40 Days for Life -- March 1 -- April 9, 2017

40 Days for Life.com ^ | 02-28-17 | 40 Days for Life staff

[Salvation]

Plattsburgh, New York

March 19, 2017

It’s often the conversations with passersby that make a big impression.

Nancy in Plattsburgh shared accounts of two women who recently decided to engage the prayer volunteers.

While a small group was praying outside of Planned Parenthood at the 40 Days for Life vigil, a young woman jogging down the sidewalk stopped to speak with them.

Jogger: “Are you for Planned Parenthood?”

Volunteers: “We are for life.”

Jogger: “Planned Parenthood really helps teens, you know, with preventing pregnancy.”

Volunteers: “Planned Parenthood promotes promiscuity.”

Jogger: “No, I don’t think so. (Pauses a moment to think.) Well, are you going to take all those kids in and take care of them?”

Volunteers: “Yes! Bring them to us!”

Jogger: “Well! I’ve got better things to do than that!”

And with that, off she ran – full steam ahead! The jogger knew all the talking points and didn’t seem to be on the brink of any sudden attitude changes … but who knows? There was a moment when she stopped to think. Maybe a seed was planted!

The volunteers met another woman who got quite upset with the people praying. But later, she came back to apologize.

“With tears in her eyes,” Nancy said, “she said she was forced by her mother to have an abortion at 16. She thinks of that child every day – the child who would be 42 years old this June.

She thanked the vigil participants for being there to pray. Her reaction was because of the pain she has carried for all those years.

“Please rouse yourself and care,” Nancy said. “Women are not empowered by living with the knowledge they killed their child. They are lied to and victimized by Planned Parenthood. There are alternatives.”

[morphing libertarian]

Yes it is the goal of PP to counsel women to accept the fact that they made the decision to kill their baby. One of the m most nefarious things a human being can do to another. I spent 28 years around murders and every other tip of criminal I would have walked at any time if my job required me to tell them it was ok and they will move on.

[Salvation]

DAY 20: Saved by a flyer

March 20, 2017

As we reach the halfway point of this 40 Days for Life campaign, I can bring you the great news that so far …

… our local leaders report 171 babies have been spared from abortion – that we know of!

Today you’ll hear a most amazing story showing God’s perfect timing.

We are called to pray — and trust God with the results. Here’s what can happen when we do just that.

Yuba City, California

Today’s first story is one we heard following one of the stops on the 40 Days for Life bus tour.

A young woman in Yuba City who hadn’t gone to church in a long time knew she needed Christ’s help.

She wasn’t exactly sure which church she was going to attend the next Sunday, but she eventually picked one. When Sunday arrived, she walked into the church – and was handed a bulletin.

Inside the bulletin was a flyer for the local 40 Days for Life campaign – an invitation to pray for an end to abortion.

The service began, and the pastor delivered the message he’d been planning for some time – the story of how his mother had tried several times to abort him. But somehow, he miraculously survived. The pastor and his wife then spoke of the pain of their past abortion.

The woman who “just happened” to choose this church … who “just happened” to pick up a bulletin that mentioned 40 Days for Life … and who “just happened” to hear this message from this pastor … was in tears.

After church – as she was sobbing – she explained to the pastor and his wife that she was pregnant – and she had an appointment the following week for an abortion …

… but all that she had experienced this Sunday convinced her that she had to cancel the appointment.

Church members brought her to a life-affirming pregnancy help center, where she is receiving the assistance she needs as she continues her pregnancy.

“All of this happened by the power of prayer, God’s perfect timing … and the love of Christ through this church,” said Maureen, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Yuba City.

“A baby’s life was saved, a woman was spared the life-long pain of abortion and a community is healing,” she said, “a process that all started with a 40 Days for Life flyer in a church bulletin. Praise and thanks be to God!”

[Salvation]

Bogota, Colombia

March 20, 2017

There are four 40 Days for Life vigils currently under way in Bogota, including a first-time campaign in the Colombian capital’s Kennedy section.

“We believe that with our presence and prayer has saved the lives of at least two babies,” said one of the team members in Kennedy. “It has also increased awareness in the community … and encouraged the youth of the schools in the area.”

This local leader says the areas on the south side of Bogota “have welcomed us in wonderful ways.”

The vigil began with a talk from a priest who urged the people to get involved and overcome the indifference towards abortion that characterized much of the local community.

“The solidarity of the people has made it possible to support several mothers facing unexpected pregnancies,” the volunteer said, “and so we’re filling the world with love and life.”

