Dear Deacon, It was just last month that I heard the annual
grumbling about the way the national media ignored
the March for Life -- when "only" about half a million
pro-life people gathered in Washington, DC. But when you compare national and local media, it's
like night and day. And this means MANY people are
hearing about 40 Days for Life for the first time. The secular media usually expects a 40 Days for Life
vigil to be filled with angry Christians. When the
local reporters arrive, however, they see the real
story -- which is quite different from the
stereotype. This often results in excellent -- and
fair -- media coverage. Here are just a few examples: -----------------------------------------------------
ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA
----------------------------------------------------- The 40 Days for Life campaign was covered in the
St. Cloud Times this week. "This is a first for us
and a major breakthrough in people finding out
about 40 Days For Life," said Judy in St. Cloud. "Our focus is prayer," Jan, a prayer volunteer, told
the reporter. "This is one way to witness to the
public how we feel about building a culture of life.
I believe very strongly in life, and I believe
abortion should be ended," she said. She invited people to join the vigil -- but to come
prepared, since there was snow in the forecast with
temperatures promising to dip well below freezing. For a link to the St. Cloud Times report -- including
a video featuring Jan -- please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3940
-----------------------------------------------------
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
----------------------------------------------------- Birmingham's Fox affiliate, WBRC-TV, interviewed Ed
Carrick, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator. The reporter noted that "this is going to be a
peaceful movement with no yelling or screaming. They
simply want to offer alternatives to abortions." Ed talked about his experiences when he first began
praying outside the local abortion center. "I watched as the women come out; they were pretty
much devastated," he said. “Some were in pain. They
were definitely at a loss for why they were there
and what's happening to them. "And I guess to see the pain and suffering in their
face, I said I would really like to do something
about this, so I kept coming." Ed added that churches in the Birmingham community
have raised money to fund pro-life pregnancy centers
so clients can be supported financially, spiritually,
emotionally and medically. For a link to the WBRC-TV report, go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3940
-----------------------------------------------------
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND
----------------------------------------------------- The Brighton campaign received coverage in a local
newspaper, The Argus. Caroline Hubert, the Brighton campaign coordinator,
told the reporter that society is in the midst of an
abortion crisis. The paper interviewed an abortion center spokesman
who complained that vigil participants "intimidated"
clients. The photo accompanying the article shows a
young woman, smiling and holding 40 Days for Life
pamphlets. "There is no intimidation," Caroline said. "It's
peaceful -- and any person who is taking part has
to sign a statement of peace. We're there to pray,
we're not there for anything else." She noted that there were 4,000 abortions in the
Brighton and Hove area each year. That equals more
than two classrooms of schoolchildren ... aborted
every WEEK. For a link to the coverage of the Brighton campaign
in The Argus, go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3940
Today's devotional is from Rev. John Brown of United
Friends for Life.
------------------------------------------------------
DAY 5 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ May God's justice sober our society; may mercy triumph
over judgment.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning;
from the hand of every beast I will require it, and
from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's
brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be
shed; for in the image of God He made man. -- Genesis 9:5-6
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Rev. John Brown, United Friends for Life
------------------------------------------------------ The value of every human being can hardly be seen more
clearly than with this verse. God, the King of the
universe, has created all human beings in his image,
and declares forthrightly that shedding the blood of
any individual will require the blood of the one who
shed it. God's concern for human beings is not limited to any
particular group. Indeed, his concern is universal,
and includes male and female, young and old, born and
unborn, disabled and able-bodied, the citizens of
every nation on earth. Abortion, the deliberate killing of the unborn, is the
shedding of innocent blood. Surely the blood of
millions upon millions of innocent children cries out
to God. It is true that we live in an age of grace, and yet
this passage (among many other texts which express
similar sentiments) should give every thinking
Christian pause. Christians of all people, entrusted with the Word of
God as we are, must take a stand. We must speak out.
We must do all that we can to protect the innocent, to
pursue justice, and to encourage the repentance of all
those who bear responsibility for this great evil. Only in this manner can we hope to forestall the
judgment that must otherwise surely come. This passage should also be seen as an encouragement
to educate and disciple our children and grandchildren
about what it means to be human and the responsibility
that will become theirs in this ongoing struggle.
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ O Father, forgive us for our lack of courage and our
want of compassion for the unborn and for those lost
and hurt by abortion. Fill us anew with your Spirit. Renew our minds, strengthen us in righteousness, help
us be people of salt and light within our nation. May every human being, from conception to natural
death, be treated with the respect due those made in
your image. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2013day05print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ Yours for Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: Have you received any special blessings as a
result of your 40 Days for Life participation? If so,
please share them by posting on today's blog at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3940 40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
