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Illinois Federation

For Right to Life

Daily News

Friday, July 25, 2008

Abortion clinic prayer vigils coming to 100 cities

 

For 40 days and nights, Christians will seek end of killing

 

40 Days For Life will oppose abortion industry by using prayer

 

In two previous campaigns by Christians to disrupt America's abortion industry with continuous prayer, officials with the 40 Days for Life campaign say 35,000 have participated in vigils, 514 babies have been saved and five abortion industry workers have lost their jobs.

 

Now a third campaign is on the calendar, with a signup deadline of July 29 for cities to take part in the outreach. Most locations will have prayer warriors on the sidewalks outside abortion clinics 24 hours a day from Sept. 24 through Nov. 2.

 

Spokesman David Bereit said the first campaigns have seen 150,000 people praying and fasting for an end to abortion in the U.S., and half of the 35,000 marching in vigils were on the lines for the first time.

 

He also said two abortion centers have closed their doors following the campaigns.

 

"We have had 340 cities express interest [in the new campaign,]" he told WND. "We are well on our way to having more than 100 actually registered.

 

"It's a massive undertaking. People are committing to call on believers to pray and fast for 40 days – that's 960 hours with people physically present," he said.

 

At the same time, many of the cities launch pro-life outreach campaigns, with volunteers going door-to-door seeking prayer for an end to abortion.

 

This fall's event, which culminates only days before the presidential election, "is the single most intensive pro-life effort I've ever been a part of," he said. Among cities and areas already confirmed for participation are Fargo, N.D., Minneapolis, the San Fernando Valley, Chicago and Dallas.

 

The effort also will be the focus on a special program airing on EWTN tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

 

The program, "beingHuman: 40 Days for Life II," includes interviews with volunteers, national leaders and former abortionists on how the campaigns are renewing hope in communities across the nation.

 

"It focuses on the stories and successes that prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil have accomplished through 40 Days for Life campaigns that have now spread across the country and around the globe," said Bereit. "This show is a great opportunity to get people in communities across the nation involved in this initiative."

 

The first installment of the series last fall was honored with a Telly Award for television excellence.

 

"The documentary helped us spread the word about a new approach to pro-life outreach," said Bereit, "an approach that relied on prayer, fasting and peaceful action. It's an approach that has been successful in reducing abortion numbers and bringing more people into pro-life work."

 

Previews of the program and additional information about the production of the documentary are available online at BeingHumanShow.com.

 

The target is the billion dollar industry of abortion.

 

"In America, a nation that was founded on an unalienable right to life, endowed by our Creator, more than 1,200,000 innocent children are killed by abortion each year. However, it's not only children that are affected," the organization said.

 

"Millions of women have been wounded by abortion – some physically, and many more emotionally and spiritually – and fathers who have lost children to abortion have been shoved to the sidelines, abandoned to lives of regret," the group said. "Our children have been sold a lie about so-called sexual freedom without being adequately warned about the long-term consequences of promiscuity and sin. As a result, teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases have reached alarming levels."

 

Cmpaign veteran Amy Voorhees of San Antonio said, "We covered 960 hours in front of that clinic and although it was very difficult at times – and my husband is especially glad that we're done – I would readily say that, given what I know now, I would still choose to jump in and go for it. I have a list of over 200 people now looking to me asking, 'What's next?' and I can't wait to let them know."

 

Among the national leaders endorsing the project are Joe Scheidler, national director of the Pro-Life Action League; Father Frank Pavaone of Priests for Life; Carmen Pate of the Point of View Radio Talk Show; Royce Dunn of Life Chain; Jim Sedlak of Stop Planned Parenthood; Faith2Action leader and WND columnist Janet Folger; and former abortion provider Noreen Johnson.

 

The 40 day model was taken from the Bible, where in repeated instances God transformed individuals, cities or nations over a 40-day period, such as 40 days of rain on Noah, the 40 days on Mount Sinai for Moses, David's transformation by Goliath's 40-day challenge, Elijah's 40 days of strength from one meal and Jesus' 40 days in the desert.

 

Source: WorldNetDaily

Source URL: http://www.wnd.com

 

 

The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection for the disabled and the elderly.   Click here to learn more about the IFRL.