Posted on 09/29/2016 8:21:07 PM PDT by Salvation
Forty days and 18,000 miles later … today marks the end of the 40 Days for Life UNITED bus tour!
There is much to tell you in the weeks ahead … so look forward to learning what God did during the largest 40 Days for Life campaign ever.
For now, there’s great news! We are aware of
We’re still gathering information and expect that number to go even higher — praise God!
What a powerful way to start the second-to-last day of the UNITED campaign and tour!
One of the former workers from the Planned Parenthood abortion center in Columbia, South Carolina, spoke out against the abortion giant at the rally outside her former workplace … then signed the bus.
Her name is Michelle. She saw horrific things inside Planned Parenthood, working alongside the abortionists. But she eventually experienced a change of heart after miscarrying her own twins and recognizing the preciousness of life.
She thanked Mark, the local campaign leader, and the many other prayer volunteers who loved and supported her on her journey out of the abortion industry. But first and foremost, she thanked God for His healing forgiveness.
The North Carolina state rally in Charlotte just had the most aggressive, angry pro-abortion protestors of the tour, screaming vulgarities and unsuccessfully trying to drown out the speakers, while holding signs with messages like: “If Mary had an abortion, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Rather than “respecting women,” they screamed at and heckled Andrea Hines as she courageously shared her post-abortion testimony. Please pray for these folks to experience healing and conversion.
Some 150 faithful prayer volunteers were undeterred.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina enthusiastically welcomed the UNITED tour, with families clapping, cheering and lining the street on the second-to-last stop of the day.
Speakers including state senator Joyce Krawiec and Traci Griggs of the North Carolina Family Policy Council inspired the crowd.
At its root, abortion is a spiritual crisis. That was on clear display at the vigil stop in Raleigh, North Carolina — which turned into a spontaneous prayer rally.
Dozens of aggressive abortion advocates unsuccessfully tried to disrupt the event, screaming obscenities at elderly women and young children … and when Rhonda from Silent No More shared her post-abortion testimony and mentioned that we are in a struggle against Satan, the abortion supporters cheered wildly.
In one of the most moving moments of the UNITED tour, rather than respond to the hatred and anger, the Body of Christ collectively dropped to their knees and prayed — for God to change hearts and minds, save lives, touch and save souls … and heal our land.
Thanks to all who faithfully endure persecution for this crucial cause!
“Taking part in this mission has and continues to be a real blessing in so very many ways,” said one of the prayer volunteers in Twickenham.
“I am now used to the occasional verbal abuse – and I always ask the Holy Spirit to let me know when I should respond and when I should prayerfully ignore.”
This participant was in “ignore” mode when a young woman came by to berate the very idea of a prayer vigil in front of an abortion center – that what they were doing was “wrong.” As the volunteer continued to pray quietly, the woman’s level of anger only got higher.
So the volunteer switched from “ignore” to “engage.”
“It turned out that she was angry because a friend of hers had an abortion here and ended up in a mental institution. She herself had a stillbirth. I promised to pray for them both and I assured her God will help.”
Her anger subsided. She shook the volunteer’s hand and said she regretted “having a go at me.”
The vigil participant explained what they do … why they do it … and the many positive outcomes of their powerful on-the-spot witness.
This same volunteer also had a conversation with a young man on the pavement whose girlfriend was inside having an abortion. They talked … and the young man was told that it is always possible to turn to God in repentance.
“I could write a book about the vigil blessings to others … and to me.”
Catherine in Aurora said, “We had a big day. One of the larger churches came out in abundance.”
The clergy led prayer for a group that included a number of people who were coming to the 40 Days for Life vigil for the first time.
One of the church members was a 12-year-old girl … who noted that the day her church was scheduled to be at the vigil was her birthday … and she wanted to go pray outside Planned Parenthood. She also thought it was interesting that the first 40 Days for Life campaign was in 2004, the year she was born.
As there are parking issues around the abortion center, the volunteers decided to travel together in the church bus. “Well, the bus broke down,” Catherine said – but only AFTER they arrived at Planned Parenthood. Still, they had to have the bus towed … and they had to carpool back to church.
“Our vigil is making a big difference in our area. Churches are waking up,” she said. “This is just another of God’s blessings as He continues to affirm our work.”
As each 40 Days for Life campaign approaches, Stephen and Beth, the Manchester leaders, go back and forth about whether enough people will show up to make it worthwhile.
“And if they didn’t,” Stephen said, “who could blame them? There are so many marches and runs for universally popular causes that provide participants matching T-shirts, gift bags and smiles of approval from passersby.”
There are better places to pray, too, he said. “What sane Christian would want to have their prayers interrupted with profanity as they walk on a cracked asphalt sidewalk when they could be transformed by the song of birds while meditating by a waterfall in the White Mountains?”
On its surface, protecting life seems like a lonely, thankless job. “But we know it’s neither. It’s not lonely, because Jesus promises not to leave us as orphans. It’s not thankless, because we remember how Jesus tells us that he will thank us for the work we do through his grace.”
40 Days for Life offers an opportunity to serve the least of our brothers and sisters – innocent children in the womb whose very lives are at risk.
“What better company could we have on the sidewalk than the Holy Spirit? Whose gratitude could we appreciate more than that of Jesus?” Stephen asked. “Beth and I thank God for you and your efforts, and count ourselves blessed to be working with you.”
658 babies saved....... wonderful, thank God!
We made it! Our 50th state … on the 40th day of 40 Days for Life!
Our last UNITED rally in Richmond, Virginia was one of the most moving of the entire tour.