[Salvation]

Mexico City, Mexico

March 20, 2017

Vigil participants outside the Marie Stopes abortion center in Mexico City’s Roma neighborhood heard wonderful news from a couple that walked out of the building.

“Thanks to your prayers we have decided to keep the baby,” they told the 40 Days for Life volunteers – and then they went to church to thank God for his mercy.

This is the sixth campaign in Roma. “Our volunteers are really committed to the cause,” said Lourdes, the local coordinator. “Most of them have taken an hour or more each week to fill the whole campaign schedule.”

While praying in front of Marie Stopes, they have witnessed the pain of wounded women.

“But we also have had the opportunity to know about conversions, to see neighbors change their minds and show support,” Lourdes said. They have also seen couples stop outside of the abortion facility … talk … and then leave.

“We do believe that what we see is nothing comparing with the real miracles that God gives when people pray,” she said. “We have faith and we will persevere in prayer.”

[Salvation]

DAY 21: “Weeding out the unfit”

March 21, 2017

The mentality that drives abortion is not “choice” or “privacy.” It is control.

Abortion survives on the philosophy of might makes right and the idea that the powerful can control the fate of the weak.

In her book “Woman and the New Race,” Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger wrote that birth control “is nothing more or less than the facilitation of the process of weeding out the unfit, of preventing the birth of defectives or of those who will become defectives.”

This elitist view strips away the dignity of the human person, especially those deemed as “unfit” or a “defective.” This mentality sheds light on a growing trend, as today is World Down Syndrome Day.

The sad truth is that people with Down syndrome are disappearing.

With the advent of fetal testing, a diagnosis of Down syndrome has become a death sentence, as the parents of these children are often told the best course of action is abortion — an action they take an estimated 92 percent of the time.

A recent report in Iceland says that country’s figure is closer to 100 percent. These stats say the worst about our society.

The reality is that those labeled as “unfit” can teach us more about God’s love and our own humanity that many others can. Children with disabilities can take more work, time and sacrifice — but they are not a burden. This is seen in the joy of children with disabilities and their parents.

We discuss their courage and share the devastating impact abortion has on those with disabilities in this podcast episode.

It is very moving to see children with disabilities praying at a 40 Days for Life vigil, and it happens often.

There is usually a story behind their presence at the abortion facility, because many parents are pressured to abort. When they chose life, that child becomes a witness to God’s unconditional love.

I have an exciting update about one of my favorite all-time 40 Days for Life stories involving a child with disabilities that I can’t wait to tell you about – but I can’t reveal it just yet! But it’s coming soon.

In the meantime, here are a couple of stories about faithful parents who decided it was better to trust God than to trust the experts.

[Salvation]

Sacramento, California

March 21, 2017

When the 40 Days for Life team met with Sacramento volunteers on a bus tour stop, they were introduced to a woman who had received troubling news from her doctor.

She was told there was between a 40 and 60 percent chance that her baby would be born with Down syndrome or another chromosomal anomaly, or perhaps a heart problem. Faced with such a diagnosis, the doctor started to advise an abortion.

The baby’s parents quickly cut him off. They would accept and love whatever child God gave them.

That was almost five years ago. These parents attended the 40 Days for Life vigil recently … with their completely healthy child.

The medical diagnosis could have easily been explained from a “glass is half full” perspective – that the baby had a 40 to 60 percent chance of being fine. But based on even a hint of problems, the prospect of abortion was raised almost immediately.

Thankfully, these were strong parents with a strong faith!

[Salvation]

Baia Mare, Romania

March 21, 2017

One of the 40 Days for Life volunteers met a friend at the vigil who stopped to offer a big hug and a thank you.

A year ago, this woman’s sister was pregnant, and the doctors recommended a battery of fetal tests – something that’s become common in what they consider high-risk pregnancies.

The tests came back indicating the baby could possibly have Down syndrome or trisomy-18. The almost immediate recommendation from the “experts” was abortion.

The mother was admittedly suspicious of the test results, but was nonetheless determined to keep her child no matter what.

“She shared the most wonderful news,” the volunteer said. “Her sister has a perfectly healthy baby and has enjoyed every moment. I thank God for the decision she made!”

The Baia Mare team member said this story serves as a reminder to women who have doubts, who may panic when told of unexpected problems with their babies. The message is: trust God, choose life.

[Salvation]

Podcast — You are not alone

http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/f/0/e/f0ede7e94867d4ee/ep64.mp3?c_id=14588761&expiration=1490159828&hwt=1f92938cb7a77069b7c56af1b1be9fa1

[victim soul]

You made my morning! I have had health issues and miss being with my prolife friends. Thanks for posting and I hope you can continue this until the end of thesef forty days. I can still pray and fast.

