WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – “Through the grace and mercy of God – and the faithful prayers of more than 200,000 volunteers standing vigil outside abortion facilities – an incredible miracle has taken place,” said David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life, in a letter to supporters today.
“Starting with the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in Bryan/College Station, Texas in 2004, and continuing through the international 40 Days for Life effort that is under way this fall, we now have confirmed reports of at least 2,000 babies whose lives have been saved from the tragedy of abortion,” Bereit said. “Who knows what wonders each of these children will bring to the world!”
Two thousand children, pointed out Bereit, would be enough to make up 180 teams of little soccer players – “and just as importantly, this could represent 180 teams of soccer moms – women who will enjoy watching their children run and jump and shout – blessings they would have never known if they had fallen for the lies that are so often disguised by the rhetoric of 'choice.'”
Frequently, it is simply the sight of people peacefully standing in prayer that will convince a woman to turn away from abortion. “When people ask me what to say when they're at the vigil,” said Bereit, “I often say – just pray and don't worry about it. We have countless stories of women rejecting abortion and leaving the clinics even when not a single word was spoken.”
It is often the prayer of children that has this effect. “Just last week, I heard about two little girls who were singing 'Jesus Loves Me' at a 40 Days for Life vigil,” he said. “They sang as a woman went in for an abortion appointment – then watched as she left the clinic in tears, read the number of a pregnancy resource hotline, and called for real assistance.”
40 Days for Life is the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in history. The fall 40 Days for Life campaign, which began September 23, will conclude on November 1. The initiative, in 212 cities across 45 American states, five Canadian provinces, and Denmark, consists of 40 days of intense prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, peaceful vigils outside abortion facilities, and grassroots community organizing.
Since 2004, some local 678 campaigns have been conducted in 282 communities, covering all 50 American states, the District of Columbia and American Samoa, as well as Canada, Australia, Northern Ireland and Denmark.