Rachel from the East End Pregnancy Center described how she had never been active in the pro-life movement…until her brother’s former girlfriend had an abortion. Now Rachel is a steadfast advocate for the pre-born and their mothers. She encouraged attendees to stretch themselves in the sacrifices they make to end abortion.
Pam from Silent No More Awareness told the more than 100 in attendance that she was pressured into having an abortion after conceiving a child through a sexual assault. She urged volunteers to stand up for the rights of children who enter the world in difficult situations.
40 Days for Life board chairman Matt Britton reported that leaders from international campaigns have been following the UNITED tour and are inspired by its progress … and David Bereit closed with a powerful speech recapping the tour and thanked local campaign leaders for helping make 40 Days for Life possible.
After 17,000 miles and 127 events in 50 states, our tour reached the end of the road in Falls Church, Virginia. We had another huge crowd waiting for us as we arrived.
The enthusiasm over the completion of the campaign reached a fever pitch when we revealed that reports of two more saved lives had come in as we drove up from Richmond!
It’s been an amazing ride. Thank you to everyone who participated in this campaign!
“Sometimes, when we’re praying on the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood, we might wonder whether we’re having any effect,” said one of the Pittsburgh volunteers. “Well … we had a save today!”
During this vigil participant’s final prayer shift of the campaign, God showed in a real way what that effect is, through His love and grace.
Three volunteers were praying on the sidewalk when a young woman emerged from Planned Parenthood — alone, holding an ultrasound picture.
She walked up and said, “I went in for an abortion today, but decided not to. The people in there are not of God.”
She went on to say that she already had a little one at home. She was crying … and soon the volunteers were tearing up as well. She took information about local pregnancy resources … hugged the vigil participants … and went home.
Not long afterward, a passerby stopped to say, “Because of you being here, I learned the truth.”
“Our presence does make a difference,” the volunteer said, “even if we can’t see it all the time.”
Mario, the local leader in Adelaide, says the 40 Days for Life team there knows of at least three babies saved from abortion during this campaign.
One morning recently the 40 Days for Life vigil participants noticed a couple going into the abortion facility. But they weren’t inside long – only about 10 or 15 minutes.
When they came out, they stood somewhat near the spot where people were praying, but they didn’t speak to any of the volunteers. After a few minutes, they drove away – still without a word.
About ten minutes later, a woman approached the people praying and said she had good news to share.
She explained that she had been working with a young couple – the one that had just left. She said they had decided not to have an abortion after all. She added that the volunteers did a wonderful thing by standing and praying outside the abortion center.
The volunteer was overcome by emotion at hearing that news … and thanked the woman for coming to them to let them know what had taken place.
Mario called it “an absolutely God-filled moment.”
As volunteers prayed outside the abortion center, they saw two cars drive up. A woman and her mother were in the first car… and in the second, the younger woman’s grandparents.
The young woman entered the abortion center, the mother and grandmother left … and the grandfather stayed behind.
He saw the people praying, and went to ask why they were there. When they explained, his face went flush.
He told them he was only told his granddaughter was having a medical procedure, and couldn’t drive afterward. He was visibly upset at the thought that this “procedure” might be an abortion.
His granddaughter was the mother of three – and he couldn’t understand why she would do this.
A volunteer gave him information about the helpful resources that are available in the community. Not long afterward, she came outside – and got into a heated conversation with her grandfather. However, he was able to hand her the information from the vigil participants as she stormed back inside.
A short time later, the young woman’s mother returned and talked to the grandfather. She looked in the volunteers’ direction and told them to keep praying!
It wasn’t long before the younger woman left the building again – and got in her mother’s car. As the two drove off, the mother called out “Thank you!” and gave the vigil participants a thumbs-up sign.
“What a great feeling,” said one of the volunteers. “Thank you for getting me involved in this effort and making a positive change in my life!”
In his endorsement of the 40 Days for Life book, author George Weigel described 40 Days for Life as “America at its best.”
That description certainly matches our experience visiting 127 cities in all 50 states these last 40 days.
“The signatures tell the story,” said 40 Days for Life CEO David Bereit. Some signatures were accompanied by notes from women to their aborted babies. Others included profane language from vandals who sought to silence our message.
Still other signatures came from children saved from abortion in 40 Days for Life campaigns past. Another was from a converted abortion worker who left her job and shared the story of her transformation for the very first time at a tour rally.
Some stories are dramatic, others simple. But each of the thousands upon thousands of signatures on the 40 Days for Life bus represents the story of one person who saw a nation in crisis and made the decision to stand up and be counted. More importantly, each signature represents a person who recognized a woman in crisis and held out a helping hand.
At seemingly every stop, volunteers remarked “You must be exhausted.” And that’s true. The multi-event days, midnight bus repairs, and long hours on the road all took a toll. But every time the bus rolled up and we saw dozens or hundreds of prayer warriors sacrificing a beautiful fall day or standing in the rain, it provided us with a shot of adrenaline that kept us going strong.
We hope this UNITED campaign encouraged you. Your efforts certainly encouraged us. We have never been more confident that ultimate victory is inevitable.
Thank you for your prayers and witness, and keep on praying. With God, ALL things are possible, even ending abortion!
In the United States, we are blessed with many rights and responsibilities.
You exercised those rights during the largest 40 Days for Life campaign ever that just wrapped up.
Today we get to exercise another right and responsibility on behalf of the unborn — voting.
Our nation needs prayer. So … I’d like to ask you to do two things today: pray … and vote. Elections such as this have consequences for the family … religious liberty … and the unborn.
When you pray before going to the polls, pray for clarity as you choose from among the candidates.
God is doing so much. In fact, we now know of 717 babies saved from abortion during this campaign! Praise God for these results … and the many more we will be sharing over the next week!
God bless you … and God bless America!
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