia

October 29, 2016

“The most interesting thing to happen during our campaign is a nurse who came to share her story with us,” said Martina, the 40 Days for Life leader in Bratislava.

The vigil is in front of a hospital … and the nurse works on the eighth floor of that hospital.

There are two different worlds in that hospital. One of them is the gynecology department, where this nurse and her colleagues watch the vigil – and pray for the participants.

“She and her colleagues are all pro-life and they are all believers,” said Martina. “However, the other department in the hospital is the opposite — it is the one where abortions are performed.”

The vigil is along a very busy road – at least 100 people from all walks of life pass by every minute during the morning rush hour.

“They all usually stare at us first,” she said, “and many of them react … either negatively — they remark on our posters, they are not satisfied with what we are doing, they call us names and use bad language, or positively — they honk if they drive a car … or even start praying with us.”

Martina said it is getting colder and colder in Slovakia, “so sometimes it is quite uncomfortable to stand and pray. But we persist regardless of the weather conditions!”

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DAY 33: Rain, sleet and heat

October 30, 2016

Each 40 Days for Life campaign has its own local flavor — and weather.

We’ve seen all kinds of weather already during this 40 Days for Life campaign … and it’s not even November yet. This brings challenges that often require sacrifice.

It’s good to know, then, that at every hour of every day for 40 days … someone, somewhere around the world is at a location where abortions take place — praying for abortion to end.

And regardless of the weather … at the heart of things, there’s not much difference from one campaign to another.

One of our Texas volunteers pointed this out in a note on Facebook — in a response to the UNITED rally in Anchorage, Alaska, where it was 24 degrees and there was snow on the ground.

“My grandkids are in Anchorage and we are in Texas,” she wrote, “doing the same campaign — but at 95 degrees.”

Please keep that in mind. Even if you happen to be standing by yourself praying outside the abortion center, you’re never alone!

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UNITED TOUR: Texas (Day 1)

October 30, 2016

Everything is bigger in Texas!

Fort Worth leader Bobby Warren managed to pull a crowd equal in size to the biggest vigil stop thus far on the 40 Days for Life UNITED tour!

Telemundo, the Spanish TV network, sent a reporter to the stop … and this news team captured the large crowd, the bus signing and vigil. Bobby Warren speaks excellent Spanish and offered an interview to the station.

It was an excellent line-up of speakers for the rally in Dallas! Georgette Forney of Silent No More Awareness talked about her abortion … and speaking of her child, she said, “I still miss that gift.”

Her testimony was so moving it prompted a gentleman at the event to share his regret of lost fatherhood — he aborted what would be, unknown to him, his only child. “I promise you know a man who has abortion in his past and he’s hurting even if he says otherwise. I used to be that man.”

40 Days for Life board member Haywood Robinson, a doctor who once performed abortions prior to his conversion, encouraged participants to keep the faith and finish the race … reminding everyone that God is our life and strength.

Now … it’s on to Austin, San Antonio and Houston!

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Cluj-Napoca, Romania

October 30, 2016

Around the world, 40 Days for Life vigils continue to attract the attention of clergy from a wide range of Christian faith traditions.

In Cluj-Napoca, the Orthodox primate of Cluj, Maramures and Salai took time to pray on the sidewalk with “the missionaries of life.”

Metropolitan Andrei prayed for the unborn … the volunteers at the vigil … and for wisdom for the doctors at the local hospital where abortions take place. The metropolitan was in turn described as “an authoritative voice for those who cannot speak.”

A metropolitan’s rank is similar to that of an archbishop in the western church.

The signs along the sidewalk are in Romanian … but the messages are familiar ones: “women need help, not abortion” … “fatherhood begins at conception” … “every child is beautiful and deserves to live.”

One of the vigil participants said the 40 Days for Life campaign is determined to raise awareness “among those who do not know the issues of abortion … do not know that abortion is the taking of a life.”

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St. Petersburg, Florida

October 30, 2016

“We had a save in St. Petersburg!” said one of the 40 Days for Life team members. “That makes two at our location.”

The prayer volunteers thought the woman who arrived at the abortion center was just ignoring them – it’s not that uncommon.,

But they kept an eye on her. “She went in and out of the clinic a couple of times,” one of the vigil participants said, “then went into the clinic and came out again, and got into her car.”

