Thursday, March 29, 2012

Day 37: Continuing Vigil Details

Thanks for all your prayers and support!
Although our 40-day vigil is coming to an end this Sunday, we will continue to stand and pray at our local abortion facilities in Alexandria, VA. Our efforts are not over until abortion has ended in our city! Please consider signing up for a weekly prayer time at one or both of our vigil locations during the times listed below:
Duke Street
Tuesday: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Wednesday: 10:30am - 1:30pm
Thursday: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Friday: 8:00am - 3:30pm

South Whiting Street
Monday - Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: 7:30am - 2:30pm
To sign up for the continuing vigil, contact Mary Ellen at maryellen.40days@verizon.net. Please note that you may come and pray at these locations where babies are put to death any time, but these are the hours when women are most likely to be arriving for an abortion appointment. We have heard that most abortions are performed here in the mornings, so the morning hours are most important to fill first.

One report from the sidewalk shows God's blessing on our efforts and witness for life. A lady who actually lives in the Landmark Towers building sensed God nudging her one morning, leading her to join other volunteers in prayer and peaceful witness. Since then she has continued as a vigil participant, and even shared the pro-life message with several neighbors and friends! This lady told the volunteer she had been praying about what ministry God would want her to become involved in since she retired -- and He literally put a sign in her hands! Praise God!

The Genocide Awareness Project is coming to George Mason University on April 2-3, from 7am-4pm each day. In case you are not aware of this effort, it is an image-based outreach project designed to spread awareness of the facts and evils of abortion that has been very effective and widely used. Volunteers are needed to help setup and take down the displays, engage students and distribute literature throughout the day, or provide a place to stay for out-of-town volunteers. For more information click here.

Also the Pro-Life training Institute will be this Saturday, March 31, from 10am-4pm, in the GMU Mason Inn Junior Ball Room. For more information click here and scroll down to bottom of page.

We look forward to concluding our campaign with you this Sunday, and hopefully seeing you at our victory celebration from 3-5pm at St. Lawrence Church Hall. Thanks for your continued prayers and support, and God bless!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Day 36: VDH, Final Days Training and Potluck

Come and Celebrate this Sunday!
Our campaign is quickly reaching its close, and the days have been wonderful windows of God's blessings! This update contains an official community fact-check, additional details about our Victory Celebration this Sunday, and details regarding CBR pro-life training on Saturday. Peace to you and yours!

Some people have wondered if Gynecare Associates does in fact perform abortions. Well the simple answer to that is yes, we have verified this with the Virginia Department of Health, to which every abortion facility is required to report the number of abortions they perform each year. We have also verified that abortions take place at Alexandria Women's Center on S. Whiting Street -- at a greater rate than any other Alexandria facility (they are also the cheapest).

We are looking forward to our potluck dinner celebration on Sunday! Please make every effort to attend if you can, and join us for a relaxing social gathering with other pro-lifers as we conclude our 40 Days for Life campaign. If you are planning to continue at one of our prayer vigil locations during the year please keep your sign, otherwise you may return it. Also, Sunday's vigil is optional and will officially end ended at noon so that everyone can attend the 3pm dinner.

We also wanted to let you know about a free pro-life training opportunity this Saturday (Day 39 of our campaign) featuring former pro-choice atheist Jay Watts as speaker and Dr. Fletcher Armstrong of the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform as training leader. The event will be held in Fairfax from 10am-4pm at the Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel. For more information see the attached flyer.

I'm looking forward to celebrating so many miracles with you on Sunday as we come to the end of our campaign. It's wonderful to be alive in Alexandria with so many blessings and stories of God's grace to share!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Day 34: Victory Celebration Details

Fall 2010 V.C. Photo
We're looking forward to seeing you at our victory celebration this coming Sunday! Event details are as follows:

WHAT: 40 Days for Life concluding celebration dinner!
WHO IS INVITED: Volunteers, fellow pro-lifers, family and friends -- everyone!
DATE: Sunday, April 1, 2012
TIME: 3:00 - 5:00 PM
PLACE: St. Lawrence Church, 6222 Franconia Road, Hannan Hall

Come for a relaxed social gathering and pot-luck meal to celebrate God's blessings over the past forty days, and look ahead to our continuing vigil and fall campaign!

