40 Days for Life Sees 361 Moms Change Their Mind on Abortion

Opinion   |   Shawn Carney   |   Oct 24, 2011   |   10:01AM   |   Washington, DC

It’s Monday. But that’s OK. During 40 Days for Life, Mondays bring GOOD NEWS! So here is your Monday good news — so far during this 40 Days for Life campaign, we are now aware of 361 babies whose mothers changed their minds and rejected abortion!

God has done wonderful things! Here are a few of the stories.

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COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
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People praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Columbus had a bad feeling when a young woman arrived on an abortion day. They had seen her previously – and tried to convince her not to abort her child. But here she was once again.

She went in – but a short time later she left … calling out that she had changed her mind. The volunteers put her in touch with the local pregnancy help center and promised to keep her – and her baby – in their prayers.

Later that day, two teenagers drove in – but walked on in after refusing to take information from one of the pro-life counselors. An hour later, they walked out – and handed the volunteer a receipt. At first, she didn’t look at it.

One of the other vigil participants then called out, “They’ve changed their minds!”

Yes – they were BOTH there for abortions – and they BOTH chose life.

“I didn’t get a chance to look at the receipt until that evening,” the volunteer said. “The driver had had an ultrasound and lab work … but ‘first trimester abortion – $385’ had been scratched out. Praise God!”

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DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
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“It’s beyond belief, but oen Saturday there were five babies saved in Downey,” said Patti.

One woman helped changed a friend’s mind about abortion. She then spoke to another woman, who changed HER mind. This woman then spoke to a couple … and THEY changed THEIR minds too.

Two days later, two more women rejected abortion for their babies. Then Patti herself had a chance to speak with a young man outside the abortion center, “who then went in and got his lady out of there and they are keeping the baby. “

Patti said it’s a miracle – “eight babies in two days! The Lord is so kind and good!”

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TOLEDO, OHIO
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One of the counselors outside the 40 Days for Life vigil site in Toledo asked a young woman arriving at the abortion center if she would take some information. She replied, “On my way out.”

The counselor’s prayer shift ended, but she stayed longer than planned because that young woman said would take the literature when she left.

She walked out an hour and a half later and headed
towards her car – it looked like she was avoiding the counselor. As she drove out of the parking lot, however, she rolled her window down and said she was not going to have an abortion.

“Thanks be to God!” said Ann in Toledo.

If you haven’t had an opportunity to pray at a 40 Days for Life vigil yet – you’re invited!

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Since 40 Days for Life began as a national — and then international — movement, our leadership team has always felt that if we were going to ask you to stand up for life through participation in 40 Days for Life, the least we could do is come out to the streets and stand with you.

As a result, Shawn and I have visited more than 300 cities over these last four years, and we consider it a great blessing to meet many of you, encourage you and THANK YOU for your faithful involvement in this mission.

Yes, the non-stop travel, shortage of sleep, fast food meals and long hours of driving and flying takes a toll (especially on our amazingly supportive families back home) but we are honored and humbled to stand with you, hear your stories and pray with you.

Here’s a short summary of what I’ve been blessed to experience over just these last two weeks (be sure to click the link to see the pictures of the dedicated people in each of these locations.

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ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA
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Upon arriving at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, I drove 1.5 hours to ROCHESTER, where the 40 Days for Life is being held outside a Planned Parenthood center that recently began performing telemed RU-486 abortions by webcam — putting women’s lives at risk for the sake of expanding profits. A TV news crew was there, helping to raise awareness in the community.

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MANKATO, MINNESOTA
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Then, I drove 2 hours to MANKATO, to join the 40 Days for Life team in prayer outside a Planned Parenthood abortion referral center. The lunchtime gathering drew a big crowd of enthusiastic prayer warriors, and a TV station interviewed me and reported on the gathering.

