40 Days For Life: DAY 41: Results!

Dear Deacon John, The largest (and, in many places, the coldest) Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign so far has ended. Thank you for helping save so many lives!  We have a big event coming up to share the life-saving results ... so watch your email this week for details! Reports are still coming in … but local 40 Days for Life leaders tell us that as of now, they're aware of … … 490 babies in 354 locations around the world whose mothers have rejected abortion and chosen life! In many cases, all it took was the simple act of showing up to pray on the sidewalk.

Cincinnati, Ohio A woman outside the Planned Parenthood abortion center told 40 Days for Life participants in Cincinnati that she is pregnant ... and a Christian. "She'd had an abortion before and said she would never do that again," a volunteer related, "but she didn't know what else to do. So she scheduled an abortion ... and paid the deposit." But thankfully, she saw people praying at the vigil ... and went back to Planned Parenthood to get her deposit back. The volunteers then walked with her to the pregnancy help center about two blocks away, where she was greeted with open arms and life-affirming options. Mary, the Cincinnati leader, said that although this woman was aware deep down that abortion was the wrong choice, without 40 Days for Life volunteers present, "she might not have known there was any place that could help her ... and may have rescheduled the abortion."

Boston, Massachusetts As a small group prayed outside Planned Parenthood in Boston, a woman walked out of the building ... and over to them. "She was beaming, radiant with joy," said one of the vigil participants, "and just had to share her good news that she was keeping her child and not going to have an abortion!" The woman thanked them profusely, saying "she was grateful to all of us for being there!" She got into the car that had arrived to pick her up ... but rolled down the window and continued thanking the 40 Days for Life participants. "I am trying to give you a sense of her joy," said the volunteer who related this story. "I do think her decision to keep her child was in some very real way an answer to all of our prayers and prayerful presence."

Memphis, Tennessee "It was abortion day at Planned Parenthood," said Kathy in Memphis. "It is always heartbreaking seeing the ladies leave," she said. "The look on their faces is that of horror, shock, pain ... and deep sadness." Occasionally, though, there are signs of hope. Two women went in for ultrasound exams. When the first one left Planned Parenthood, she called out, "This place is awful! I won't go back!" She chose life for her baby! The second woman then left ... and showed volunteers the image of her 13-week-old baby. "She had four kids," Kathy said, "but she said 'no' to five. She is in a crisis." This mom doesn't want to have an abortion, but feels like she must. "We exchanged numbers," Kathy said. Please pray for her. "We will send God's Word ... and offer her hope."

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 Father, 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. 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