In every 40 Days for Life campaign, at some point, people have all felt the same thing -- loneliness. Local leaders and volunteers alike can sometimes think, “Does anyone else care about this?”
Loneliness and discouragement are common temptations -- especially
when it comes to standing up to an injustice as great as abortion. That’s why sometimes the greatest motivation for a local 40 Days for Life campaign is ...
... another 40 Days for Life campaign!
Here’s an example.
STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN
“This is our 10th 40 Days for Life campaign,” said Maribeth in Sterling Heights. “We know we are making a difference in our community by the many passersby who stop to thank us or share their story of how abortion has affected their lives.”
“We use stories from the inspirational book by David Bereit and Shawn Carney in our many of our gatherings,” Maribeth explained. “Sue shared the story called ‘Invisible Answers’ [chapter 9, which focuses on Providence, Rhode Island and West Palm Beach, Florida] at our opening vigil.”
That chapter talks about not seeing the fruits of your labor right away. In a similar way, Maribeth said, “we, too, were blessed with moms coming back to show us … those smiling little faces who might not have been here if it were not for those dedicated prayer warriors.”
The volunteers in Sterling Heights will keep hoping for visible answers to their prayers, she said. “And we know that with God, all is possible!”
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
Wynette sent a picture from the midpoint rally of Sacramento’s 12th 40 Days for Life campaign. There was a celebration theme – yet another life had been spared from abortion. And … there’s turmoil at the abortion center.
“Right now, this abortion clinic is having a hard time trying to hire a new clinic manager,” she said. “Nine out of 25 employees have left in the past year … two women quit because they were pregnant and they are now new full-time mothers to their baby boys.”
This abortion business has four satellite facilities throughout northern California. They’re under investigation, Wynette said, “and had an ambulance called late Friday afternoon recently, after having done abortions all day long. Tensions are very high. Prayers continue.”
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
A woman walked up to prayer volunteers at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Baltimore’s Fullerton area – their first campaign – and demanded, "So, what do you do when your daughter is pregnant?"
As the volunteers listened, they discovered that the woman's daughter wanted her baby, but she was worried. How could she support herself, her daughter and her grandchild?
“These situations are all too common, and sometimes people feel trapped by their economic circumstances,” said Jody, the local campaign director. “Friends, family, coworkers all encourage women in situations like this to abort their unborn children. They are made to feel guilty if they choose life for their child and thus become a ‘burden’ to others.”
The volunteers were able to share information about a local pregnancy resource center. And then they asked this woman if they could pray with her.
“There were tears in her eyes as he finished praying,” Jody said. “She left hopeful and with a renewed sense of joyful anticipation for the birth of her first grandchild. Thank you for standing and praying and listening. Thank you all for the hope you are bringing.”