Memphis, Tennessee

“We want to offer them hope,” one of the Memphis volunteers told a reporter from the local newspaper, the Commercial Appeal.

“We want them to know that God loves them and there is a plan. There’s a purpose for every life,” she said.

This is the 18th 40 Days for Life vigil in Memphis – the first was in 2008. All have been in front of Planned Parenthood – but not all in the current location. Planned Parenthood lost the lease to its original office following the fourth 40 Days for Life vigil.

Kathy, the local leader, told the newspaper that Planned Parenthood’s main business is abortion. “There’s always hope and love and adoption. No child ever chooses to die,” she said.

“It’s just a ministry that God has called me do,” said another vigil participant. “I believe like the Lord says, God is the author of life and I just want to take a stand for life. And we do it in love.”

The paper also noted that the prayer team had a full list of life-affirming resources that they made available to the women they met outside Planned Parenthood – centers that provide alternatives to abortion as well as counseling and support after an abortion.

DAY 5: Great weather for prayer and fasting!

Usually, the “spring” campaign is really more like winter in many of the places where 40 Days for Life is taking place.

But this time … we’re hearing about great weather in a number of locations.

West Covina, California

The simple comment from the team in West Covina was “Thanking God for a beautiful day to start the spring 40 Days for Life campaign!”

But nonetheless – kudos to all of you who are putting up with cold and snow!

Anchorage, Alaska

Pat, the leader in Anchorage had a three-word summary of their kickoff event: “I was cold!”

Pat says a hearty bunch arrived for hymn, prayer and good fellowship.

“We were greeted by a protester of a different kind,” he said, “30-mile-per hour winds that blew our signs away, broke stakes that held signs in the snow, and chilled to the bones!”

Edmonton, Alberta

Cold and sunny was the weather report in Edmonton, Alberta. It was -7°C – that’s 19°F – and it was very windy.

“We were quite chilled after an hour,” said one of the local leaders, “but our kickoff had some effect: one of my ‘favorite’ abortion staffers poked her head out the front door to look around. Yes, we’ve begun — 40 days of prayer, fasting and witnessing for Life!”