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DULUTH, MINNESOTA
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Early the next morning, I began the three hour drive to DULUTH. Despite my 9 AM arrival time at the start of the work and school day, they had a wonderful crowd of pro-lifers on the sidewalk outside the independent abortion center. Three of the four local television stations and the local newspaper covered the gathering.

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WALKER, MINNESOTA
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I then drove 2.5 hours to WALKER, a town of about 1,000 people that has had more than 1,400 people participate in their 40 Days for Life!

Yes, people have come from many miles away to join this campaign, which is being held outside their county courthouse. Though there’s no local abortion center, these prayer warriors feel called to be intercessors for those participating in 40 Days for Life campaigns around the world.

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ALEXANDRIA, MINNESOTA
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From Walker, I drove 2.5 hours to ALEXANDRIA. I pulled up and saw the crowd praying outside Planned Parenthood — and heard a commotion from across the street.

A lone man was yelling at the Christians through a bullhorn, trying to mock and antagonize them. The believers did not respond to his anger. I joined them in praying — not only for an end to abortion, but also for all those who have been negatively impacted by abortion. A reporter documented everything for the local newspaper.

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ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA
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From there, it was a 1.5 hour drive to ST. CLOUD, where I joined a big group of people gathered outside the local Planned Parenthood at dusk.

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TWIN CITIES, MINNESOTA
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Then I headed 1.5 hours east for the last stop of the day — at 9 PM in MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, where the 40 Days for Life is being held outside a hospital where abortions are performed. What a joy to pray in the dark with the amazing folks there!

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BURLINGTON, VERMONT
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The next day, I was on a 6 AM flight to Burlington, Vermont. The visit allowed me the chance to pray with 40 Days for Life folks outside the Planned Parenthood abortion center, across from the University of Vermont.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
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Next, I was off to Michigan, where I joined a big crowd of people at the GRAND RAPIDS 40 Days for Life. They shared with me the story (reported earlier in this campaign by Shawn) about the three lives that had been saved there the week before, and how this campaign has profoundly impacted their city.

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EASTPOINTE, MICHIGAN
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Early the next morning, I started driving across Michigan. I arrived in EASTPOINTE, joined the 40 Days for Life volunteers and pregnancy center workers in prayer and watched the dedicated sidewalk counselors reaching out to offer help to women going in for abortions.

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STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN
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Then I drove to STERLING HEIGHTS, joining a circle of people praying fervently, even as drivers passing by yelled obscenities at them. They only prayed more.

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SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN
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From there, I drove to SOUTHFIELD, and joined young families, elderly people, seminarians and professionals who were praying outside an independently owned abortion facility. Little did we know that shortly thereafter a FOR SALE sign would be posted at that abortion center!

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN
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The day ended with a late dinner for all the 40 Days for Life leaders from the greater Detroit area. It was a beautiful time of networking, encouragement and prayer.

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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
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Early the next morning I drove to ANN ARBOR to pray with the 40 Days for Life participants. It was a cold, windy day and prayers were especially needed as abortions were being performed. God bless the sidewalk counselors who were reaching out to women, trying to prevent them from making a tragic abortion decision.

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FT. MYERS, FLORIDA
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Next I was off to Florida. I flew into FT. MYERS and headed out to the 40 Days for Life outside the local Planned Parenthood abortion center. This is the first 40 Days for Life conducted in Ft. Myers, and the campaign has been amazing.

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NAPLES, FLORIDA
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From there, we drove down to NAPLES, and joined more than 75 dedicated people outside a Planned Parenthood that started doing abortions two years ago.

As I spoke to the prayer volunteers about the many Planned Parenthood workers who have had conversions during 40 Days for Life campaigns, the abortion center director was standing mere yards away — listening to every word. Pray that some seed fell on fertile ground!

All in all, I traveled 7,200 miles over these last couple weeks, visiting 15 cities and meeting thousands of people with one focused mission — END ABORTION.

LifeNews.com Note: Shawn Carney is the campaign director for the 40 Days for Life pro-life prayer campaign against abortion. He is the director of the Coalition for Life.