40 Days for Life is a prolife prayer vigil which has participants in 212 cities in the US, Canada and Europe. Founder David Bereit modeled the 24 hour 40 days prayer vigil in front of abortion clinics on Christ's 40 days of fasting and prayer in the desert, and the 40 days of Lent. He believes that this is 'the beginning of the end of abortion in this country" and recent poll numbers show that the tide may indeed be turning. For the first time a majority of Americans call themselves pro-life. The 4 decade old pro-life movement, far from dying out, is gaining strength as young people under 36 realize that they are survivors, that their lives were spared from abortion.
Although it can be a challenge to recruit volunteers for the pre-dawn hours, organizers and participants alike insist that the rewards for participation are worth the trouble. The 40 Days for Life blog keeps spirits high as it recounts babies lives saved (131 and counting) and women's lives turned around (two abortion clinic workers left their jobs and women were offered better choices to deal with their crisis pregnancies).
The men and women who are praying on the front lines are not rude zealots as pro-lifers are characterized by the media, but quiet prayerful, sensitive people who radiate with love for the unfortunate women who feel that abortion is their only choice. They walk the sidewalk praying quietly, sometimes breaking into a well loved hymn, bearing signs which say things like "women deserve better than abortion" or simply, "life".
When new volunteers take their place, there is a lively exchange as many pro-life activists know one another, and offer words of encouragement. Passersby mostly look away , but there have been occasional thumbs up and beeps.
There is no violence or slogans being shouted, merely prayers and words of encouragement and more volunteers are needed. If you would like to join 40 Days for Life, taking place in front of Planned Parenthood at 12 Case Street, Norwich, you may contact Brian Daly at (860) 822-1788.
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