Dear Deacon John,
During the past 40 days, many babies were so close to becoming mere statistics in the eyes of the world.
But because of your faith ... and willingness to stand vigil as a witness to God's love for those babies and their mothers ... many of those children are alive this Monday morning.
We are still compiling reports ... but so far, we know of ...
... 543 babies who have been spared from abortion during this campaign!
That makes a total of 10,874 lives saved during 40 Days for Life campaigns ... from 2007 until now.
Praise God!
Here are a few of their stories.
Richmond, Virginia
“We had two babies saved at Planned Parenthood in Richmond,” said Ann, the local coordinator.
“A lady gave me a thumbs-up as she pulled into the Planned Parenthood parking lot,” said one of the volunteers.
“She turned around in their lot and came to me with her window down,” he said. “She said our prayers saved her grandchild – her daughter decided to not abort. She was very emotional with happy tears. Glory be to God!”
Ann said the vigil is continuing to attract more people. One morning, four men showed up to pray – men the “regulars” didn’t recognize. “At least two of them were pastors,” they said. “They prayed without stopping for the whole hour –powerful prayer.”
One prayed, “I had no idea it was like this. I’m sorry Lord, forgive me – I didn’t know.”
“It was such a blessing,” Ann said. “I am so grateful to God. I’m happy to see us finishing strong!”
Las Vegas, Nevada
“We definitely had one saved baby last week,” said one of the 40 Days for Life volunteers in Las Vegas.
A couple left the abortion facility parking lot and stopped to talk to vigil participants … who told them about the nearby pregnancy help center where they’d be offered life-affirming options. They spent two hours talking to the counselors there – and never went back to the abortion business.
“One life saved,” the volunteer added, “is certainly worth all the effort!”
Hollywood, Florida
A young woman, arriving by bus, stopped to talk to one of the 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers. She had seen someone outside the abortion center with a sign advertising free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds.
The vigil participant told her those services were available at the pregnancy help center nearby – and he even offered to drive her there! The counselors at the center gave her the information she really needed.
“It was a beautiful thing,” one of the volunteers said. “I cried all the way home. One just never knows what can happen if you stand on the sidewalk and pray!”
As a bonus ... here is one final 40 Days for Life devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.
Day 41 intention
Pray that the witness of 40 Days for Life bears abundant fruit, and that we begin again each day to storm the gates of hell until God welcomes us into the gates of heaven.
Scripture
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. On this rock I will build my church; the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
— Matthew 16:18
Reflection from Fr. Frank Pavone
When we read this verse, we usually think that the Lord is promising that the church, which is His Body, will withstand all the attacks launched against it.
Of course, that is true. But when we think about it more carefully, we realize that in a battle, the gates do not run out into the battlefield to attack the enemy. Rather, they stand still to defend the city from the enemy attacking it.
So when the Lord says that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, who is doing the attacking?
It is the church storming the gates!
The church, all of God's people in Christ, is called to take the offensive, to run into enemy territory, and to gain ground for Jesus Christ.
We do not wait for an invitation; we already have a command.
We prepare, but we do not wait for circumstances to be perfect; we already have one who has gone before us.
During these 40 days, we have stormed the gates. We have taken the offensive. We have pushed forward the boundaries of the kingdom. And we must keep doing so, in numerous ways.
Indeed, the gates of hell will not prevail. The gates of falsehood will flee in the presence of truth. The gates of sin will melt in the presence of grace. The gates of death will fall in the presence of the church, the People of Life!
Prayer
Father, we praise you. We have heard the voice of your Son, and therefore we can make our voices heard.
We have done battle with the power of evil, and therefore we can have compassion on those still within its grip. We have been freed from the kingdom of darkness, and therefore we can bear witness to your Kingdom of Light.
May the witness of all your people through these 40 Days for Life bear abundant fruit, and may we begin again each day to storm the gates of hell until You welcome us into the gates of heaven.
We pray in the victorious name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/day41.pdf
For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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