As we begin Holy Week and see the end of the 2011 Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign, we are forcibly reminded of the need for prayer, especially in the fight to protect all human life. Prayer must precede and guide all of our efforts, and when it does, God often uses our faithfulness to change the world in ways we could have never imagined.
The incredible fruits of this past 40 Days for Life campaign alone demonstrate this in a powerful way. On day 40 of the international campaign of prayer and fasting to end abortion, the tentative count of babies spared from abortion is 483—that we know of. Here is just one story from a 40 Days for Life location in Montana, taken from the 40 Days for Life website:
"The Missoula vigil coordinator and two other 40 Days for Life volunteers were praying outside the abortion center when a car pulled up.
A couple was seated in the front, and their children were in the back. The mother spoke to the prayer volunteers in a somewhat abrupt manner. “I’m pro-choice,” she said. “Why should I be pro-life?”
The vigil participants answered, covering many points. But the woman didn’t seem convinced.
So the vigil coordinator asked her, “May I pray with you?” She answered “yes,” and they prayed.
One of the others then offered the woman information about the local pregnancy resource center, which she took.
The prayers must have had an effect.
“Choice might be fine for someone else,” the woman said. “But I’m keeping my baby.”"
Through the 40 Days for Life, God not only spared so many of our smallest brothers and sisters, but also their mothers and fathers from the pain of abortion. Through prayer volunteers’ peaceful presence at abortion facilities and messages of hope and compassion, God allowed these individuals to reach out to mothers who otherwise felt driven to abortion by lack of support. So many other lives have been touched, as prayer volunteers helped those suffering from past abortions begin healing and seeking the peace of Christ.
The humble beginnings of the now-worldwide 40 Days for Life campaign that has saved over four thousand children from abortion over the last several years further reveals the power of prayer and faithfulness in this fight for Life. A small pro-life group in Bryan/College Station, Texas met one evening to discuss their plans to promote Life in their community. Discouraged by the still tragically high abortion rate, despite their past efforts and events, the four decided to spend an hour in silent prayer, asking for guidance. At the end of the hour, a sheet of paper in the middle of the table that they sat around had two small notes: “pray” and “40 Days.”
Thus, the first 40 Days for Life campaign was born. A year later, a national campaign was launched with over 80 participating cities, and this Lent saw 247 cities from around the world—from Canada to Ireland to Australia to the nation of Georgia—simultaneously standing vigil. The lives saved, mothers helped, healing sought, abortion facilities closed, and employees who have left the abortion industry because of these prayer campaigns all started with just one hour of prayer.
And so, this 40 Days for Life campaign might be ending, but our prayers cannot! Even as we praise God for all He has done in the past several weeks, we have a chance to reflect on all that remains to be done and the inconceivable number of lives that are lost through abortion each day.
There are many ways each of us can and should be a witness for Life. Prayer is an essential way to start. Whether from home or outside of an abortion facility, praying and fasting for the protection of human life at all stages and ages is something each of us can commit to doing on a regular basis. And, we can start planning for next fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign!
Natalie Fohl
On Behalf of the Newsletter Editors