40 Days for Life keeps growing … September 27 through November 5

40 Days for Life.com ^ | 09--27-17 | 40 Days for Life staff

[Salvation]

Falls Church, Virginia

October 22, 2017

Ruby in Falls Church has good news – two couples were diverted from the abortion facility to local pregnancy help centers.

“In both cases, the fathers of their unborn were open to life and glad to receive any help we offered.”

In one instance, both grandmothers were willing to raise the baby until the mom finished school – and the father supported that option. But the mother said she felt like she was being forced to keep the baby.

“She believed it was OK to abort at an early age,” Ruby said. “When asked would she do this to a 2-year old toddler, she said no.” After further counseling, they decided to keep the baby.

“We were concerned that if the mother went into the abortion center, they would convince her that she could take the abortion pill and call it a miscarriage and the family would never know,” she said.

The volunteers also report an unexpected development in the area around the vigil site.

“I have been kicked out of my favorite parking spot!” Ruby said. Workers installed “no parking” signs – right where her car was parked. “I’ve been parking there over ten years with no problems.”

More signs have popped up in the neighborhood, which will have an effect on vigil participants arriving for their prayer hours.

“On the bright side,” Ruby said, “we’re definitely making an impact!”

[Salvation]

Sarasota, Florida

October 22, 2017

The Sarasota 40 Days for Life campaign had a group of more than 150 participants circle the block around Planned Parenthood in prayer.

People came from as far away as Fort Myers (two hours south) via bus to participate.

While circling the block, they passed the Community Pregnancy Clinic which recently opened right next to the largest Planned Parenthood in Florida, the regional headquarters for 22 counties.

“It’s truly a David and Goliath situation,” said Jeanne in Sarasota. This center recently reported its first successful abortion pill reversal.

Volunteers say it appears that Planned Parenthood has changed its abortion day, so one of the regular prayer groups has changed its schedule as well to be there for the moms and babies.

[Salvation]

DAY 27: God’s ways are not ours

October 23, 2017

Ready to start the week with extremely encouraging news?

Here it is! 40 Days for Life campaign leaders tell us that so far this campaign

… 289 babies have been spared from abortion

– that we know of!

We can only wonder how many mothers have turned away from abortion that only God knows about. Since He’s a good and merciful God … we have to believe there are many more!

[Salvation]

Yuba City, California

October 23, 2017

“Praise the Lord!” said one of the California leaders. “Two babies were saved from abortion at the Yuba City 40 Days for Life!”

Both of these young women went to Planned Parenthood for pregnancy tests. They were being pressured … feeling distraught … and considering the abortion pill.

Thankfully, one of the volunteers was able to provide life-affirming encouragement – giving the women information about fetal development, directing them to a pro-life pregnancy help center and exchanging contact information so they could get back in touch.

One of the women did just that, sending back a text message after her visit to the help center.

“Thank you again!” she wrote. “I’m so incredibly thankful you guys were out there that day. You guys knew the exact words to make me feel better. And I knew you guys would as soon as I pulled up. God really does work in such amazing ways!”

[Salvation]

Austin, Texas

October 23, 2017

Austin is taking part in 40 Days for Life for the 19th time … pausing at the mid-point of the campaign for a candlelight vigil “to give thanks for the blessings we’ve seen … to be motivated … and to pray for all of those affected by abortion.”

And those blessings include “four moms (so far) that had scheduled an abortion but changed their minds and chose life,” said Heather in Austin.

There have been dozens more that have stopped to talk to counselors. Heather noted a common theme from the women they’ve spoken to.

“‘It’s so expensive here!’ is what we keep hearing about the abortion facilities,” she said. “Your presence matters!”

[Salvation]

Portland, Oregon
“We had a turnaround!” said Therese in Portland.

A mother arrived at the abortion center with her teenage daughter. “I saw them go in,” Therese said, “but wasn’t able to hand them any information.”

About an hour and a half later, the mom came back out. “When I asked if I could give her any resources, she said no, she didn’t need any. She said her daughter had changed her mind.”

“She didn’t do it!” the mother said. “She decided not to do it.” She also said it was a hard decision for her daughter. “It’s the father that’s the problem,” she murmured.

The volunteers promised to help … and to pray. The mother and daughter left smiling.

[Salvation]

DAY 28: Ten abortions

October 24, 2017

When it comes to abortion, Planned Parenthood doesn’t discriminate.

They will do an abortion on any woman for any reason — and we give examples in this episode of the Days for Life podcast.