As she was driving out, the volunteer offered her some literature.

“She rolled down her window and — based on her attitude — I thought she was going to blast me,” she said. “Instead she said she changed her mind because of all of us who were praying outside of the clinic. I was stunned at first … but thanked her for saving her baby.”

The volunteer said she didn’t change the woman’s mind. It was prayer. “It was the grace of God that blessed that mother and us prayer warriors. I’m still in a state of awe!”

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DAY 34: More mothers and babies spared!

October 31, 2016

It’s Monday morning … and time for good news at the start of the final week of this 40 Days for Life campaign!

Since this all started on September 28, our local leaders around the world are reporting

527 mothers who’ve chosen life for their babies

– that we know of!

Prayers are being answered … at the last possible moment.

To God be all the glory!

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UNITED TOUR: Texas (Day 2)

October 31, 2016

There are only two remaining abortion facilities left in Austin, Texas.

One is the Planned Parenthood center where local 40 Days for Life leader Heather Gardner gathered more than 125 people outside for our Austin rally.

One highlight of this rally was meeting a couple who got involved in Austin’s 40 Days for Life campaign to honor their daughter, who lost her life last year. They said she inspired them to follow her example and pray for an end to abortion.

Dr. Haywood Robinson, who serves on the 40 Days for Life board, spoke to the crowd. He talked about redemption – he once performed abortions, but now offers women life-affirming care at a new medical center housed in the former Planned Parenthood building in College Station, Texas.

In San Antonio, they remember the Alamo … and they also remember the unborn!

Thanks to God’s answer to your prayers, more than 12,000 babies have been saved from abortion during 40 Days for Life campaigns … and it sure helps that our local leaders can depend on life-affirming pregnancy resource centers to show mothers they have real options.

Peggy Hartshorn of Heartbeat International told the crowd that you always know when a 40 Days for Life vigil is going on … because there’s an increase in the number of mothers who visit pregnancy care centers. Your presence is really making a difference!

Houston is home to the largest abortion facility in the western hemisphere — the 78,000 square-foot Planned Parenthood buidling.

A great crowd came out for a candlelight vigil and was moved by the testimony of a post-abortive woman who shared about how she and her husband went through an abortion — 42 years ago. They later had three other children. The oldest was at the UNITED rally — the priest who offered the opening prayer!

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Birmingham, England

October 31, 2016

A couple entering the Marie Stopes facility in Birmingham was offered a leaflet, but the young man refused and said they had an appointment to keep.

The volunteer said, “Don’t keep your appointment — keep your baby!”

The man said he didn’t know what she was talking about and that there was no baby.

At that point, his girlfriend began to look a bit sheepish. “It was clear she hadn’t told him why they were coming there,” said Isabel, the local coordinator in Birmingham. “I presume she just said she had some woman’s health problem and he offered to accompany her.”

The volunteer explained to the man that their appointment was at an abortion facility. He then spoke quietly to his girlfriend, but he appeared upset.

They entered the building, but came out again only a few minutes later with a simple message for the volunteers: “We’ll be keeping our baby!”

A second couple arrived at Marie Stopes with their five children. One of the vigil participants took them aside – out of earshot of the children – to offer help. The dad admitted that they had nearly aborted their fourth and fifth children – but he also admitted he was glad they hadn’t.

“After twenty minutes,” Isabel said, “the couple decided they would keep this baby, too, and went happily away.”

As we’re more than a month into the campaign, the vigil’s opponents are getting flustered.

A man pulled up to the vigil site and snatched a couple of posters, threw them into his car and drove off. Volunteers later found him lurking around a block of flats … and soon found the pilfered posters in a rubbish bin.

Marie Stopes is also complaining to the advertising standards authority about the fetal development leaflets the volunteers distribute.

“These signs of opposition are confirming that we must be having an effect,” Isabel said, “and from the fact we’ve had four saves — it seems to be a very positive effect!”

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Tallahassee, Florida

October 31, 2016

Just the presence of people praying can make all the difference in the world.

One of the Tallahassee vigil participants was praying as a couple in a pickup truck parked at the abortion center, got out and walked up to the front door.

But they didn’t go in.

They stopped, turned around and got back in the truck.

“I just kept praying!” the volunteer said. As he did, the couple started the truck, backed up and left.

They did not return.

