40 Days for Life Campaign Has Saved 317 Babies From Abortions in 28 Days
by Shawn Carney
October 19, 2010
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.
Yes, that’s right. As of this writing, there have been 317 babies — that we know of that God has saved from abortion in answer to your prayers during this 40 Days for Life campaign!
There’s a story behind each of those lives so here are just a few.
Indianapolis, Indiana: If you’ve followed these reports, you may remember reading about Erin, the "wrong number" woman from Indianapolis.
To quickly recap, Erin had scheduled an abortion last spring. She called to confirm her appointment — or so she thought. But she didn’t reach Planned Parenthood. The phone that rang belonged to a 40 Days for Life volunteer who was praying outside the abortion center!
To make a long story short, Erin canceled her abortion and her daughter was born just a few days before this campaign started.
Want to see a picture of Elena, Erin’s baby? Please go to: https://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1307
But there’s more!
Prayer volunteers recently met Lori, who had driven four hours from Kentucky for a counseling session — the first step in the abortion process. The vigil participants quickly got in touch with Elizabeth, the pro-life counselor who had helped Erin.
Elizabeth learned that Lori had a small child … and was still suffering from a previous abortion. Lori appreciated the offers of help, but still had doubts about keeping her baby. So Elizabeth called Erin!
"Erin helped Lori to have the courage to trust God and choose life for her unborn baby," said Eileen in Indianapolis. "Erin was pleased to be able to help someone else."
Please pray for Erin, Lori and all those who are tempted to "choose" abortion.
Downey, California: 40 Days for Life volunteers were encouraged to see a large group gathered on a Saturday for a Walk for Life from Calvary Chapel School. "But after they left," said Patti in Downey, "the steady stream of cars poured in as usual and our hearts were heavy the rest of the day with no apparent saves."
Prayers did not go unanswered, however. On Monday, when women come in for pregnancy tests and make appointments for abortions, there were three abortion-minded women who changed their minds for sure — and possibly two others who left the facility after talking to prayer volunteers and receiving literature.
"Our hearts were encouraged again, for we now know of ten mothers in Downey who have chosen life since the campaign began," Patti said.
"People all over the city are beginning to pray and churches are slowly but surely getting involved in this our first campaign," she added. "We are so thankful for everyone’s prayers and to our faithful Savior who’s in charge of this whole movement of His prayer warriors!"
Saginaw, Michigan: "Great news from Saginaw!" said Robert, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator.
"A woman came out of the abortion facility and told the prayer volunteers that she decided to not have the abortion," he said. "She took our help and information brochure — and left smiling. The power of prayer and witnessing is incredible!"
The 40 Days for Life team in Saginaw is also seeing encouraging signs from people passing by. Two men were praying outside the abortion facility when a woman stopped and gave them a thumbs-up and said, "Keep fighting the good fight!"
That’s my advice to you as well. Keep fighting the good fight … and please keep praying!
New York, NY: The 40 Days for Life campaigns in Queens and The Bronx are coordinated by Chris Slattery, who heads up a chain of twelve pregnancy resource centers called Expectant Mother Care.
Expectant Mother Care’s interns are assisting once again with 40 Days for Life and writing about their experiences on their blog.
To see some of their photos, go to: https://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1324
"Our 40 Days for Life site is in a very busy part of town," writes one of the interns. "It is not uncommon for women who are pregnant and considering an abortion — or women who have been hurt by abortion — to walk past our prayer vigil. This allows us to minister to the most vulnerable."
Meanwhile, pro-abortion forces are asking the city to force Expectant Mother Care and other pro-life centers to post notices in their offices that they neither perform nor refer for abortions.
The allegation is that pregnancy resource centers "deceive women" — never mind the fact that Expectant Mother Care’s ads all read, "Free abortion alternatives."
Perhaps the pro-abortion groups want to stifle free speech because this approach is working. More and more women are choosing the alternatives. Coordinators in New York City know of at least 18 mothers who have decided against abortion during the current 40 Days for Life campaign.
Columbia, Missouri: The date August 9 sticks in the minds of 40 Days for Life volunteers in Columbia. That is the date of the last abortion performed at the Planned Parenthood facility that is the site of the Columbia prayer vigil.
It seems that Planned Parenthood simply cannot find a practitioner to travel to Columbia to perform abortions.
Normally, this facility would have aborted at least 100 babies — probably more — over the course of a ten-week period. But since August 9, the total has been ZERO.
The vigil continues at Planned Parenthood in Columbia, with the hope that the cessation of abortions becomes permanent. Please join them in this prayer!
Ottawa, Ontario: A media report from Ottawa says a pro-abortion group is talking about ways to legally challenge pro-lifers who pray in front of the Morgentaler Clinic, a facility operated by Canada’s most infamous abortionist, where the 40 Days for Life vigil is held.
This pro-abortion group says the pro-life presence fails to "respect the dignity, privacy, and legal rights of women to unimpeded access to health services."
In reality, of course, the vigil is simply a peaceful, prayerful gathering — as seen in photos the Ottawa team has posted on their blog.
To see photos from a rainy day in Ottawa, please go to: https://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1324
When Suzanne arrived to pray, "our group contained about six people and it soon swelled to about twelve." It soon started raining harder. "I was quite soaked by the time I finished my shift," she said.
The 40 Days for Life campaign in Ottawa is certainly having an impact. "Little by little," said one of the coordinators, "hearts are being changed — one small step at a time."
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