They are a bottom-line business … and much of their income comes from “repeat customers.”

Abortions tend to multiply — once a woman has had one, it becomes easier to get a second, a third … or, as we will see today, even a tenth.

This has become shockingly clear outside the largest abortion facility in the Western Hemisphere — the Planned Parenthood mega-center in Houston, Texas.

Houston, Texas

“Is there a limit to the number of abortions a woman can have?”

The young woman’s question stunned the volunteer. She thought back to another woman who had told her, “I’ve had six, but my friend had ten abortions.”

So … the sidewalk counselor explained the complications of a single abortion … and the reality that each additional abortion only increases the risk of those complications.

As we noted in an earlier update, there have already been at least two ambulance calls outside this Planned Parenthood facility since the 40 Days for Life campaign began. There is always a risk.

The conversation must have had an impact. The young woman visited the mobile pregnancy help center across from Planned Parenthood … and eventually left the area without ever going into the abortion facility.

[Salvation]

Kissimmee, Florida

October 24, 2017

The people praying outside Planned Parenthood in Kissimmee watched as a man parked outside … entered the building … and walked out with a woman.

As they got closer, the volunteers could see that the woman was in tears. After a short time, the couple went back in – so the vigil participants prayed even more fervently, with some of them even falling to their knees.

The man and woman soon left Planned Parenthood a final time – smiling, holding hands and crying – and announced that they would not be having an abortion.

The husband had seen the sign that said “pray to end abortion” and thought, “What we are doing is wrong. We cannot do this. Another baby is a blessing.”

With that, he returned and convinced his wife. The baby is their sixth child!

[Salvation]

Walnut Creek, California

October 24, 2017

As 40 Days for Life volunteers prayed, a young woman drove into Planned Parenthood’s parking lot, left, and then came back.

She got out of her car and asked the volunteers why they believed what they believe. It turns out she had a miscarriage recently… was once again pregnant … and was convinced she needed to “get rid of the baby.”

Vigil participants did their best to explain that the baby was a blessing … and that community groups would help her and her child through the pregnancy and beyond.

The young woman promised to read the material she was given, then exchanged contact information with the volunteers – who promised to pray for her – before she left Planned Parenthood again. This time, she did not return.

Please keep her in your prayers!

[Salvation]

Ambulances and more ambulances.

Unfortunately, it’s a not-so-rare scene at Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

The ambulance on the left is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The one on the right – mostly hidden by the large purple sheet – is in Raleigh, North Carolina. Yet another ambulance was seen outside the 40 Days for Life vigil in New York City.

As much as they say abortion is “safe,” it is never safe for the baby — and there can be many complications for the woman.

But the “complication” that seems to bother the abortion industry most is a failed abortion. In other words … the baby survives. And an abortion is only considered successful if a baby dies.

There are babies who do survive abortion and live to tell about it. They have powerful voices, as they were so close to becoming statistics of the abortion industry.

We take a closer look at abortion survivors — and those who work in the abortion industry — on this week’s edition of the 40 Days for Life podcast. Check it out at:

https://40daysforlife.com/2017/10/24/podcast-92/

[Salvation]

Aurora, Illinois

October 25, 2017

One of the 40 Days for Life volunteers met a young woman who’d scheduled an appointment at Planned Parenthood.

“I was able to speak with her a little bit,” the vigil participant said, “and give her pregnancy crisis information.”

When the woman went to her appointment, she saw a man outside the building with his head bowed in prayer. And that’s all it took.

“She chose life!” She is now considering adoption for her child.

“We are so excited,” said Catherine in Aurora. She said her team was feeling a bit weary, “but now we have been blessed with this. Praise God for how he always shows up! We are so blessed to be in the fight for life.”

[Salvation]

Manchester, New Hampshire

October 25, 2017

A candlelight vigil brought light to the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood in Manchester in more ways than one.

The Manchester volunteers recently learned how their prayer presence on the sidewalk makes a difference.

Vigil participants were able to speak to a couple that had an appointment at Planned Parenthood – they were there to get the abortion pill.

Following a bit of conversation with the volunteers, they went inside. But about half an hour later, they left Planned Parenthood.

They had changed their minds!

“They were given information about the pregnancy center on the next block and said they’d go there the next day,” said Shelia in Manchester.

“The same women from 40 Days for Life also redirected a couple looking for a pregnancy test to our pregnancy center right up the street,” she added. “We’re very encouraged and grateful.”

