Another 40 Days!

J.M.J.+
I am posting in regards to our next peaceful prayer vigil which will take place on Saturday, the 27th of September outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion. Please join us to to take an hour of prayer.
Today begins the 40 Days prayer campaign. Below is the starting email.
May God bless you,
Mike and Kerry

It begins!

Today is the first day of the fall 2008 40 Days forLife campaign, when people from coast-to-coast -- andaround the globe -- are beginning to fervently prayand fast for an end to abortion.Additionally, thousands of people across NorthAmerica are leaving the comfort of their homes andoffices today to pray at more than 170 abortionfacilities and Planned Parenthood centers as part ofpeaceful 40 Days for Life vigils.Tens of thousands more will join these vigils overthe next 39 days.It's fairly easy to agree to pray -- and even to fast-- for 40 days, but when asked to stand vigil outsidean abortion center or Planned Parenthood facility, itcan be much more difficult to say 'yes.'To be totally honest, I never wanted to go prayoutside an abortion facility.But there are good reasons why any 40 Days for Lifecampaign must include a constant vigil outside theplaces where innocent human beings are put to death.That one fact is reason enough -- children are dyinginside those buildings, which are often innocentlooking store fronts or locations well hidden inotherwise innocuous office parks.Many people do not know that abortions are being donein their communities. The vigil brings attention tothis, and as people begin to gain knowledge about theexistence of abortion in their neighborhoods, theybecome increasingly uncomfortable.The abortion industry does not like publicity. Theybecome very uncomfortable as word spreads of whatthey had been doing in relative secret.And they know that the presence of people peacefullypraying outside their doors is bad for business.In a press release about 40 Days for Life, ChrisCharbonneau, President and CEO of Planned Parenthoodof Western Washington admitted, 'We know from pastexperience that these rallies and prayer vigilscreate barriers that deter our patients.'Two abortion facilities have gone out of businessfollowing 40 Days for Life vigils outside their doors-- in Dallas, Texas, and Rockland County, New York.The most important reason, however, to stand in vigiloutside the abortion facilities is to show the womenentering the clinics, the family members and friendswho accompany them -- and yes, even the people whowork there -- that people care about them and arepraying for them.Women contemplating abortion often feel abandoned --by the fathers of their children, by their families,even by their friends. They resort to abortionbecause they feel they have no one to support them.When they see people quietly, peacefully prayingoutside the clinic, they come to realize that they'renot alone.When they first began thinking about abortion, it wasbecause they had no hope. The vigil can help restorethat hope.More than 500 abortion-bound women have had a changeof heart and chosen life as a result of 40 Days forLife vigils.The people who work at the abortion centers may thinkof what they do as only a job. They too may have losthope of finding a better occupation. The sight ofpeople outside praying -- all day, every day -- makesthem take a second look at what they're doing.We know of at least five former abortion workers who,because of the 40 Days for Life vigils, quit theabortion industry.None of this would have happened if everyone took the'easy' path and decided just to pray at home or atchurch.It's the example of Christ Himself that we follow.When people went to Jesus with stories of those whowere suffering, He didn't just say a prayer or twoand walk on. He went to those people. He went totheir homes. He gave of Himself to comfort them andoffer them hope.So must we.