As in past years, we will be collecting donations for our local pregnancy centers, including the following items:
  • new baby clothes up through size 2T
  • blankets
  • diapers
  • gift cards to places like K-mart, Wal-mart and Targets
Please RSVP to jacinta.40days@gmail.com if you will be able to attend and note the type of dish you will bring (main, side, dessert). We look forward to seeing you!

On a side note, Tuesday afternoon's vigil is open from 2:30-3:30pm due to an unexpected cancellation. If you or someone you know can fill this gap, please email Mary Ellen at maryellen.40days@verizon.net. For a list of other needed hours, see our previous update or visit www.vigilcalendar.com/alexandria. Thanks for your support!

Photo from 2010 Alexandria Fall Victory Celebration

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Day 33: We Are There -- 496 Babies Saved!

Did you know we are just one week away from the end of our campaign? This Sunday, April 1, will be our last day with our concluding pot-luck celebration at 3pm -- we hope you can join us! Please see details below. This update also contains stories from the sidewalk and a list of our last few needed vigil hours. Let's give this last week our best effort for LIFE!

One of our newest volunteers, Tom, who participates in the vigil with a spirit of gratitude for life despite serious personal physical challenges, reports the following:
I had a great day today at the vigil. I wish I could report that I saved a child but it is hard to get people's attention as they enter in their cars. I will sign up for more [hours] each week. ... It was a very spiritual and enriching experience for me. I am in for LIFE!!!! ... My goal is to save one life. God willing, it will be done. Thank you for the opportunity!
Another volunteer, Marie, brings this story from the sidewalk:
Yesterday around 5:30, [a prayer volunteer] and I were praying the Rosary and we heard someone yelling, "Thank you!  Thank you!," until we looked up at her. I waved as she drove away, but asked [the other volunteer] why she would say that.  I had been wondering why I was out there.  Then almost shortly after, two babies in strollers passed by, with two little kids walking with them, then another baby in a stroller, and again two more kids and a baby.  We saw four babies, and four toddlers.  And also a 17 month old girl visited with us earlier while walking with her Mom.  I was so grateful for those kids, and I remembered why we were there.
 Our concluding victory celebration will be on Sunday, April 1, from 3-5pm at St. Lawrence Church Hannan Hall, 6222 Franconia Road in Alexandria, VA. More details will be forthcoming throughout the upcoming week -- for now, please mark your calendar and plan to attend to celebrate the conclusion of our 40 Days for Life campaign together with other pro-lifers and valiant prayer volunteers!

Upcoming needed vigil hours are as follows:
Duke Street:
  • Monday: 10-11am, 5-6pm
  • Tuesday: 3:30-5pm (currently have no one signed up)
  • Many other hours throughout the week: need a second person
S. Whiting Street:
  • Monday: 11am-5pm
  • Tuesday: 9am-12pm, 3-5pm
  • Wednesday: 12:30-5pm
  • Thursday: 9am-5pm
  • Friday: 9-10:30am, 12:30-1pm, 2-5pm
  • Saturday: 7:30-9:30am, 10:30-11:30am (currently have no one signed up)
  • Many other hours throughout the week: need a second person

Please email Mary Ellen at maryellen.40days@verizon.net to sign up for any of these hours or visit our online calendar for the Duke Street vigil: www.vigilcalendar.com/alexandria. Thanks for your support and commitment!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Day 29: Looking Forward to Victory Celebration April 1

It's hard to believe this campaign is already 75% over, and we are only ten days away from the end of our prayer vigil! So far the reported number of babies saved is up to 377! This update contains information on our victory celebration, important events for the weekend, reports from the sidewalk, and a reminder from Mary Ellen for all vigil keepers. Enjoy!

We're hoping you'll join us for a meal and celebration of life to conclude our prayer and witness for life on Sunday, April 1 from 3-5pm at St. Lawrence Church Hannan Hall (6222 Franconia Road). Please let us know if you are interested with helping out in providing this dinner -- any and all assistance appreciated! 

This weekend will see a host of important pro-life events: "October Baby" movie screening and opening day, Elizabeth McClung counseling seminar and "Making Abortion Unthinkable" workshop, "Stand up for Religious Freedom" and "Circle the Court with Prayer" rallies, and last but not least, our own local "Ride for Life." See our earlier post for a detailed list of events, and make your best effort to attend or at least offer special prayer for these intentions!