Later that morning, another young couple parked in the abortion facility’s lot. The guy got out, but the woman hesitated. Finally, she got out slowly … and the two went inside.

But they weren’t there long.

They came back out and talked for quite a while – they only spoke to each other, not the volunteers; and no one could hear their conversation.

At one point, the young man walked away by himself and sat down, while she got back in the car and drove over to where he was sitting. He got in the car, too, and they continued talking.

One of the volunteers noticed that her prayer shift was over, but she wasn’t going anywhere as long as that couple was still at the abortion center. “I decided that I wasn’t going to leave them,” she said. “I just kept praying.”

Half an hour later, they drove off.

Two couples – no abortions. The vigil participants didn’t speak to them – only to God.

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DAY 35: Confronting the hard cases

November 1, 2016

We cover race, rape and abortion on a heartfelt and moving new episode of the 40 Days for Life podcast.

The circumstance that abortion advocates use most often, in an attempt to justify abortion, is the pregnancy that’s the result of rape.

On this podcast, you will get to meet someone who is a living, breathing example of hope.

Ryan Bomberger was conceived in rape, adopted at birth – and raised in a multi-racial family of 15. He’s a creative powerhouse who, along with his wife Bethany, runs the Radiance Foundation, which is involved in cutting-edge pro-life educational projects.

I talked to Ryan about his story, race in America, and the devastating impact abortion is having on the African-American community:

I can’t wait for you to meet him!

https://40daysforlife.com/2016/11/01/podcast-44/

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UNITED TOUR: Louisiana

November 1, 2016

At our state rally in New Orleans, we learned of one more baby spared from abortion!

Ben from Louisiana Right to Life had the honor of changing the “saved baby” tally on the bus. Ben also said he’d learned that the new Planned Parenthood center plans to perform 2,844 abortions each year.

The Planned Parenthood mega-center in New Orleans may be new, but so is the Woman’s New Life Center, which just opened to provide abortion-vulnerable women a real choice. Angie, who represents this organization, told us something we’ve heard again and again during the course of the tour: when it’s 40 Days for Life season, visits to the pregnancy help center increase significantly.

We’ve now topped 14,000 miles … and we’re headed for Mississippi.

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Split, Croatia

November 1, 2016

It would always be a pleasant surprise to see Cardinal Raymond Burke praying at a 40 Days for Life vigil.

But what was truly surprising was WHERE he came to pray with the volunteers – Split, Croatia!

Marija, the local leader in Split, called it “a moment of grace.”

Cardinal Burke has long been considered a strong pro-life voice. And when he traveled to Split to talk about his new book, the people who organized his visit made it possible for him to pray at the vigil.

“The cardinal prayed with us,” Marija said, and “thanked those who prayed for their strong witness for the protection of life in front of the hospital … and invited us to be persistent in praying.”

“I’ve been blessed over the years to take part in many public manifestations of prayer and witness to the invaluable dignity of human life, especially of the innocent, defenseless, unborn so I am happy to join you in this prayer,” Cardinal Burke told the volunteers.

“Certainly it remains always true that prayer is the most powerful weapon to combat evil in the world,” he added, “so we pray that the great evil of procured abortion will be ended.”

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Cleveland, Ohio

November 1, 2016

John in Cleveland says six volunteers were praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil, but they were also attentive to those coming and going at the abortion center.

They offered to help a woman who told them she had aborted her baby … and prayed more intently for a woman leaving the building who had most likely just had an abortion.

A few minutes later, a couple exited the building. As they were heading for their car, one of the vigil participants asked them to take some information that could help them.

The young woman turned toward the volunteer and said they had seen the ultrasound … and were keeping their 11-week old baby!

The couple stopped at the sidewalk and accepted brochures and encouragement from the group … and everybody was smiling!

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DAY 36: “Does it matter?”

November 2, 2016

The question was asked by a volunteer at 40 Days for Life in Houston.

She had been standing in prayer for quite a long time … but no one came to talk … not a single car stopped. She was getting pretty discouraged.

But another volunteer answered her question: “Yes, it does matter.”

She then told the story of a young woman who drove into the abortion center parking lot – and just stared at the woman who was praying. She sat there for about 10 minutes … and drove away without saying a word.

A life saved from abortion?

We may never know. But it DOES matter – very much!

It can make all the difference in the world.