As 40 Days for Life begins its eleventh year as a coordinated pro-life outreach, Christians began prayer vigils today in more than 375 locations around the world – the largest campaign yet for this pro-life movement.
“More than 150 of these peaceful vigils will be taking place in front of Planned Parenthood facilities in the United States,” said 40 Days for Life president Shawn Carney. “While Planned Parenthood remains the largest abortion chain in the United States, 2017 has not been a good year for them.”
As 40 Days for Life has grown even larger in 2017, just this summer Planned Parenthood shut down abortion centers in Chandler, Arizona; Vacaville, California; and Sioux City, Iowa. Additionally, Planned Parenthood announced it would ¬¬¬¬close referral centers in Casper, Wyoming and Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
“At all of those locations, faithful Christians prayed on the sidewalks outside during 40 Days for Life vigils,” Carney said. “All total, we are now aware of 90 abortion centers that have gone out of business permanently following 40 Days for Life vigils since our coordinated campaigns began in 2007. We don’t take credit. We just note that people prayed for an end to abortion in their communities, and the places that offered abortions then closed.
“Former Planned Parenthood employees have reported that the ‘no show’ rate for an abortion appointment goes as high as 75% when people are out in front praying,” Carney said. “Going out to these places is the ultimate way to defund the abortion giant.”
Internationally, 40 Days for Life campaigns are being conducted for the first time in three new countries – Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary and Taiwan. “All of our prayers – gathered together as one – can make an enormous difference,” said Carney.
40 Days for Life consists of 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach. Two campaigns are conducted each year – one in the fall, and one during the Christian season of lent. The dates for the current campaign are September 27 through November 5.
The first 40 Days for Life vigil was conducted outside a Planned Parenthood abortion center in Bryan, Texas in 2004. That facility closed in 2013, and the former Planned Parenthood building now serves as 40 Days for Life’s international headquarters.
Sacramento, California
October 8, 2017
It’s often the simple conversations on the sidewalk that help make 40 Days for Life special.
A team member watched as a woman got out of a shiny car and walked into the spa that’s near the abortion facility in Sacramento. About an hour later, she came back out.
“I leaned around the bush, mustered up my best smile and asked if I could give her some information,” the volunteer said. “She looked up and smiled and said, ‘What’s it about?'”
She was told that it was information for women who are pregnant and in need of help. The woman gave a knowing nod and said, “I totally understand where you’re coming from. I am pro-life all the way.”
She then told a story about her sister, who has a physically-abusive boyfriend. They have a 7-year-old child … and just found out that she is pregnant.
“Her boyfriend said that he would beat her if she didn’t go and get an abortion,” the woman said. “So she called me and I went over and packed up her stuff and her son … and they are now living with me. There is no way that we would abort that baby.”
The woman then thanked the 40 Days for Life volunteers for being there and supporting life. And we thank her for supporting life as well — on a direct, personal level.
Austin, Texas
October 9, 2017
“We just had a save!” was the good news from one of the 40 Days for Life volunteers in Austin.
While vigil participants were praying in front of the abortion center, a woman arrived and went inside. After she’d been there for about an hour, she came back out and left in a taxi.
But as they reached the end of the driveway, the taxi stopped and the woman rolled down the window.
The volunteers were about to ask her which brochure she needed, but she stopped them short. “Just give them all to me,” she said. “I’ve decided I’m not going to go through the abortion!”
What made the difference? Well, she had seen the people praying – and one in person in particular had caught her eye.
The young woman told them, “Your prayers are working!”
Downey, California
October 9, 2017
“We have good news today!” said Patti in Downey.
It was a chemical abortion day at the facility where this 40 Days for Life vigil takes place.
“Two couples left Family Planning Associates, and indicated they were happy and not getting an abortion,” Patti said. “Praise God!”
The day before was a surgical abortion day – quite a different scene around the building. Abortion days bring out about a dozen pro-abortion escorts. Still, the volunteers watched as two couples, who had only been inside for a short time, quickly left the facility.
“We hope they changed their minds,” Patti said, though she was not able to find out for sure.
“May there be thousands more lives spared through all the prayer and sacrifices of everyone in 40 Days for Life!”
Little Rock, Arkansas
October 10, 2017
At the 40 Days for Life vigil in Little Rock, the abortion center staff has been known to turn the sprinklers on – trying to soak participants.
The idea is to keep the prayer volunteers away from the sidewalk.
One day during the campaign, a landscaper had parked across the street to do some work. He approached the security guard and asked him to turn off the sprinklers. Not only was his truck getting wet, but he also said it was a traffic hazard.