So many wonderful stories have been sent from the sidewalk, showing God's blessings in our own city of Alexandria. They describe good conversations with local residents, wide-ranging participation by Christians, and new volunteers continuing to join our efforts. Prayer volunteer Melissa has this to share:
A little girl about 8 years old (she lives across the street) came over to talk to me. She told me that she loved children. Her sister got pregnant and was going to get an abortion, but she knew it wasn't moral - and now she has an awesome nephew they love very much. This little girl made my day.
Finally, our vigil coordinator Mary Ellen has a word of reminder about the need for punctuality in one's vigil commitments:
We know that things come up unexpectedly, and extra traffic or road work can cause big delays, but when possible, please try to make every effort to arrive on time when you are scheduled for the prayer vigil.  In spite of our best efforts, we do not always get there on time, and this either leaves a gap in the vigil or causes the person before us to be inconvenienced if they are waiting for us to arrive before they leave. Some people are reporting that they have been to the vigil several times and no one came to replace them, so I am sending this reminder to all of us to try a little harder.
As we enter into these last few days of our campaign, surely we can all try a little harder to show up on time for our vigil hours, pray with a little more fervor, give up a little more comfort for the sake of our witness for life, and follow our Divine Leader a little more closely. Please check the vigil calendar if you are able to sign up for some of the empty hours in this last week or so remaining. May God bless our efforts on behalf of His children, and thank you so much for your continued prayers and support! 

Photo from Jonathan at Saturday outreach in Old Town

Friday, March 16, 2012

Day 25: Who Is Saint Patrick?

St. Patrick, Missionary to Ireland
Who is the real saint Patrick and why do we celebrate his feast day? Today marks an occasion that has become largely cultural. Its original Christian intent has been sullied through secular traditions of excessive drinking, parades, and parties of various sorts. For any truly good celebration we must remember the reasons and purposes of the occasion from the beginning.

Patrick was a British living in the 400s, a time when all Christians still lived as members of a united Church. He was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave, where he experienced a spiritual conversion of heart. After escaping he later returned to Ireland, a land of druids and pagans, to work tirelessly until his death as a missionary. As one biographer writes, "In a dream vision it seemed 'all the children of Ireland from their mothers’ wombs were stretching out their hands' to him, [and] he understood the vision to be a call to do mission work in pagan Ireland." 

He was a firm believer in the power of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and wrote a beautiful prayer entitled "The Breastplate of St. Patrick," which is quoted as follows:
Christ shield me this day: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me (source).
As we pray and witness in our own community of Alexandria, VA, let us be inspired by the example that Saint Patrick leaves us: to base our efforts on the power of Christ, and to be fervent missionaries of the Gospel of Life among our neighbors. Although we face difficulties and opposition at times, as did Patrick, the Lord will bless our work for His Glory as He did Patrick's. In the words of another biographer, "By the time he died in 461, Patrick had converted virtually all of Ireland to Christianity, and he is a reminder that God speaks to us through His servants." May Christ speak through us as we spread the message of life throughout our own city.
 

Day 24: Community Outreach for St. Patrick's Day!

I invite you to come out this Saturday and help with community outreach on this special celebration of St. Patrick's Day!

Outreach this Saturday, March 17, will be led by Jonathan Darnel in Old Town from 1-3pm. Meet at St. Mary's Church (310 Duke Street) to distribute literature and answer questions about our campaign with Alexandria residents and visitors.  For more information contact Paul at paul.40days@gmail.com.

More on St. Patrick tomorrow; in the meantime, please check our vigil calendar for additional slots that may be available. As always, remember to send any reports and stories to Jacinta at jacinta.40days@gmail.com. Thanks for your prayer and continued witness! 

Day 24: An Important Reminder

Prayer
As you may know, 40 Days for Life is a Christian project and unlimited by denominational boundaries. As National Director David Bereit has stated, although we may not see eye-to-eye on all religious matters we can stand arm-in-arm on the sidewalk for the unborn. Today I'd like to clarify some questions that have arisen regarding the inter-denominational aspect of our efforts here in Alexandria.

