From Shawn Carney, Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
Of the 306 communities holding 40 Days for Life events right now, 33 are outside the United States. That's about 33 more than we would have ever imagined!
40 Days for Life was brought to England three years ago by Robert Colquhoun. After visiting Canada and participating in 40 Days for Life in Ottawa, Robert felt called to bring this campaign across the pond to his homeland.
Since then, 40 Days for Life has experienced rapid growth in the United Kingdom. Robert’s work has been featured in major British media including the BBC and The Guardian. He even debated the national director of BPAS (the UK equivalent to Planned Parenthood) on national radio!
Critics said praying in front of an abortion facility for 40 days was "too American" to catch on in the UK. But -- the critics were wrong. Robert has used his contacts to get other 40 Days for Life vigils started across Britain -- as well as in Russia, South Africa, Nigeria and Portugal.
Please keep Robert and the international outreach of 40 Days for Life in your prayers and see for yourself how God is at work around the globe.
London, England
With eight current campaigns in the UK alone, Robert has put together a short video to help encourage more people to pray and fast for an end to abortion. Click below to see the video.
With eight current campaigns in the UK alone, Robert has put together a short video to help encourage more people to pray and fast for an end to abortion. Click below to see the video.
Leeds, England
Pat in Leeds reports answered prayers at the 40 Days for Life vigil. "The hearts of two mothers were changed," she said. One had an appointment that day to abort her 12-week-old baby -- an appointment she did not keep.
By being there for prayer, the group also made contacts through a local church network to assist a woman who was eight months pregnant and in need of assistance, "which was amazing, but not directly part of 40 Days for Life," Pat said. "It's just how things happen when you are out there on the streets."
Pat in Leeds reports answered prayers at the 40 Days for Life vigil. "The hearts of two mothers were changed," she said. One had an appointment that day to abort her 12-week-old baby -- an appointment she did not keep.
By being there for prayer, the group also made contacts through a local church network to assist a woman who was eight months pregnant and in need of assistance, "which was amazing, but not directly part of 40 Days for Life," Pat said. "It's just how things happen when you are out there on the streets."
Manchester, England
"There are times when we are given a sign by God that makes everything worthwhile," said Dave in Manchester.
"My eyes were drawn to this young girl entering the clinic," he said. "An hour or so later then she emerged from the clinic, saying that she had not gone through with it."
It was the fourth time a mother had said "no" to abortion in Manchester. "Praise God, this made the morning all the more worth the while," Dave said. "But later that day we had our fifth save as well."
Here's today's devotional from Rev. Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action.
"There are times when we are given a sign by God that makes everything worthwhile," said Dave in Manchester.
"My eyes were drawn to this young girl entering the clinic," he said. "An hour or so later then she emerged from the clinic, saying that she had not gone through with it."
It was the fourth time a mother had said "no" to abortion in Manchester. "Praise God, this made the morning all the more worth the while," Dave said. "But later that day we had our fifth save as well."
Here's today's devotional from Rev. Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action.
Day 15 intention
May God's people awaken to the fact that we are our brothers' keepers.
May God's people awaken to the fact that we are our brothers' keepers.
Scripture
Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground."
-- Genesis 4:8-10
Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground."
-- Genesis 4:8-10
Reflection by Rev. Rob Schenck
"Methinks he doth protest too much ..."
The Bible is filled with passages that speak to our obligation to care for our fellow human beings. From the many commands in the books of Moses enjoining love of family, neighbors and even strangers, to Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, the injunction to care for others is inescapable.
In this account, the guilt-stricken Cain tries to shrug off his obligation to his own kin by dismissing it as an unreasonable duty. A la Shakespeare, though, "methinks he doth protest too much." Cain's objection doesn't stem from his sense of proper boundaries of responsibility, but from his own self-centered sense of self-preservation.
Christ said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). This is the standard of divine love. It required God to sacrifice what was most precious to Him for the temporal and eternal well being of all humankind (see John 3:16). Though on a much-reduced scale, he expects us to do the same.
Trying to duck our obligation to others is futile. We can't get away with simply dismissing others, especially the most vulnerable among us: the pre-born, the disabled, the sick and the aged. As with Cain, God sees and hears their suffering and will call us to account for what we do -- or do not do -- for them.
"Methinks he doth protest too much ..."
The Bible is filled with passages that speak to our obligation to care for our fellow human beings. From the many commands in the books of Moses enjoining love of family, neighbors and even strangers, to Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, the injunction to care for others is inescapable.
In this account, the guilt-stricken Cain tries to shrug off his obligation to his own kin by dismissing it as an unreasonable duty. A la Shakespeare, though, "methinks he doth protest too much." Cain's objection doesn't stem from his sense of proper boundaries of responsibility, but from his own self-centered sense of self-preservation.
Christ said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). This is the standard of divine love. It required God to sacrifice what was most precious to Him for the temporal and eternal well being of all humankind (see John 3:16). Though on a much-reduced scale, he expects us to do the same.
Trying to duck our obligation to others is futile. We can't get away with simply dismissing others, especially the most vulnerable among us: the pre-born, the disabled, the sick and the aged. As with Cain, God sees and hears their suffering and will call us to account for what we do -- or do not do -- for them.
Prayer
Father, help us to embrace the fact that we are our "brother's keeper." When, due to selfish motives, we try to cast off this responsibility please call to us to account. We would be pleasing to you and to our "brother." Through the help and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Father, help us to embrace the fact that we are our "brother's keeper." When, due to selfish motives, we try to cast off this responsibility please call to us to account. We would be pleasing to you and to our "brother." Through the help and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2013day15print.pdf
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