Day 5: Stories From the Campaign Front

Today we have several Vigil Volunteer experiences to share with everyone, but first, many thanks to all who came out yesterday to help with the Outreach Campaign! If you couldn't make this Saturday, there are still 5 Saturdays of Outreach left, and all are welcome to help with any or all remaining Outreach efforts!

Susan's story reminds us how abortion doesn't just hurt women and babies, it hurts men too:

Today I ended up speaking with a post-abortive dad with whom I had quite a long conversation (I had one of my “Women Do Regret their Abortions/Men Do Regret their Lost Fatherhood” signs). He told me his whole story and how sad he still is not to have his child in his life – the mother never told him until after the abortion – she was in 10th grade and her parents were the ones who brought her to the clinic. He was close to tears even telling me the story. He thanked us all for being out there and for our prayers. He’s going to get the UnPLANNED book and read it himself, too. Then within 5 minutes another very young man stopped by to ask if there was an abortion clinic there – I told him yes and filled him in on the doctor. He just shook his head and said he wouldn’t give up his 3 kids for anything in the world, even though financially things are a struggle. I asked him to pray for the cause and he was grateful to have people there and praying. It was a gift to have men speaking up about how this effects them…something I haven’t experienced personally. That and praying there for those babies made my day!

Jason's story below reminds us all to be careful where we park, and please make sure we don't even inadvertently trespass:

Jason told me he was standing vigil with Matt, one of the scheduled vigil keepers, and he had parked his car in the parking lot to the left of the vigil site (he had looked all around and didn't see any sign "No Trespassing" or "Private Property"). Around 9:30pm, a man emerged from Gynecare Associates and got into his black BMW. The man drove around the other parking lot, and aimed his headlights right at the back of Jason's car. After a while, the man drove off.

Street parking is available on Longview Drive (the side street parallel to the vigil site) and at Bishop Ireton High School after hours. Our vigils are intended to be legal, peaceful, and prayerfully conducted. Please contact me (jacinta.40days@gmail.com) or Zachary Foreman if you have any questions.

Rick Warren reminds us that God is expecting us to do something with His gift of life: "Life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment" (Purpose-Driven Life, Day 5). What will we do with our assignments?

A big thank you to all our Vigil Keepers; your peaceful prayerful presence is already having a positive impact! Keep up the good work!