(This is copied from an email written by Shawn Carney, the 40 Days for Life director, on this first day of the fall campaign. You can sign up to receive these daily updates at: http://40daysforlife.com/)
This is it!
Ten years ago, the
first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign kicked off in College Station, Texas.
Since then, God has clearly shown what He can do when we pray, fast
... and stand vigil:
- Lives are saved
- Hearts are changed
- Abortion facilities close
Will you join His
efforts over the next 40 days ... in 297 cities in 13 countries?
40 Days for Life
started in Texas ... but abortion is a global crisis. Many
courageous and faithful volunteers will be meeting this enormous challenge with
prayer and peaceful vigil — starting today — in these countries:
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- Brazil
- Croatia
- England
- Ghana
- Latvia
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- South Africa
- Spain
- Wales
To see the full list
– and
to sign up for the vigil location nearest you – go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/browse-campaigns/
With that many locations, there’s going
to be a lot of travel involved for the 40 Days for Life headquarters team.
Without question, the man who will be logging the most miles over the next 40
days is Robert Colquhoun, our international outreach director.
Robert brought 40
Days for Life to his home country of England in 2010 ... and has since helped
the mission spread far and wide.
Ghana
Robert visited with
the 40 Days for Life leaders in Ghana this week. Please keep the
people of this African nation in your prayers.
“We spoke to the youth group at a
Presbyterian church on Sunday morning,” Robert said, “and we also did a rally
in one of the poorest parts of Accra. Edward, the local leader, spoke
passionately about abortion for both talks.”
Robert said abortion is, for the most
part, illegal in Ghana. But they’re done anyway – slightly undercover.
“A large number of illegal abortions are done with chemicals under the scenes
and in secrecy,” he said, “with considerable dangers attached.”
Croatia
Efforts in Croatia
continue to grow. After a very successful initial campaign in Zagreb, the
Croatian capital is joined by four other cities for this campaign. The response
has been most favorable. The Croatian team had some great stories to share from
that first campaign, and no doubt will continue to make a difference.
But you don’t have to
go to Ghana or Croatia to pray!
There may be a
campaign in your hometown. You can pray wherever you are, of course, but if
there’s a vigil near you, prayer on the sidewalk in front of the abortion
center sends a powerful message – to the women seeking
abortion, to the people on the facility’s staff ... and to your community.
Here’s the link to find your local 40
Days for Life vigil:
http://40daysforlife.com/browse-campaigns/
Pray hard!
Here's today's
devotional from David Brandao, the communications director for 40 Days for
Life.
Day 1
intention
That we may use these
40 Days for Life to plead for God's mercy and grace upon all those involved in
the sin of abortion.
Scripture
Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly.
Gather the people, notify the congregation. Assemble the elders; gather the
children and the infants at the breast... Let the priests, the ministers of the
Lord, weep and say, "Spare, O Lord, your people."
— Joel 2:15-17
Reflection
The toll of abortion cannot be measured. We hear estimates of
almost 50 million innocent victims, but that's only one aspect of the harm that
has unfolded in abortion's wake. There are also the mothers and fathers of
these millions, as well as the grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts,
uncles, cousins. Unborn lives destroyed. Lives of the living shattered.
It's overwhelming and depressing, but even in the midst of such
unfathomable darkness, the church teaches us to have hope. Yes, it was indeed
Calvary that followed Christ's 40 days in the desert, but without Calvary there
would have been no Resurrection -- His victory over death that opened the gates
of heaven to those who believe in and follow Him.
The psalmist encourages us to go humbly before God as we seek His
will: "A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew
within me... Give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing spirit
sustain in me... O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your
praise" (Psalm 51:12, 14, 17).
We are called to be God's messengers; or as the Apostle Paul told
the Corinthians: "We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing
through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God" (2
Corinthians 5:20).
That is the true message to all we encounter at the abortion
centers and in our communities who have been deceived by the Culture of Death.
We don't bring condemnation; we bring God's good news.
Prayer
Lord, we ask for the strength, courage, wisdom, determination and
stamina to carry out this mission according to Your will.
Guide us, we pray, as we go forth and proclaim Your truth, always
doing so with a spirit of love and compassion, as was demonstrated to us by Your
Son, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.
Printable
devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to
share with friends:
For Life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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