From 40 Days For Life: DAY 15: Tough times in Canada

Pray for our friends in Canada. It seems the government in the province of Ontario doesn't care much for free speech. Legislation was proposed that could create "safe access zones" around abortion centers – a buffer zone of at least 50 meters "where activities such as advising a person to refrain from accessing abortion services … would be prohibited." As it was written, the measure could have even forbidden sidewalk counselors from handing out critical life-saving information. Fortunately, the proposal ran into a legislative roadblock that should keep it locked up in committee. Please pray that it stays there!

40 Days for Life board chair Matt Britton just visited several campaign locations in Ontario (including Oakville, above). Despite the hostility towards free speech and religious liberty mounting against Christian witness on the sidewalks … he found 40 Days for Life participants outside abortion facilities who were fervently praying for an end to abortion in Canada. Here's an account of some of Matt’s stops.

Windsor, Ontario The Windsor 40 Days for Life vigil takes place in front of a big hospital on a busy street. Laurie, the local leader, was especially pleased that the youth group from the Windsor-Essex County Right to Life Association committed to an hour of prayer on the eve of the vigil … and at the same hour throughout the campaign. She was quite concerned, though, about the buffer zone proposal.

The truth, she said, is that the only "harassment and intimidation" in front of the hospital comes from abortion supporters who "insult us and drop coat hangers at our feet." Coat hangers have also been dropped outside the local right to life office. Laurie said "it was so great to meet Matt and hear his message of hope and inspiration."

London, Ontario Matt described the 40 Days for Life site in London as a "tough location on a crazy-busy corner … but about 250 yards from the hospital." The highlight of this stop was meeting a retired doctor. Years ago, he had delivered a family's ninth child – a baby with Down syndrome. The family loved the baby and welcomed him "But the medical board found out and censured him," Matt said, "and told him that he should have aborted the baby over the will of the family." The doctor was ordered to attend a 90-day "re-education" course. "He told them that he would neither do nor refer for abortions," Matt learned. "They said that he needed more re-education. He handed in his license."

An enthusiastic crowd attended the rally … but Matt did spot a counter-protester with a box in front of her head. "I mentioned that we would be there for 40 days, year after year, and that she would likely be gone in 40 minutes," he said. "She left about 25 minutes later."

Mississauga, Ontario Matt says he had a great meeting with the Mississauga leaders and helped lead a spirited rally at the vigil site. The 40 Days for Life team tells of a young man who drove up next to prayer vigil participants and started blowing his horn. "I tried to ignore him because others who have acted this way usually just wanted to yell something nasty and then drive off," one volunteer said. But the guy in the car rolled his window down and shouted, "You saved one today!" His girlfriend had gone for an abortion … but on her way in, she had seen the pro-life signs. She phoned him from inside the facility to say she'd changed her mind.

Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?" —Genesis 4:8-9 Father, help us to embrace the fact that we are our "brother’s keeper." When, due to selfish motives, we try to cast off this responsibility please call to us to account. We would be pleasing to you and to our "brother." See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn D. Carney President, 40 Days for Life

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