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A comical email, but it could also happen to us.

A 40 Days for Life campaign can be very intense ...
but we often find there is at least one moment that
lets us laugh at ourselves. My moment came last week.

If you’ve been following these messages, you know
that both David Bereit — 40 Days for Life’s national
director — and I are on the road a lot. We live in
the same city, but with full travel schedules, we
don’t see each other very often during the campaigns.
Many times, we even forget where the other one is.

But this time around, we’ve taken that to whole new
levels. Last week, I got off an airplane in Richmond,
Virginia and sat waiting for my bag at the gate. I
then noticed somebody walking off the plane I was on,
and he looked really familiar. It was David Bereit!

We were on the same plane and didn’t know it! And to
make things even worse, it was a very small plane.

We had been in different parts of the country, flying
home on the same connecting flight from Cleveland ...
and still didn’t know it until after we landed.

We were even e-mailing each other in the Cleveland
airport — unaware that we were sitting at the same
gate just yards from each other waiting on our flight.

We laughed at ourselves ... and you should certainly
feel free to do the same!

We take our work very seriously — but we do give
thanks for lighthearted moments like this one.

Here are some great reports from local 40 Days for
Life campaigns ...

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

Dan, a local 40 Days for Life coordinator in
Milwaukee, is one of those people willing to put his
entire heart and soul into standing in peaceful
witness outside the abortion center. We get frequent
e-mail notes from Dan — usually short and sweet, but
packed with something to celebrate:

* “God showed us two saves today!”
* “Three saves today within 19 minutes of each other!”
* “News of two saves today — twins!”

He also sends pictures. It seems like there’s always
something special going on at the vigil. Dan’s photos
include a church group participating in a “silent
solidarity” event, a group from the Sons of Mercy
motorcycle club (yes, pro-life bike enthusiasts) —
and a picture that Dan captioned “puppies for life.”

To see the photos from Milwaukee, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3444

WALKER, MINNESOTA

The 40 Days for Life vigil is back at the county
courthouse in Walker — a town with no abortion center,
but with people who are eager to stand up for life.

Pastor Michael Bitz from Immanuel Lutheran Church led
a group in prayer recently — teaching, singing ...
and even helping to inflate 40 Days for Life balloons.

He reminded vigil participants of John 14:13-14, when
Christ said that whatever we ask of Him in His name,
He will do.

“As we prayed silently, our balloons were released
to fly into the sky above as a sweet spirit flowed
among us,” said one of the volunteers. “It was a
good day.”

To see a picture from the Walker vigil, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3444

LANSING, MICHIGAN

Many of the 40 Days for Life teams are telling of how
their campaigns are energized whenever local pastors
visit vigil sites. Wherever the pastors go — their
churches follow.

On a rainy morning, Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing’s
Catholic diocese led about 50 people in prayer at the
vigil outside the local abortion center.

Chris, the local coordinator in Lansing, said the
bishop asked the group to pray for the women considering
abortion, that they may understand that they have much
better options. He also thanked them for their constant
prayers and continuous vigil.

For photos from the vigil in Lansing, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3444

Day 16 - October 11

Intention:

Pray for the mothers going into pregnancy help centers. The personal care, the free ultrasound, the ongoing practical help is designed to deliver them from those who profit in shedding innocent blood.

Scripture:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

-- Matthew 11:28

Reflection:

"You have twins. That will be another $350." She did not speak English. But she finally understood that they were telling her to go get more money and return for her abortion.

She had already given them her rent money. But they were not about to give her a two-for-one deal. They told her to get dressed and return with more cash. A couple, who was praying outside, comforted her. They brought her to their local pregnancy help center.

The staff quickly saw that her personal circumstances were so desperate, and immediate, that they would need direct and ongoing help from local Christians and churches. They started making calls.

Then they did the ultrasound. It showed there was only one baby, not two. This abandoned, immigrant, powerless mother was being exploited. She would do whatever she was told. Who would know? Who would care?

God calls us to "Rescue the weak and the needy; and deliver them from the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:4).

When you provide an alternative to abortion you are not only rescuing innocent babies, you are delivering mothers from the wicked: those who profit in the shedding of innocent blood. Pray for those who rescue and deliver daily at your local pregnancy help center.

Prayer:

Father, hear our prayer! Snatch desperate mothers from the fire. Bring them out of our abortion businesses and into our pregnancy help centers. Deliver them from evil. Use us to help them chose life and see your hand of provision.

Rev. John Ensor
Vice President, Heartbeat International