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To: All
Day 10 email update:

Yesterday I visited the Toledo, Ohio 40 Days for Life
campaign and in a few hours I'll be jumping on an
airplane to Jacksonville, Florida, where I'll be
joining the 40 Days for Life volunteers on the
streets as part of their vigil.

It always amazes me to see so many people "speaking
up for those who cannot speak for themselves."

While running across the country visiting 40 Days for
Life locations, I have to admit that I keep thinking
about the banner at the Planned Parenthood abortion
center in St. Louis that I told you about earlier
this week -- the one that says "defend the truth."

I keep waiting for the day when everyone knows the
truth and there's no one left to defend what goes on
at Planned Parenthood and hundreds of other abortion
centers in North America and throughout the world.

The good news is that more people are learning the
truth -- thanks to you!

In Riverside, California, people who were praying at
the 40 Days for Life vigil watched as a young woman
entered the Planned Parenthood abortion center. A
couple of hours later, she came out. A pastor who was
praying with the group met her and asked if she
needed anything.

She told him she had come for an abortion, but
changed her mind. The Planned Parenthood staff told
her they would give her a shot that would stop her
baby's heart. She said, "WHAT?"

The young woman knew right away she could not go
through with the abortion, so she got up and left. In
her heart, she knew the truth.

In Kalispell, Montana, one of the vigil participants
had a chance to talk with a man whose company
provided contract services for All Families
Healthcare. It was news to this man that All Families
Healthcare was in the abortion business. He said he
would have never signed a contract with the clinic if
he had known the truth.

He thanked the people praying for taking part in 40
Days for Life -- and assured them that he would not
be renewing his contract with the clinic.

The reality of abortion in most communities is that
many people are simply unaware that it's going on in
their city. "Abortion" is somebody else's problem --
or a political issue, perhaps. It doesn't seem real.

People seem to act like it's something that involves
people you don't know and places you've never been.
But of course, that isn't the truth.

That's one of the reasons why community outreach is a
key component of 40 Days for Life.

In Halifax, Nova Scotia, the 40 Days for Life team
went door-to-door to let people in their city know
about the campaign -- and to ask them to pray.

"Most people are a little surprised at such a
request," said Julie. "And most are polite --
probably thinking that if they are nice, we will
leave quickly."

The volunteers offer a fact sheet about 40 Days for
Life that also includes information about abortion
that people generally do not know.

"This went much better than I anticipated," she said.
"No one I met had even heard of the vigil or noticed
it, so this really is a way to raise community
awareness of the prayer vigil and to bring the
neglected issue of abortion before the public."

The truth will ALWAYS triumph over the big lie of
abortion. So let's spread more of the truth!

46 posted on 10/05/2009 4:44:24 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Day 11 email update:

Today's devotional speaks of being ambassadors of
Christ. That's exactly what each of us is called to
do during this 40 Days for Life campaign -- and I am
so gratified to see how many of you are taking this
call to heart.

But it isn't always easy.

More than in any previous campaign, there is strong
opposition to what you are and others are doing on
the sidewalks of 212 cities. And in a couple of
minutes, I'm going to ask you to watch a 38-second
video that shows the challenge -- and the proper
response to that challenge that demonstrates to the
whole world exactly what sets 40 Days for Life apart.

Carol Marie in Reno, Nevada reports that 40 Days for
Life vigil participants often have to deal with
"tirades, nasty comments and empty threats" from the
abortionist, who clearly wishes the prayer presence
outside his offices would go away.

The people praying at the vigil do not respond; they
just keep praying. "I am happy to learn that we
continue to demonstrate that we are there to share
the love of Christ with those who come to the
abortion site," Carol Marie said, "regardless of
their reason for being there, regardless of the role
they are playing in this tragedy."

Paul in Lake Jackson, Texas said 40 Days for Life
vigil participants there had a most challenging time
recently. "We were visited by an angry protester that
spent 45 minutes shouting at us and trying to argue
with us right in front of our vigil space," he said.
"By the grace of God, we were cool headed and tried
not to engage her in any conversation but she was
very persistent.

It got to the point where one of the vigil
participants had to call the police. "The officer
that spent some time with the woman and told us
afterward she wouldn't be back," Paul said. Even the
mayor came later to offer his support. "Through it
all we kept praying."

Clair in Kalamazoo, Michigan notes that a water
bottle and a nearly-empty drink can were thrown at 40
Days for Life vigil participants from passing
vehicles. Thankfully, no one was hurt. "The
individuals who threw these items would like it very
much if we stopped coming out," she said. But
Kalamazoo is committed to press on with their 40 Days
for Life campaign.

The group did file a police report, and the officers
promised to help. "They have told us there will be
more patrols going past the Planed Parenthood
facility," said Clair.

A slight increase in the incidents of taunting and
heckling have been reported, as "pro-choice" bloggers
are furiously attempting to rally abortion advocates
to go out to abortion centers and demonstrate against
the 40 Days for Life prayer vigils.

The 38-second video I'd like you to watch is one that
I discovered on YouTube. It was recorded outside Dr.
Emily's Women's Health Center in The Bronx, New York
-- one of the country's busiest abortion facilities,
that ends the lives of thousands of children yearly.

You'll see a small 40 Days for Life group, including
several Catholic nuns, standing in a circle praying
peacefully and quietly. You won't see the abortion
demonstrators, but you'll certainly hear them as they
angrily chant slogans in an attempt to drown out the
vigil participants' prayers.

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=305

This, in a 38-second nutshell, is what 40 Days for
Life is all about. We stand up for those who have no
voice, in a world that doesn't want to listen, where
people yell in an effort to drown out the truth.

But never forget -- Jesus told us to expect this:
"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute
you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely
because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward
will be great in heaven" (Matthew 5:11-12).

40 Days for Life gives us the opportunity to live
that out in a unique way. And, if we aren't being
persecuted for our faith at times -- are we really
living out the fullness of the gospel?

Thank you for being prayerful and peaceful ... and
for living the gospel.

47 posted on 10/05/2009 4:46:37 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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