40 Days for Life Pro-Life Campaign Off to Excellent Start

Opinion   |   Shawn Carney   |   Feb 22, 2012   |   11:17AM   |  

It’s Day 1 and 40 Days for Life is off to a fast start!

I have spoken at kickoff events in three cities. Our national director, David Bereit is speaking in College Station, Texas tonight to launch the 10th campaign there since he and I led the first-ever 40 Days for Life in 2004.

Be part of this 40 day journey — just follow this link to the list of 258 campaign locations and find the one nearest you.

Let me tell you about a couple of the cities I’ve visited, and add a quick story about another location.

—————————————-
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
—————————————-

Nikki in Pittsburgh has led previous campaigns, but she noted an increased level of enthusiasm this spring. She said volunteers already had 80 percent of the vigil hours filled — BEFORE the campaign even started!

Hundreds of people attended the kickoff event at a local Presbyterian church. Pastors and priests from several different churches spoke, along with a woman who shared her testimony about her abortion experience.

The event ended with a procession to Planned Parenthood’s downtown Pittsburgh facility for a candlelight vigil. The kickoff was covered by several local media outlets, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

—————————————-
CLEVELAND, OHIO
—————————————-

Amy and Renee in Cleveland have worked hard to get more churches involved this spring. Grace Church, a large evangelical congregation, offered to host Cleveland’s kickoff event.

Grace’s pastor led the opening prayer and talked about how powerful 40 Days for Life has been in changing the hearts of those who work in the abortion industry.

He also noted that it was a blessing to have so many Evangelical, Catholic and Protestant Christians come together to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Volunteers have already stepped forward to fill many of the vigil hours. Amy and Renee even gave away free handwarmers to everyone who committed to pray at least five hours per week in the Cleveland cold.

—————————————-
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA
—————————————-

The abortion center in Pensacola relocated recently and just started taking appointments again about a week ago. In preparation for the 40 Days for Life campaign, volunteers have already been praying at the new site.

So far, there have been very few abortion appointments. Workers are standing around outside the building with nothing to do. One day, the abortionist left after only two hours.

Best of all, two babies were saved during the week prior to the campaign!

“This is assurance that your prayer, fasting and vigil have already called down all the powers of heaven upon this re-opened place of death,” said one volunteer. “And 40 Days for Life has not yet even begun! Wow! It is so exciting, anticipating all the wonderful miracles God has in store for this 40-day campaign.”

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.