Grassroots Activists Respond to Abortion Crisis with Record-Setting 40 Days for Life Campaign
by Staff
August 27, 2010
WASHINGTON, (christiansunite.com) -- "This fall, an unprecedented number of people of faith will be turning to a higher power to bring an end to the tragedy of abortion through a 40-day program of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach," said Shawn Carney, campaign director of 40 Days for Life.40 Days for Life is preparing for its largest campaign to date with 238 sites in six countries participating in simultaneous campaigns from September 22 - October 31. The list of locations is posted at: 40daysforlife.com/location.cfm.
The list includes 223 locations in 46 American states and the District of Columbia. With nine locations in six provinces, this campaign will also mark the largest Canadian participation as well. There are also communities taking part in 40 Days for Life in Australia, Denmark, Northern Ireland, and -- for the first time -- England.
"Many of the people who volunteer to pray at 40 Days for Life's public vigils have never done anything like this before, and perhaps had never even considered it," said Carney. "But there's a sense of urgency -- more lives are being lost to abortion every day with no apparent end in sight -- that requires an active, prayerful response. People are responding to that call, and it is showing amazing results."
Six abortion centers where 40 Days for Life prayer vigils have taken place have closed following these campaigns of prayer and fasting. In addition, 35 abortion industry employees have left their jobs at facilities where people prayed for an end to abortion during 40 Days for Life campaigns.
Carney added that peaceful prayer outside the abortion center "provides a simple reminder -- to patients, to staff, to the community -- of what all people know in their hearts: abortion is wrong and can never be justified. Despite the fact that governments continue to aggressively pursue a pro-abortion agenda, I am confident that the abortion culture will be overcome by the power of prayer."
Just three years ago, 40 Days for Life burst onto the scene as a groundbreaking pro-life initiative. Since then, it has mobilized more than 350,000 people in 307 cities across all 50 states -- as well as locations in other nations -- during six coordinated campaigns, saving 2,811 lives from abortion. The community-based 40 Days for Life campaign involves people of faith in 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, round-the-clock peaceful vigils outside abortion facilities, and grassroots educational outreach.
