40 Days For Life: DAY 5: They Tried to Silence Her

  

The British gave the world free speech. And the British are taking it away... ...by establishing buffer zones to prevent 40 Days for Life volunteers from helping expectant mothers in crisis. Or rather they are trying to prevent 40 Days for Life participants from helping expectant moms. Instead, 40 Days for Life vigils continue to take place across the U.K.--and continue to save lives. Bournemouth, England, leader Livia has been taken to court for praying in public. But the persecution backfired. Instead of silencing Livia's message, the free-speech crackdown gave her a global audience, as international media covered her story and her pro-life message. Our director of international campaigns, Robert Colquhoun, just hosted a workshop to train British 40 Days for Life teams on how to save lives even when muzzled by a tyrannical government. "We strategized and examined campaigns around the world that have seen success amid free-speech restrictions," Robert said. "A very spiritually fruitful day." If the Brits can save lives from abortion even without a right to free speech, you can too! As we prepare to start a new week, find your local vigil, sign up to pray, and let God use you to save a life or change a heart: 40daysforlife.com/locations Burlington, Vermont Vermont isn't an easy place to be pro-life. The Burlington vigil began with abortion supporters calling 40 Days for Life volunteers "disgusting" and "selfish." It's hard to see anything selfish about standing out in freezing cold temperatures to pray. It's more likely that the negative remarks were intended to demoralize pro-lifers because their peaceful vigil makes a difference. If abortion advocates wanted to discourage 40 Days for Life participants, it didn't work. The criticism and cold temperatures were balanced out by positive honks, thumbs-up from passersby, and a sunny day. "We are staying vigilant," wrote John, the local campaign leader. Renton, Washington 40 Days for Life outreach director and former Planned Parenthood manager Ramona Trevino's trek through the Pacific Northwest continued in Renton, where it wasn't freezing. But it was wet! "We had a great time yesterday with Ramona!" exclaimed Michael, who is leading his first 40 Days for Life campaign. "Her message is so profound and enduring." The rain didn't keep prayer warriors away, as vigil participants from the Renton, North Seattle, Lynnwood, and Everett campaigns all came together to pray with Ramona. And the campaign is growing. "We had some new people show up for the rally," Michael reported. The new participants included a woman who has had an abortion, found healing, and attended Ramona's talk specifically to learn how to participate in the vigil! [pinterest.com image] Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. --Luke 1:58 Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of friendship. Teach us to see your beauty in those around us, and give us the grace to serve our friends and neighbors. We ask you to especially bless the families and friends of expectant mothers. Help those who are close to expectant mothers to offer the compassionate care that Elizabeth’s friends did throughout her pregnancy. Help us never to close our eyes to women in need. Amen. For life, Shawn Carney President & CEO, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life | 4112 East 29th Street | Bryan, TX 77802 US

40 Days For Life: Are We Winning or Not?

 

Pro-lifers are on a historic winning streak. From the fall of Roe to the defunding of Planned Parenthood to the closure of dozens of abortion facilities across the nation, the last four years have seen more successes than the previous half-century. But there's a bizarre pessimism circulating among some pro-lifers who fear that all our progress is being erased by unregulated abortion pills. Recently on The 40 Days for Life Podcast, we responded to that pessimism and revealed how the abortion industry changed its record-keeping methods, coinciding with inflated abortion numbers: To watch or listen, click the image or visit: 40daysforlife.com/abortions-up-or-down The proliferation of abortion pills is a real challenge--but it's hardly a reason to give up hope. The vast majority of abortions still come through brick-and-mortar facilities, which are quickly going out of business. So accelerate the demise of your local abortion center. Find your local 40 Days for Life vigil, and sign up to pray! Mostar, Bosnia   The 40 Days for Life team in Mostar stands vigil in front of the local university hospital. "We have two rescued babies...and we have had several conversations with women in difficult life circumstances who...have found peace and encouragement," wrote the local leaders. "We believe that the campaign [of] prayer and concrete actions bears fruit." Those "concrete actions" include the establishment of the Mostar campaign's "initiative team," which includes doctors and psychologists who stand ready to provide free support to mothers throughout their pregnancies--and beyond! Brixton, London, England Few sights offer as powerful a witness as a candlelight vigil. The Brixton 40 Days for Life team held a beautiful after-hours vigil at which they were led in prayer by Bishop David Waller. The very next day, Archbishop John Wilson attended the vigil! "Come and join us this Lent in praying for the end of abortion," wrote the local leadership team. "We will offer real help and support to pregnant mothers passing our peaceful, prayerful witness." [pinterest.com image] And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. --Luke 1:43-44 Lord, help us renew our gratitude for the joy that each child brings into our lives. We ask you to bless, keep, and cause your face to shine upon all unborn children--especially those with disabilities. Give parents supernatural strength and overwhelming support from their community to care for their child with special needs. Amen. For life, Shawn Carney President & CEO, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life | 4112 East 29th Street | Bryan, TX 77802 US

40 Days For Life: DAY 3: Lenten Loopholes

 

7 ways to screw up Lent

If you don't go into Lent with a plan, you could blow it. From fasts that don't challenge you to Lenten loopholes, there's a danger of arriving at Holy Week without experiencing any spiritual growth. On this week's episode of The 40 Days for Life Podcast, we share seven ways NOT to observe Lent: Watch or listen by clicking the image or visiting: 40daysforlife.com/lent-like-a-champ We cover: Do we need to make ourselves miserable to get Lent right? How secular culture picked up--and even sold--fasting when Christians abandoned it. Why we shouldn't just pray more; we do well to give something up too. What merely not eating has to do with God. Tune in, and then sign up to go pray at the vigil nearest you: 40daysforlife.com/locations Augusta, Maine 40 Days for Life vigils are known for uniting the body of Christ, and that's exactly what our director of 40 Days for Life 365 and campaign development Heather Gardner found on a recent visit to Maine. In addition to Heather, the speakers at Denny's kickoff rally included a local pregnancy help center director, a Knights of Columbus representative, a state legislator, a Maine Right to Life representative, and the 40 Days for Life leader in nearby Belfast. Leadership team members from Bangor, Maine, were also in attendance. Talk about unity! "Each one shared GREAT information!" Heather reported. "I could really sense the camaraderie among the pro-life groups there." While each organization in attendance plays a unique role in the state's pro-life movement, every speaker noted that prayer comes first and thanked vigil participants for standing witness on the sidewalk. Kalamazoo, Michigan The Lenten campaign usually begins with ugly weather in much of the 40 Days for Life world. Frigid temperatures can be tough for vigil participants, but bearing witness in inclement weather usually inspires more moms to choose life. Nevertheless, Joe in Kalamazoo was grateful that, for once, his opening candlelight vigil took place under pleasant conditions. "It was a balmy 50 degrees when we started," he noted. "And there was very little wind." Vigil volunteers also received a warm welcome from the community. While Deacon Doran led dozens of participants in prayer, many drivers greeted them with supportive "honks of approval." But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. … He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God." --Luke 1:13, 15-16 Our Father in heaven, we pray in a special way for all those who struggle with infertility. We ask you to give them peace in their suffering, strength in their perseverance, and healing in body and soul. For life, Shawn Carney President & CEO, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life | 4112 East 29th Street | Bryan, TX 77802 US