The guard became hostile and started cursing, so the landscaper called the police. It’s worth noting that the landscaper is a former police officer.
Five officers in three patrol cars soon arrived to take a report … and one of the prayer volunteers added information about the sprinklers.
“We have not had any luck getting them stopped,” said Mary in Little Rock. But maybe with a former office filing a complaint, “we will see!”
DAY 15: Tough times in Canada
October 11, 2017
Pray for our friends in Canada.
It seems the government in the province of Ontario doesn’t care much for free speech.
Legislation was proposed that could create “safe access zones” around abortion centers – a buffer zone of at least 50 meters “where activities such as advising a person to refrain from accessing abortion services … would be prohibited.”
As it was written, the measure could have even forbidden sidewalk counselors from handing out critical life-saving information.
Fortunately, the proposal ran into a legislative roadblock that should keep it locked up in committee. Please pray that it stays there!
40 Days for Life board chair Matt Britton just visited several campaign locations in Ontario (including Oakville, above).
Despite the hostility towards free speech and religious liberty mounting against Christian witness on the sidewalks … he found 40 Days for Life participants outside abortion facilities who were fervently praying for an end to abortion in Canada.
London, Ontario
October 11, 2017
Matt Britton, the 40 Days for Life board chair, described the vigil site in London as a “tough location on a crazy-busy corner … but about 250 yards from the hospital.”
The highlight of this stop was meeting a retired doctor. Years ago, he had delivered a family’s ninth child – a baby with Down syndrome. The family loved the baby and welcomed him
“But the medical board found out and censured him,” Matt said, “and told him that he should have aborted the baby over the will of the family.” The doctor was ordered to attend a 90-day “re-education” course.
“He told them that he would neither do nor refer for abortions,” Matt learned. “They said that he needed more re-education. He handed in his license.”
An enthusiastic crowd attended the rally … but Matt did spot a counter-protester with a box in front of her head.
“I mentioned that we would be there for 40 days, year after year, and that she would likely be gone in 40 minutes,” he said. “She left about 25 minutes later.”
DAY 16: Here’s your nudge
October 12, 2017
When more than 13,400 babies were saved from abortion during 40 Days for Life … it happened during someone’s hour of prayer.
An hour doesn’t seem like much, but God can use your hour to save a life. Of course, you have to make a commitment to do it.
Do you need a nudge — or even a push — to sign up for an hour? We have one for you. And it’s very powerful.
It’s from someone who knows the power of your prayers on the sidewalk. She watched many vigils from inside her Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Bryan, Texas before joining that vigil. She knows the power of going out to pray … and the consequences of deciding not to go out to pray.
Listen to this moving, heartfelt message from former Planned Parenthood manager Abby Johnson:
(If you can’t hear the audio, click the lower right corner of the video and adjust the volume.)
If you’ve not signed up for an hour yet … why not today? Find your 40 Days for Life location online … or on the 40 Days for Life app.
Pensacola, Florida
October 12, 2017
A Pensacola woman invited others to join her in just one hour of prayer at the 40 Days for Life vigil.
“There are many reports of women having a change of heart simply because they saw someone praying,” she said, noting that abortion days at this facility have increased. “Our prayers and presence there matters.”
What can happen in just one hour?
This prayer volunteer’s presence helped give a young woman who was 13 weeks pregnant the courage to reject abortion. Other volunteers then paid for a taxi for this woman – the man who had driven her there did not support her decision to keep the baby.
The taxi driver was moved by all of this. He told the vigil participants that his mother had been advised to abort him – but she resisted the pressure and said no.
He thanked everyone for praying … and promised to get the young woman home safely.
“What an amazing experience for a young volunteer,” said Ernie in Pensacola, “who just the day before, invited others to join her in prayer for just one hour!”
Shreveport, Louisiana
October 12, 2017
It was a challenging day for the team at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Shreveport.
Volunteers were counseling a young woman who had just taken the first of two chemical abortion pills … telling her the process can be reversed.
During that conversation, a car leaving the abortion center stopped. A woman opened the door, leaned out and got violently sick.
“We immediately helped her and motioned for the staff to come out and help her,” said Chris in Shreveport. “We gave water and a loving hand to her, post-abortion literature to the driver – and prayers for them both.”
What did the abortion center staff offer? A cold cloth and a bag.
Shortly afterward, the abortionist walked out. “He was very aloof, remarking about how hot it was,” Chris said.
“Your last patient might not agree,” Chris responded, “but it’s really pretty pleasant.” The abortionist just rolled his eyes and got into his car.
Chris said this was the second conversation he’s had with this doctor. “Pray for him,” he said, “and pray for the guidance from the Holy Spirit for me.”
