40 Days For Life: DAY 23: #1 reason for the UNPLANNED movie

 

There is one reason for the uproar and controversy over the release of Unplanned, which will show on 1,000 screens on Friday, March 29. Unplanned is the definitive movie on abortion that has sparked more pre-release controversy than any film in awhile. The explanation is not complicated. The reason for all the drama and speculation is not because of the R rating. It’s not because it exposes Planned Parenthood and how they operate. And it’s not because we currently have governors, senators and presidential candidates casually supporting infanticide (although the timing for such a movie couldn’t be more perfect). The uproar is for the person who inspired the movie but will never be able to see it: the 13-week-old baby boy who was aborted right before the eyes of Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson on September 26, 2009. He changed her heart. He is the reason this movie exists. And by portraying his short life, this film validates that this baby had a life. The scene is short but powerful. To create the abortion, the filmmakers, Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon of God’s Not Dead, took actual ultrasound footage of a 13-week-old baby boy, like the one Abby witnessed. Then, using CGI technology, they created the abortion. It is powerful--and something the viewer needs to see and will never forget. And you should recognize his short life by buying a ticket this weekend. He represents not only himself, but all aborted babies who have no voice and are hardly ever known or seen. I knew Abby the entire time she worked at Planned Parenthood. She was a very hard-working person who defended “choice” better than anyone else and truly thought she was helping women. Then, she came face-to-face with the baby boy on the ultrasound. He humanized all unborn children for her because he fought. He was alive. He didn’t care whether we thought he could feel pain or whether he should get to be born or who his parents were. He just fought for his life right before Abby’s eyes. It was a fight he had no chance of winning, and, as a result, he changed the heart of an abortion facility director. Look at his impact. Abby has helped 500 abortion workers leave the industry. How many babies has Abby Johnson saved from abortion as a result? How many babies are alive because of that baby boy’s short life?

40 Days for Life has helped 186 abortion workers leave their job; Abby was the 26th. She managed the Planned Parenthood where 40 Days for Life began; it was right next door to my office where we offered free pregnancy tests and alternatives to abortion. This peaceful prayer campaign has now gone to 816 cities in 56 countries. Abby’s story is unique because of Joseph--because she witnessed his abortion. There are many good reasons to see Unplanned this weekend. Yes, it’s is the beautiful story of Abby Johnson--her courage, her wonderful family, and her willingness to put her life out there like no former abortion worker ever has. The movie is also accurate and the best education on abortion of any film. A good (but not great) reason to see Unplanned is to stick it to Hollywood and help other movies like this get made. But the real reason you should see this--and why Planned Parenthood does NOT want you to see it--is because of that 13-week-old baby boy. He had no voice and now he has a movie. Honor his short life. Pay homage to those who have gone through the same barbaric death as he did, a death that Hollywood rated R, but a death that will not be forgotten. Abby has been his voice, and you can be one too by commemorating him, his movie, and his life.

Glasgow, Scotland "We had a woman stop at the vigil site yesterday to thank all 'you wonderful pro-life people who are always there in the background helping people like me.'" More than three decades ago, the passerby became pregnant and was given an ultimatum by her parents: either abort the baby or be put out of the house. She was 21 and she stood her ground. She received help, and her beautiful baby girl has since presented her mother with four beautiful grandchildren.

But the Lord said "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in the night and perished in the night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left, and much livestock? Should I not be concerned about that great city?" -- Jonah 4:10-11 Gracious God, loving our enemies seems like one of most difficult things you could ask of us. Please remind us that this is how you love and that if you ask it of us then you will give us the grace to do it. See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn D. Carney President/CEO, 40 Days for Life

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