[Salvation]

Freedom of speech for everyone, just not outside abortion centers

October 26, 2017

“If we don’t use our rights to peacefully pray outside abortion facilities, we are at risk of losing those rights – and that’s just what Planned Parenthood wants,” said Shawn Carney, president of 40 Days for Life.

“Based on the intolerant and oppressive actions in Canada, England and other locations,” Carney said, “we’re calling on our volunteers to – where it’s still possible – exercise their rights during the home stretch of our current campaign. Brave men and women are serving in our military around the world to ensure these rights, and we must use them to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”

Numerous cities in the United States have approved, or are considering, buffer zones around abortion centers that specifically restrict pro-life speech. But thus far, none go so far as the regulation just approved in Canada by Ontario’s provincial parliament.

Based on uncorroborated testimony, lawmakers voted to outlaw even something as inoffensive as advising someone not to have an abortion if that conversation takes place within 50 meters of a place that offers abortions. “It’s absurd. Canadian politicians are killing freedom of speech that protects viewpoints they don’t agree with. Thankfully, pro-life Canadians have shown resolve despite the unreasonable government officials who couldn’t care less about their freedom of speech,” Carney said.

One Canadian pro-life leader reported the law was drafted by Planned Parenthood and its abortion business allies. This follows on the heels of statements by Planned Parenthood’s American CEO, Cecile Richards. With no evidence to back up her comments, Richards accused vigil participants of “harassing” women on the sidewalk.

Similar debates are going on in England as well, where it has been said that even suggesting to a woman outside an abortion business that there are options other than abortion is a form of harassment.

“40 Days for Life has succeeded because it is peaceful and prayerful,” Carney said. “Participants must agree to a Statement of Peace, promising lawful behavior while at the prayer vigil on the sidewalk outside the abortion centers. There is no harassment. If there were, we would not have seen thousands of women choose life and 156 abortion workers have a change of heart and quit their jobs since 2007.”

40 Days for Life vigils are continuing through November 5 in 375 locations around the world, including 15 in Canada and 7 in the United Kingdom.

[Salvation]

DAY 30: Best for last

October 26, 2017

It’s always exciting to attend a prayer rally at a 40 Days for Life vigil site.

You will hear enthusiastic speakers and reports about what is happening locally and around the world. And sometimes you will actually witness a baby saved from abortion!

That is exactly what happened at the end of a rally that 40 Days for Life board member Tibor Baksy visited in North Carolina. It’s an amazing story!

Fayetteville, North Carolina

A beautiful morning got even better when a couple at the Fayetteville 40 Days for Life rally shared their story of adopting a baby whose mother had once contemplated abortion.

It was truly a love story, made possible by the prayers of volunteers and the grace and mercy of God.

A short time later, “we were at the end of the rally, and our deacon was closing with prayer,” said Karinna, the Fayetteville coordinator. “He finished and asked if we could stay a little longer since a lady was reaching out to a client and she was starting to walk over.”

A young woman with an abortion appointment, who was there with her mother, spoke to the volunteers – who learned that the mother was against the abortion. Still, both women eventually walked into Planned Parenthood.

“I asked a volunteer what happens normally in a situation like this and she told me Planned Parenthood is very persuasive once the mothers go inside,” said Tibor (on the right in the photo above).

Karinna said the deacon, Tibor and a number of others knelt in prayer.

“After about 20 minutes, the young woman returned to say she had chosen life for the baby,” Tibor said. “We were elated and emotional. The power of prayer is amazing!”

“It was God’s work. Only He could have reached her heart,” Karinna said. “God deserves all the glory.”

“My drive home took five hours and during that time I said many prayers of thanks, shed some tears and reflected on a beautiful morning where the grace of God was so visibly evident,” said Tibor.

“I am grateful to God for the volunteers, for His calling me to this ministry and for all the gifts He continues to bestow.”

[Salvation]

Riyom, Nigeria

October 26, 2017

The community outreach portion of the 40 Days for Life campaign in Riyom continues to touch many people in the region.

Jummai, the local coordinator, also had some very good news to share about a young woman who “chose life for her baby despite the challenge she is facing.”

This young woman, who has a two-year-old daughter, had become pregnant as the result of an assault by a man who has since fled the area. “She lives on money she makes working on people’s farms,” Jummai said.

The volunteers have helped this woman find good medical care.

During this campaign, Jummai has been able to share the pro-life message and the story of 40 Days for Life at various churches and conferences in the area, as well as at a town hall meeting.

