“We don't want to stop!”
WASHINGTON, April 6 /Christian Newswire/ -- "If there's a main theme I'm hearing from the tens of thousands of participants around the country at the completion of this spring's 40 Days for Life campaign, it's 'We don't want to stop!'" said Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life's spring campaign director. "People have witnessed firsthand that a prayerful presence outside abortion facilities saves lives, and they know they will see additional results by continuing their vigils."From Feb. 25 to April 5, 135 cities in the United States, Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland joined together for the 40 Days for Life campaign, an effort that features 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, constant vigil outside abortion centers, and extensive community outreach.
"It was an amazing 40 days," said Carney. "Courageous people stood and prayed in rain, cold weather and snowstorms. Abortion workers tried to smear this effort with accusations that 40 Days for Life volunteers' prayers 'intimidated' their clients. But none of this could dissuade peaceful, determined people who know their efforts touch hearts and impact communities." During this campaign, 40 Days for Life received reports of 389 babies whose lives were saved from abortion. "There are undoubtedly others that we don't know about," said Carney, "as well we're aware that many appointments were cancelled when several clinics closed unexpectedly on days when abortions are normally scheduled." Clinics in such cities as Austin, Texas and Kalispell, Montana cut back hours or closed for entire days during the campaign. In other cities, the number of women seeking abortions declined sharply.
In addition, a combined effort with the Silent No More Awareness Campaign resulted in countless men and women with abortion experiences coming forward to pray at abortion centers and warn women about the physical, emotional and spiritual damage they risk by going through with an abortion.
This was the fourth coordinated, simultaneous 40 Days for Life campaign in the last 20 months. Carney said that in these four campaigns:
466 local efforts have taken place in 240 separate cities in all 50 states plus seven other nations
More than 200,000 people have participated
More than 4,000 churches have been involved
At least 1,517 babies were spared from abortion
At least 17 clinic employees quit their jobs
Three abortion facilities closed their doors following 40 Days for Life
The next 40 Days for Life campaign is set for this fall from Sept. 23 – Nov. 1. Additional information is available online at www.40DaysForLife.com.