From its beginning, 40 Days for Life has provided Christians of all denominations an opportunity to work together to save the lives of unborn babies in danger of being killed by abortion and to show the love of Christ to women facing crisis pregnancies. The keystone of our mission is unity of purpose and reliance on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Many parts ... one Body

In order for the prayer vigil to succeed, it is essential that Christians from different churches and traditions work together to accomplish the task that the Lord has given us. This means that we must set aside our differences and endeavor to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

To that end, please keep the following guidelines in mind whenever you are at a prayer vigil:
  1. The vigil is predominately a time of prayer. Do not use the time trying to persuade other participants to your religious or political point of view.
  2. Be mindful that other volunteers may not share your church’s traditions or forms of worship. If you pray or converse with other volunteers, try to avoid contentious language and practices. For example, whenever Protestants are known to be present, Catholics should direct all spoken common prayers only to God the Father or to Jesus Christ.
    One God ... One Lord of All!
  3. Do not find fault with the religious expressions of other vigil participants. For example, if a spoken prayer offends you, quietly move to a different location, out of hearing range.
  4. If you pray out loud, either individually or as a small group, pray softly so that others who do not share your traditions will be able to move out of hearing range.
Each one of you is vitally important in the fight for life! We appreciate the dedication and commitment of every vigil volunteer. Thank you for reading and for respecting these guidelines as we continue to work together on behalf of the unborn children in our city of Alexandria, VA. 

We Stand Together for Life!

Outreach this Saturday will be led by Jonathan Darnel in Old Town from 1-3pm (St. Patrick's Day!). Meet up at St. Mary's Church (310 Duke Street), and distribute literature and answer questions about our campaign with Alexandria residents and visitors.  For more information contact Paul at paul.40days@gmail.com.

Please remember the vigil calendar for upcoming hours that are still needed. We're up to 294 reports of babies saved in this campaign -- thanks so much for your ongoing prayer and support!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Day 22: Hands Around Alexandria

Yesterday I invited you to get involved with Art for Life, a pro-life children's art initiative. Today I'd like to share our second project, Hands Around Alexandria, and invite you to participate.

Hands Around Alexandria is a symbolic effort designed to show love and support for mothers and pre-born children in Alexandria. Everyone is invited to make a paper cutout of their hand, and decorate it with trim or a pro-life message. The hands will be displayed at our Victory Celebration on Sunday, April 1, from 3-5pm at St. Lawrence Church (6222 Franconia Road). To view our flyer, click here. For more information, please contact me (Sara Dina) at 703-971-0678 or 571-218-6224 (cell).

I hope you'll be able to participate and help to spread the word about these two pro-life projects in our community of Alexandria, VA: Art for Life and Hands Around Alexandria. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me at the phone numbers listed above!

List of Upcoming Needed Vigil Times (Duke Street):
  • Sunday: 11am-12pm; 2-3pm
  • Monday: 7-10am; 4-7pm
  • Tuesday: 8-8:30am; 3:30-5pm
To sign up, go to www.vigilcalendar.com/alexandria, or email Mary Ellen at maryellen.40days@verizon.net. Thanks for your prayers and ongoing support in defense of Alexandria's youngest residents!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Day 21: Art for Life, Important Upcoming Events

Over 270 babies reported saved -- that's around 2 for each of our weekly vigil-keepers and a good nursery-full left over for everyone else! Thank you so much for your ongoing prayer and support, and for being a part of this coordinated international prayer effort. Who knows -- the life you save may one day be your own!

I'd like to invite you to participate in two ongoing projects that will be highlighted at our concluding celebration dinner on Sunday, April 1, at St. Lawrence Church on Franconia Road, beginning at 3pm. The first is Hands Around Alexandria which will be the focus of tomorrow's campaign report. The second is Art for Life which I'd like to share with you now:
Art for Life seeks to involve all children in the pro-life movement during these 40 days of our campaign by inviting them to create a drawing, painting, sculpture, or other art form that celebrates God's love for mothers and their pre-born children.
Children can participate through their families at home, school or religion classes, Scout groups, friends, or as individuals wherever they are. Children are asked to bring their artwork to the 40 Days for Life concluding celebration at St. Lawrence Church Hall on Sunday, April 1, from 3-5pm (6222 Franconia Road).
Click here for our event flyer, and for more information please call me (Sara Dina) at 703-971-0678 or 571-218-6224 (cell).
Please encourage any children you know to participate in the Art for Life initiative, and help spread the word to families and groups you know! Thanks for your enthusiasm and support!

