From 40 Days For Life: DAY 31: Your backyard

 

Abortions don't happen on the bench of the Supreme Court or in the halls of Congress....they happen where you live. Nothing creates controversy like the opening of a new abortion facility. It's not just pro-life Christians; many who support abortion don't want it in their backyard. When the Summit Center abortion facility quietly tried to open in Macon, Georgia, the local pro-life community launched a 40 Days for Life campaign. Meanwhile, five local businesses filed a lawsuit against the county zoning commission for approving Summit Center's application without sufficient notice to the community that the facility intended to perform abortions. "The judge heard this case on September 5 and said he needed 'a few days' to think about what he heard," said Ann, the campaign leader in Macon.

A few days turned into more than six weeks. Earlier this week, the judge dismissed the lawsuit, but Ann notes that "Everyday the judge [put] off ruling is another day that this clinic [wasn't] open!" The businesses that filed the lawsuit have a month to appeal the judge's ruling. Either way, Ann and her team will continue asking God to keep abortion out of their community. "Summit opening has brought our pro-life community together," she said. "We are crossing denominational bounds in a way that has never happened here before. I am thankful for the 40 Days for Life movement and how it is bringing people together in Macon!"

Baltimore, Maryland A middle-aged man who lives near Baltimore's 40 Days for Life vigil told volunteers that as a teenager, he and his girlfriend visited the abortion facility. The center offered to sell them an abortion for $500. The couple got a second opinion from a family doctor...and learned the man's girlfriend wasn't even pregnant! "We are making leaps in the 'community outreach' pillar of 40 Days for Life," said Kim, the campaign leader in Baltimore. A passerby stopped to tell vigil participants that she's a teacher, and several of her students are expectant mothers. Prayer warriors touched her heart by giving her "blessing bags" filled with gifts for each of the pregnant students. Even better, Kim learned that a baby was saved from abortion. After two hours inside the abortion facility, an expectant mother left, stopping to tell volunteers that she changed her mind!

Tempe, Arizona It doesn't rain often in Tempe, but it did for a pro-life march hosted at the 40 Days for Life vigil site on October 13. The resilience of the wet, but faithful, prayer warriors was rewarded the next week. "Planned Parenthood was CLOSED on Saturday!" said Jim, the local campaign leader. "On what is normally their busiest abortion day, not a single customer walked through their doors. This is the second time in three weeks that Planned Parenthood's Saturday client numbers were sharply reduced or eliminated." Jim also said the recently released Gosnell movie helped bolster his volunteer base. "Friday morning, a couple went to see the movie. They were so moved by the experience, that when they got back to their car, they looked up our location and immediately came out to pray."

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. —Psalm 139:16 Gracious God, help us to appreciate the wonder and beauty of Your creation. Help us proclaim on behalf of every one of our fellow human beings, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." May the knowledge that we are intimately known by You shape our lives and actions. See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney President/CEO, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life 4112 E 29th St. Bryan, Texas 77802 United States (888) LIFE-316