[Salvation]

DAY 31: Fake clinics?

October 27, 2017

The abortion industry is losing ground at the local level … and they’re lashing out.

Abortion advocates are now in the middle of an all-out effort to shut down compassionate – and highly-effective – medical pregnancy help centers.

For years, we have worked closely with pregnancy help centers to save lives. And the abortion industry is not happy.

So, extreme pro-abortion forces are bad-mouthing pregnancy help centers, calling them “fake clinics” and claiming these centers lie to women.

(Among the messengers are members of a group called the Lady Parts Justice League – seriously, I’m not making that up; but I wish I were.)

Desperation tactics? You bet.

Their arguments fall flat in the face of the truth. Pregnancy Help News reports that 99 percent of pregnancy center clients say they had a positive experience … showing again how pro-life counseling is a huge threat to Big Abortion.

Show your support and defend these great ministries by leaving a positive review online. It will help guarantee failure for the abortion industry’s latest “expose fake clinics” campaign!

You can learn more about “expose fake clinics” on this edition of the 40 Days for Life podcast.

[Salvation]

United Kingdom

October 27, 2017

Pro-life groups in the United Kingdom have declared today a national day of prayer and fasting.

On this date in 1967, the abortion act passed, legalizing abortion in Great Britain.

“As we have seen 8.9 million babies’ lives lost in this country since the abortion act was passed, it is vitally important that we all do our bit,” said Stuart McCullough of the Good Counsel Network, which works closely with 40 Days for Life in the London area.

Even 50 years of legal abortion isn’t good enough for some in England. An effort is underway to create buffer zones around abortion facilities that would stifle all pro-life outreach.

Media postings are encouraging the effort, with headlines such as “Time to move anti-abortion protests out of women’s way.”

But Clare McCullough, who has led 40 Days for Life vigils in London, says the only commotion around the abortion centers is created by pro-abortion protesters.

“The typical pro-life witness consists of three people, one praying and perhaps two handing out leaflets,” she said. The pro-abortion side “created the incident, and they’re blaming us.”

[Salvation]

Ontario, Canada

October 27, 2017

Pro-life groups in Canada’s largest province are promising to challenge a new law the provincial legislature just approved.

It bans practically any pro-life activity within 50 meters of an abortion facility … which could certainly have an adverse impact on 40 Days for Life. There are currently nine 40 Days for Life vigils in Ontario.

Among other things, the buffer zone bill prohibits advising a person not to get an abortion.

There is concern that the simple act of praying on the sidewalk could be punished by six months in jail and a $5,000 fine.

According to Jim Hughes of Canada’s Campaign Life Coalition, “This law is the first step in silencing and criminalizing speech that is not the official opinion of the state.”

Please keep our Ontario campaigns in your prayers.

[Salvation]

DAY 32: A “Texas welcome” for Planned Parenthood

October 28, 2017

In 2013 – after years of prayerful pro-life witness and seven 40 Days for Life campaigns – Planned Parenthood in Waco, Texas packed up and left town.

But this year, Planned Parenthood returned. And so did a powerful 40 Days for Life campaign!

I visited Waco, where the volunteers promised to keep going strong until the end of the campaign – and beyond. “We are not going away,” said John Pisciotta (below, right), who began leading 40 Days for Life in Waco during the very first coordinated campaign in 2007.

Aine Fitzgerald (above, left), who is co-leading the current campaign, encouraged people to continue coming out to pray on abortion days after the campaign.

Planned Parenthood flies in a doctor from Massachusetts to abort babies in Waco. “The local media coverage has been great,” Aine said. “We were on the front page … and that has drawn a lot of attention to abortion being back in Waco.”

Earlier this campaign, we sent a beautiful story of a mom who chose life.

That’s just one example of how God is using the campaign to save lives – and get Planned Parenthood out of Waco forever.

[Salvation]

Santa Cruz, California

October 28, 2017

This is the 15th campaign for 40 Days for Life in Santa Cruz … and the volunteers are seeing a significant impact as a result of their prayer and witness.

For starters, the number of surgical abortions went on a steep decline, from around 40 per month to 8 or fewer. And now, surgical abortions are no longer taking place – only chemical abortions. Clients are referred to other locations for surgical abortions.

The local team isn’t sure if this is a permanent change – but they’re praying it will be. They’re also helping to publicize abortion pill reversals in light of the changes at the abortion facility.

As for the vigil itself, participation continues to grow, with new churches and more first-time volunteers joining the campaign.