God bless you for your faithfulness, Salvation.

[Salvation]

Blessings to you for stopping by to bump the thread.

[Salvation]

DAY 22: New effort in an ancient city

March 22, 2017

For the first time, we’re seeing “40 Giorni per la Vita” in Rome! 40 Days for Life is now going on in a new country … and a new language.

Robert Colquhoun, our international campaign director, just got back from a visit to Italy … meeting with Chiara, the local coordinator. Chiara is a university student who started her own pro-life organization and has traveled to the March for Life in Washington, DC.

“We met with some of the students and prayed at their vigil site outside the San Giovanni Hospital, where some 1,000 abortions are performed every year,” Robert said. “They’ve made a good start, and I think there is much potential here as there are hardly any groups in Italy doing public prayer vigils at present.”

Robert said Italy legalized abortion in 1978. And while Rome is surprisingly secular, “there are many doctors who refuse to perform abortions – the rate of conscience objections in Italy is high.”

The idea of a public prayer vigil in Italy remains “highly counter-cultural,” he said, “so it is a challenge to overcome that hurdle. But I think there is great potential for 40 Days for Life to spread here.”

[Salvation]

Richmond, Virginia

March 22, 2017

What difference can one person make? More than you might think!

Ann in Richmond shared the story of a 40 Days for Life volunteer who has helped the local campaign grow larger and stronger.

“She joined our team a couple of years ago and immediately showed her level of commitment as she attended meetings and planned events with us,” Ann said.

But this year, she decided to do more. She approached her pastor and asked permission to invite the church to take a more active role in 40 Days for Life.

Her initiative led the Knights of Columbus to print 1,300 flyers that were put into Sunday bulletins. The volunteer then invited parishioners to join her on the sidewalk in front of the abortion center.

The following week, the first group came to the vigil. “They met at the church and drove together,” Ann said. “They brought flowers to leave at the site. And they prayed together.”

The team member said she’d have been happy if just a few had been there.

“In fact,” Ann said, “a dozen came. And they have all been invited to come back next week, same day, same time. This kind of new vitality inspires us all!”

[Salvation]

Hollywood, Florida

March 22, 2017

Friends don’t let friends go into abortion facilities – for any reason!

That was the case when a young couple was dropped off along the sidewalk near the 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers in Hollywood.

One of the vigil participants handed the man a brochure from a life-affirming pregnancy help center. He started looking at the material … but the woman just headed inside.

The man looked at the volunteers and said, “She’s in there!”

One of the volunteers looked at him and said, “Well – go in there and take her out!”

And he did!

When she came out, she said the staff had already given her a stack of paperwork and she was being prepped for a pregnancy test.

The volunteers knew that if she was pregnant, the abortion facility’s employees would immediately begin pressuring her to have an abortion. They also knew she would be treated much more respectfully at the pregnancy help center that’s just a few blocks away – and that was the next stop for this young couple.

In the end, her pregnancy test was negative.

But the volunteers’ message to young women remained constant: If you want a pregnancy test, we have a much better option for you than ever setting foot in an abortion center!

[Salvation]

DAY 23: Sweet Southern charm

March 23, 2017

Not everyone likes 40 Days for Life, of course. But those who express their opposition often get unexpected reactions.

There are reasons why 40 Days for Life succeeds:

• It’s peaceful
• It’s prayerful
• It’s joyful
• It’s loving

And after a while, sometimes even the hardest of hearts start to soften.

Here’s what I mean.

Atlanta, Georgia

At the most recent 40 Days for Life campaign, the volunteers heard often from a staff member at a school near the abortion center. And it wasn’t very friendly.

He yelled at the volunteers … and said the extra cars that vigil participants parked in the area were a danger for the school’s clients.

The police said it was both safe and legal for them to be there, but that didn’t seem to matter.

One day, he sped towards the sidewalk and slammed his brakes hard. The skidding wheels sprayed gravel at the women who were peacefully praying.

They barely reacted. They just moved a bit so their signs were still visible from the street … kept on praying … and said nothing to the angry driver.

This man still didn’t give up, and convinced the county to make the entire section of the street a no-parking zone, which took away about half of the spaces the vigil participants were accustomed to using.

“We prayed much for him,” said Margarita, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Atlanta, “for healing of whatever was causing such rage.”

This time around, it’s totally different. As he was driving to school one day recently, this same man – the guy with the angry voice and squealing tires – smiled and waved … and even spoke to the volunteers.