Please also mark your calendars and help spread the word about several important upcoming events:
  • Thursday, March 22: "October Baby" Movie Screening to Benefit Northwest Pregnancy Center (AMC Hoffman Center 22, 7pm, click here for flyer).
  • Friday, March 23: "October Baby" Movie Opening at AMC Hoffman Center 22 (click here for movie times and tickets) AND "Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally" (D.C., 12-1pm, click here, here and here for event details) AND "Speaking the Truth With Love" Elizabeth McClung Counseling Seminar (D.C., 6-9:30pm, click here for flyer).
  • Saturday, March 24: "Making Abortion Unthinkable" Seminar (St. Raymond Church, 10am-4pm, click here for flyer)
  • Sunday, March 25: "Ride for Life" Motorcycle or Car Ride to Five Local Vigil Stops (click here for event details) AND "Encircle the Court with Prayer" Vigil at the Supreme Court on the Eve of Obamacare Hearings (2-4pm, click here and here for details).
A reminder to check the vigil schedule and signup for any additional hours that you can attend. Contact Paul if you can help with crowd outreach in Old Town this weekend on the afternoon of St. Patrick's Day. And let's all remember to pray and fast for life and love in this community of Alexandria, VA!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Day 20: Halfway Rally Report and Photos

First things first: as of the latest tally, we are up to 256 babies saved through prayer and fasting, vigil and outreach this campaign, in only 20 days! Imagine if we made a constant effort to witness and pray this way, how the saves would continue! Praise the Lord for His wonderful blessings -- and thank YOU for your prayerful support and witness for life!

Photos from Halfway Rally, Sunday 3/11, Duke St. Site
We had a great midpoint rally at the Duke Street vigil site last Sunday beginning around 3pm. While our numbers continued to increase, it seemed we reached a total of 37 people -- what a crowd! Campaign director Sara led prayers and remarks, noting how the local abortion rate has dropped, while encouraging and thanking everyone for their support. We sang several hymns, and got some pictures; click here for our rally photo album!

As Sara mentioned there are still many slots needing additional coverage, including some morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend times. Click here to view the Duke Street vigil schedule(click here for S. Whiting Street)-- if you can, please sign up for some additional hours during the second half of our campaign!

Sidewalk Stories: The following are from Gail, a prayer volunteer at S. Whiting Street. Please remember to send your reports and pictures to jacinta.40days@gmail.com for inclusion in our team updates!
  • "A man rolled down his car window and said to me, 'My daughter got pregnant when she was 18. She was pressured to get an abortion but she remained strong. I just can't imagine my life today without my 11 year old grandson.'"
  • "A woman around 40 rolled down her car window and said to me, 'I don't understand how someone could get an abortion. I am at the other end of the spectrum. I can't get pregnant; I won't ever have a baby.' She left teary eyed."
  • "A young woman rolled down her car window and said to me, 'Don't worry, I've kept all of mine.' There was a car seat in the back."
  • "A man stopped his car in front of me on Whiting Street and carried a food tray over with four medium cups of coffee from McDonald's. He even provided cream and sugar packets. He said he had seen four people standing by the clinic and wanted to offer his support. He lives in a neighboring building."
Several Upcoming Events: Please mark your calendars and attend if you're able!
  • Movie Screening: "October Baby" is showing at 7pm at AMC Hoffman Center 22 on Thursday, March 22, in Alexandria (206 Swamp Fox Road), to benefit the pregnancy center. Tickets are $15 minimum donation, 100% of which goes to support the center. Click here for more information. The movie officially debuts on Friday, March 23; check the AMC Center listing for additional showings.
  • Counseling Training with Elizabeth McClung at Catholic Information Center in D.C., on Friday, March 23, from 6-9pm. Click here for more info.
  • Motorcycle Madness: Ride for Life will be Sunday, March 25, beginning at 8:30am at All Saints Church in Manassas. Bikers will stop to pray at five local vigil sites in Fairfax, Falls Church, Alexandria, and Manassas. Click here for the Facebook event page, or email Randy Harrill at randyharrill@gmail.com
    or call 571-247-8484.
  • Ongoing Projects: Art for Life and Hands Around Alexandria flyers are available on our website; for more information see our upcoming posts!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Day 16: Report From the Sidewalk

Please join us for our Halfway Rally on Sunday at 3pm at the Duke Street vigil site (2839 Duke Street) for common prayer and fellowship, and to encourage each other as we complete the first half of our campaign. The rally should be short (under 1 hour) but important for all of us to attend if possible as one team united for life in Alexandria!

