News

LA PUENTE, California, July 25, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – 40 Days for Life leaders are celebrating another victory after the closure of a California abortion clinic this year where five 40 Days prayer campaigns have taken place.

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As white and blue balloons flew in the strong La Puente sun, 40 Days for Life National Director David Bereit and Campaign Director Sean Carney celebrated the facility’s closure with a rally in front of the building July 20.

“Through your prayers, and through your faithfulness, this place where countless children died … is now closed forever, and no more children will die here, and no more women will cry here ever again, to God be the glory, great things he has done,” said Bereit to a cheering crowd.

The Family Planning Medical Clinic is the 14th abortion facility to shut its doors during or after a 40 days for Life campaign.

Bereit told LifeSiteNews.com that the property manager of the building where the abortion facility was located allowed pro-lifers to hold a vigil inside the facility on July 14, where a priest joined them in their prayer of thanksgiving.

Yvonne Viramontes, the campaign director for 40 Days for Life La Puente, said that the clinic’s business had slowed down during the campaigns, and prayer witnesses noticed that abortion days were being moved to days when the vigil presence was weaker.

When news finally came that the clinic was closing for good, Viramontes called it a “huge miracle.”

“I didn’t expect anything, I just wanted to say yes and be here in prayer along with everyone,” she said.

Another 40 Days for Life volunteer at the rally noted that the business has shut down for good, and is not moving to a new location. “The final thing that proved it to us was when we had a vigil here that night [the clinic closed], they left stuff behind, they left tables behind, so they’re obviously not going to be running another clinic, they’re done. It’s truly a blessing,” said the volunteer.

Before the end, volunteers witnessed several babies rescued from abortion thanks to their presence. Viramontes described the happy ending for one couple who decided not to abort their baby despite severe financial troubles.

“Because we were there and offered support, they thought it was God’s response to them, they had been crying the night before and all morning before heading into the abortion clinic,” she said.

“We got to see that baby born, it was amazing, we held it in our arms. … I didn’t know we were going to be blessed and blessed and blessed.”

Another woman at the rally described how the audible prayers of volunteers changed her and her daughter’s minds just before they entered the abortion clinic: “as we were sitting there, the voices, the prayers were inside my car.”

The woman said her daughter was “very upset” and asked, “Why are they praying so loud?” “I turned around and I told her, honey, they’re not praying loud, it’s God telling you what you need to do, you just need to listen,” she said.

Next to her was a beaming baby girl, dandled in her great-grandmother’s arms. “She is loved by so many people,” she said. “As you can see, she’s adorable.”

To sign up as a local director for a campaign in your city or town, visit the 40 Days for Life website.