40 Days for Life, the pro-life campaign to end abortion, begins on Wednesday, Feb. 10, in 273 cities around the world. The movement starts at the local level and encompasses prayer, fasting, community outreach and vigils outside abortion centers. Originally started in 2004 by a group in Bryan-College Station, Texas, the group has official affiliates active in 32 countries.
40 Days for Life focuses on the spiritual aspects of the battle to end abortion, and cites 2 Chronicles 7:14 as their rallying cry: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land."
The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God's favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion.
An organization spokesman notes, "We have the opportunity to cooperate with God in carrying out His work. We put our faith in His will and prayerfully discern how He wishes us to respond."
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The 40 Days for Life message is unique among activism in that it encourages a positive, prayerful presence outside abortions facilities. "The object is to show God's love and mercy to those who visit and work at the abortion centers," states the organization. "This approach avoids shouting, confrontation with patients and employees, and the use of graphic abortion images. This is the approach that we have been led to embrace through our own prayer, fasting and spiritual discernment. In campaigns in more than 300 cities on five continents, this effort has produced positive, measurable results."
Community involvement includes door-to-door petitions and education drives in an effort to reach out to every household in a community. To raise awareness about the local crisis of abortions, volunteers distribute informational flyers and invite citizens to sign a petition in support of the sanctity of human life. Participants can show support by wearing wristbands, placing signs in their yards, or displaying bumper stickers on their vehicles.
These activities can help a community rapidly identify hundreds or thousands of pro-life supporters, who are then encouraged to pray and join other local pro-life efforts.
The visible, public centerpiece of 40 Days for Life is a focused, 40-day, non-stop, round-the-clock prayer vigil outside a single Planned Parenthood center or other abortion facility in local communities. It is a peaceful and educational presence. Those who are called to stand witness during this 24-hour-a-day presence send a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. It also serves as a call to repentance for those who work at the abortion center and those who patronize the facility.
The Fall 2010 campaign attracted attention when a Tennessee abortion doctor was arrested for brandishing a handgun at three 40 Days for Life participants demonstrating outside a South Carolina abortion clinic. There were no injuries during the encounter.
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This year 40 Days for Life involves over 105,000 participants and over 5,200 churches. Cumulatively from 2007 through the end of 2015, the campaign included 675,000 participants in 32 countries, and is aware of over 11,000 abortions averted as a result. They are also credited with closing 64 abortion clinics and encouraging 127 abortion workers to quit.
Citizens interested in participating can find their nearest location at the 40 Days for Life website.