Dear Deacon, It's Day 1 and 40 Days for Life is off to a fast start! I have spoken at kickoff events in three cities. Our
national director, David Bereit is speaking in College
Station, Texas tonight to launch the 10th campaign
there since he and I led the first-ever 40 Days for
Life in 2004. Be part of this 40-day journey! Just follow this link
to the list of 258 campaign locations and find the one
nearest you: http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm Let me tell you about a couple of the cities I've
visited, and add a quick story about another location.
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
---------------------------------------- Nikki in Pittsburgh has led previous campaigns, but she
noted an increased level of enthusiasm this spring. She
said volunteers already had 80 percent of the vigil hours
filled -- BEFORE the campaign even started! Hundreds of people attended the kickoff event at a local
Presbyterian church. Pastors and priests from several
different churches spoke, along with a woman who shared
her testimony about her abortion experience. The event ended with a procession to Planned Parenthood's
downtown Pittsburgh facility for a candlelight vigil. To see some photos of the kickoff event in Pittsburgh --
and for a link to campaign coverage in the local newspaper
-- please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2669
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CLEVELAND, OHIO
---------------------------------------- Amy and Renee in Cleveland have worked hard to get more
churches involved this spring. Grace Church, a large
evangelical congregation, offered to host Cleveland's
kickoff event. Grace's pastor led the opening prayer and talked about
how powerful 40 Days for Life has been in changing the
hearts of those who work in the abortion industry. He also noted that it was a blessing to have so many
Evangelical, Catholic and Protestant Christians come
together to speak up for those who cannot speak for
themselves. Volunteers have already stepped forward to fill many
of the vigil hours. Amy and Renee even gave away free
handwarmers to everyone who committed to pray at least
five hours per week in the Cleveland cold.
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PENSACOLA, FLORIDA
---------------------------------------- The abortion center in Pensacola relocated recently
and just started taking appointments again about a week
ago. In preparation for the 40 Days for Life campaign,
volunteers have already been praying at the new site. So far, there have been very few abortion appointments.
Workers are standing around outside the building with
nothing to do. One day, the abortionist left after only
two hours. Best of all, two babies were saved during the week prior
to the campaign! "This is assurance that your prayer, fasting and vigil
have already called down all the powers of heaven upon
this re-opened place of death," said one volunteer.
"And 40 Days for Life has not yet even begun! Wow! It
is so exciting, anticipating all the wonderful miracles
God has in store for this 40-day campaign."
Today's devotional is from David Brandao, the national
communications director of 40 Days for Life.
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DAY 1 INTENTION
----------------------------------------------------- That we may use these 40 Days for Life to plead for
God's mercy and grace upon all those involved in the
sin of abortion.
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SCRIPTURE
----------------------------------------------------- Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an
assembly. Gather the people, notify the congregation.
Assemble the elders; gather the children and the
infants at the breast... Let the priests, the
ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare, O Lord,
your people." -- Joel 2:15-17
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REFLECTION by David Brandao, 40 Days for Life
----------------------------------------------------- The toll of abortion cannot be measured. We hear
estimates of almost 50 million innocent victims, but
that's only one aspect of the harm that has unfolded
in abortion's wake. There are also the mothers and
fathers of these millions, as well as the
grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles,
cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives of the living
shattered. It's overwhelming and depressing, but even in the
midst of such unfathomable darkness, the church
teaches us to have hope. Yes, it was indeed Calvary
that followed Christ's 40 days in the desert, but
without Calvary there would have been no Resurrection
-- His victory over death that opened the gates of
heaven to those who believe in and follow Him. The psalmist encourages us to go humbly before God as
we seek His will: "A clean heart create for me, O
God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me... Give
me back the joy of your salvation and a willing
spirit sustain in me... O Lord, open my lips, and my
mouth shall proclaim your praise" (Psalm 51:12, 14,
17). We are called to be God's messengers; or as the
Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: "We are
ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing
through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be
reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20). That is the true message to all we encounter at the
abortion centers and in our communities who have been
deceived by the Culture of Death. We don't bring
condemnation; we bring God's good news.
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PRAYER
----------------------------------------------------- Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom,
determination and stamina to carry out this mission
according to Your will. Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your
truth, always doing so with a spirit of love and
compassion, as was demonstrated to us by Your Son,
Jesus Christ. In His name we pray, Amen.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
----------------------------------------------------- To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2012day01print.pdf
----------------------------------------------------- For Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: That link for finding -- and getting involved in
-- the closest 40 Days for Life campaign is: http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm PPS: How do you intend to participate in 40 Days for
Life? Please respond by leaving a comment below today's
blog entry at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2669
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