“He said he hopes some women will change their minds at the clinic this time,” Margarita said. “He looked amazed and embarrassed.”

What spurred the change in attitude?

He said he’d been researching “all this” and decided “it’s terrible.” He repeated the comment about hoping more women change their minds and said he hopes abortion will soon become illegal again.

“Praise God!” Margarita said. “Praying he comes to know the Lord if he hasn’t already.”

[Salvation]

Mendoza, Argentina

March 23, 2017

“We are doing a 24-hour vigil,” said Carmen, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Mendoza.

“During the weekends entire families participate with their little children – some of them with 5, 6 or 7 children. There are many large families here!”

Carmen said because abortion is not legal in Argentina, “we don’t know how many lives our prayers have saved. But I feel certain that our prayers are heard.”

Argentina has seen a number of pro-abortion demonstrations recently, some of which she described as “revolting. It is very unpleasant.”

She said “this has caused many people to reject abortion … and many lukewarm Christians are waking up to their faith.” During this period of pro-abortion unrest, Carmen said, “the campaign is like a ray of light.”

[Salvation]

Birmingham, England

“More good news!” said one of the Birmingham team leaders.

“A couple took one of our leaflets as they drove into the Marie Stopes abortion centre,” the volunteer said. After their initial appointment they came out and thanked the vigil participants.

They said the information had made them think … and they would now be keeping their baby.

Later, a man told the vigil participants that he had a change of heart, found his girlfriend inside Marie Stopes and encouraged her to leave.

“Please keep these people in your prayers,” the Birmingham team member said, “and join in your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign.”

[Salvation]

DAY 24: “Abortion care happens here”

March 24, 2017

“Health care happens here.”

That’s what the big pink banners hanging from the walls of Planned Parenthood abortion businesses read. We see them everywhere.

That slogan ties in with their usual deceitful talking points about mammograms, cancer screenings and prenatal care – things that either happen at Planned Parenthood rarely – or don’t even happen there at all.

Just when you think Planned Parenthood can’t get any more out of touch or desensitized to women, we see a sign like the one above in Boston.

It was so stunning that prayer volunteers had to put their own sign right next to it.

Planned Parenthood has become much more aggressive now that their government cash is threatened.

But “abortion care”?

Thankfully, people are beginning to see through Planned Parenthood’s slogans.

In St. Louis recently, a young woman left Planned Parenthood after changing her mind about abortion. As she walked away, she told volunteers, “I’m not religious or anything, but I just felt something demonic there.”

Brian, the 40 Days for Life leader in St. Louis, agreed. “Evil surrounds this clinic. This is something our volunteers sense, too … engaging in this spiritual warfare is very difficult and tolling, yet we persevere.”

You may be able to see another slogan in fine print on the Planned Parenthood sign: “Care. No matter what.”

To this we can only respond: “Prayer. No matter what.”

Let’s get to work!

[Salvation]

Eureka, California

March 24, 2017

While visiting with volunteers at a rally in Eureka, 40 Days for Life’s Steve Karlen learned this campaign is built on strong leadership from a variety of Christian faith communities.

The leaders told Steve that Planned Parenthood in Eureka is losing money. As a result, its parent group had to merge with another Planned Parenthood affiliate.

“One of the people I met said his involvement in 40 Days for Life opened up a door for him to talk with a pregnant niece,” Steve said. “He encouraged her to choose life – and she did!”

[Salvation]

Lisbon, Portugal

March 24, 2017

Paula, the 40 Days for Life leader in Lisbon, says the campaign there continues to grow.

Volunteers have witnessed emotional scenes outside the abortion center – including one instance where a 39-year-old woman came out in tears after having an abortion.

“She said she just wanted to go home, get into bed and cry,” Paula said. She had no children, and said “I’ve never hurt anyone, not even an ant” … but she thought the abortion was something she “had to do.” She was given information about Rachel’s Vineyard and post-abortion healing.

Another volunteer counted 33 women going into the clinic during an hour and a half on the sidewalk. Of these women, 26 had someone with them, and 29 came by car or taxi – and the cars included a Mercedes, a BMW and a Porche.

This vigil participant said the common myth that women who have abortions are poor and have no support is simply that – a myth.

“I prayed for the unborn babies, for the mothers and for the parents of those children, and for the conversion of all those who work there,” the volunteer said. And although there were many attempts to start conversations with abortion center clients, “nobody came to talk to me.”

“I also prayed for our politicians so that Portugal does not continue to walk towards the abyss that is this culture of death.”