40 Days for Life - Lent 2008

Last Fall I talked about a Pro-Life prayer campaign called 40 Days for Life. At the time they were about to start their campaign. Well, the start of their next campaign is next Wednesday, 6 February 2008, Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. I can't think of a more apropriate time. Why? Well, I think the following from their own website should make it clear:

40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a three-point program:

1. Prayer and fasting
   
2. Constant vigil
   
3. Community outreach

40 Days for Life takes a determined, peaceful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion in their own neighborhoods, for their own friends and families. It puts into action a desire to cooperate with God in the carrying out of His plan for the end of abortion in America.

The 40-day campaign tracks Biblical history, where God used 40-day periods to transform individuals, communities ... and the entire world. From Noah in the flood to Moses on the mountain to the disciples after Christ's resurrection, it is clear that God sees the transformative value of His people accepting and meeting a 40-day challenge.

(more about the components here)

The Fall 2007 campaign saw much success. Abortion clinics saw huge drops in those coming in. Some even closed during the prayer times because of the peaceful prayerful presence of the 40 Days participants. Here are some reports from some of the locations:

Indianapolis, Indiana:
Our local state-of-the-art Planned Parenthood abortion facility closed on at least two of their busiest abortion Saturdays. Sidewalk counselors believe the number of abortion decreased from an average of 20 a day to as few as five a day.

New York, New York:
Side-by-side abortion clinics begged us to end our effort. One manager said, "I thought this 40 days thing was over already. You are killing our business!" The second manager said, "Why don't you pick on one of the other places!"

Wilkes County, North Carolina:
A local newspaper for the first time ever ran a positive front page pro-life article with two color photos. We had 50 churches sign up for days of prayer and fasting. Thirteen of them interacted with the pregnancy care center for the first time.

Atlanta, Georgia:
Yesterday a sidewalk counselor, holding his baby son up to the waiting room window, caused one of the women to abandon her abortion plan. God is good! Someone remarked that live babies are so much better than posters of aborted babies!

I could go on & on.

The campaign has garnered the support of many Pro-Life leaders. They include Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life; Jim Sedlak, Founder of Stop Planned Parenthood (STOPP) & Vice President of American Life League; Joe Scheidler, National Director, Pro-Life Action League; & Fr. Thomas Euteneuer of Human Life International.

The Lenten campaign covers 59 cities in 31 states. 1 of the clinics covered is the Planned Parenthood at 1000 E. Army Post Rd. in Des Moines, IA. That is the 1 I plan on focusing on in prayer as my part of the campaign. & if a group goes down there from DBQ at a time I am free, I will definitely be going along.

So, check out the website for a location near your. Pray & fast. Take part in the on-sight prayer if you can. Remember what I said in several of my recent posts about getting involved. Are you willing to let God use you in this war? If so, here is a proven way to win some more battles along the way to total victory over the scourge that is abortion. You will play a part in the lives of several unborn being saved. You will help bring healing to women & men who are hurt by their involvement in aborting their child & an abortion provider or 2 might even be touched by the Holy Spirit & quite being a part of the murder of the innocents.

& who knows, maybe this time we may see a clinic or 2 (or more) permanantly closed.

______________________

Added 3 February 2008, 7:15 AM

I'd like to add a few things from a recent e-mail I got from 40 Days for Life:

A Planned Parenthood CEO sent out a press release about 40 Days for Life, stating "We know from past experience that these rallies and prayer vigils create barriers that deter our patients." (Praise God for this fact. It means the lives of many unborn are saved.)

We also are thrilled to announce that, for the first time, other countries will be joining witht he United States for a unified 40 Days for Life campaign -- Ireland and Brazil will be conducting 40 Days for Life alongside America from February 6 to March 16. WOW! (You can say that again. WOW!)

And many pro-life leaders are now saying that this focused effort could be the "tipping point" that will mark the beginning of the end of abortion in our nation. (See what I wrote above.)

On January 22, two former leaders of national abortion organizations, Kate Michelman from NARAL and Frances Kissling from "Catholics" for a Free Choice, wrote an editorial for the Los Angeles Times, admitting that the pro-life movement is systematically winning, and revealing the many failings of the abortion industry and its advocates. Abortion's battle of messages (1st of all, Kissling is no Catholic. & despite what they claim, abortion has NEVER had the moral high ground. Evil never can. AS for the rest, again see above.)

FINALLY:

On January 7, the Los Angeles Times ran a front-page news story about how abortion hurts men and reported that many post-abortive men are now coming forward and speaking out against abortion. Changing abortion's pronoun (This is something I have posted about several times. I am glad to see it making the front page. The abortion industry is going to have to face the fact that not only does abortion kill a child, it harms the parents as well.)