Outreach Meet-up Change in Location: Our outreach team is meeting at the S. Whiting Street vigil location (101 S. Whiting Street) this Saturday instead of at Duke Street. The meet-up time is 9:30am. Please contact Paul at 703-969-7457 or paul.40days@gmail.com if you would like to participate.

Mary Ellen has this report to share from the sidewalk, underscoring the need for ongoing and constant prayer and witness for life:
A young man from another country walked past my signs, studying them, and looked back when he passed and read them some more. He walked further down the sidewalk, stopped and looked back and studied the signs some more. (They said "Women do regret abortion" and "Women deserve better than abortion.") Then he came back and told me he was friends with a couple that had just found out the wife was pregnant, and she was thinking of getting an abortion. They are homeless and could not think of any way they could afford or take care of the baby. I was able to give him brochures and the list of pregnancy help resources on the back of the flyer. I asked if they spoke Spanish or English, and he said "Spanish," then he said "and English," but as I was handing him the Spanish "I Care" pamphlet and the brochure, he said he would rather have them in English. So I gave him both versions, plus an extra one in English in case he wanted to give it to someone else. He seemed very pleased to get the extra, and said "and one for me too!" I do pray that the couple will seek help and choose life.
Help Fill the Vigil: Please see our previous update for a detailed list of regular hours that are still needed. Thank you for your ongoing prayer and support!

Let us persevere in prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil, and community outreach for an abortion-free Alexandria. Our God is an awesome God, and at the proper time, will hear and answer every one of our prayers!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Day 15: Halfway Rally this Sunday 3pm!

Thanks to all the brave and loving prayer volunteers who are beginning their third week of support and witness for life, we now have reports of 198 babies saved over the past two weeks by God's grace! Please join us for our Halfway Rally on Sunday at 3pm at the Duke Street vigil site (2839 Duke Street) for common prayer and fellowship, and to encourage each other as we complete the first half of our campaign. The rally should be short (under 1 hour) but important for all of us to attend if possible as one team united for life in Alexandria!

Outreach Meet-up Change in Location: Our outreach team is meeting at the S. Whiting Street vigil location (101 S. Whiting Street) this Saturday instead of at Duke Street. The meet-up time is 9:30am. Please contact Paul at 703-969-7457 or paul.40days@gmail.com if you would like to participate.

A few reports have come in from the sidewalk, confirming the peaceful and prayerful nature of our vigil:
  • From Lynn and Harry: "It was cold out there today, but we got lots of thumbs up from people going by!"
  • From Loretta: "I was able to stay at the vigil site 2 hours today. The person who followed me was late due to traffic. A young man named Anthony who was not signed up on the schedule came by to pray. While we were praying Maria came and joined us. A good day."
  • From Jacinta: "I was holding a 40 Days for Life sign, and a young man slowed his car and stopped by me. With a genuine look of concern, he asked, 'Do you really have 40 days to live?' Apparently he didn't understand our campaign, so I had the opportunity to explain it to him (with a bit of a chuckle for sure!). A gleam of understanding showed in his eyes, and he drove away down the road. Another couple stopped to ask what this was all about, so I explained it to them as well. I have been handing out lots of car magnets, flyers, and pro-life literature to friendly pedestrians, for themselves as well as their friends!"
Help Fill the Vigil: We are in need of a regular prayer volunteer for several time slots that have recently become empty (see list below). While we have been able to maintain some temporary coverage in the past, regular volunteers help provide a stable and ongoing witness for life. There are many other times where we need a second vigil keeper throughout our weekly schedule from 7am-7pm daily. Our Lord tell us in Mt. 18:20, "Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them." Check out our Duke Street or S. Whiting Street calendars for specific hours needed, and sign up by contacting Mary Ellen at maryellen.40days@verizon.net or 703-780-2922.
Current Vigil Hours Most in Need of Coverage:
  • Duke Street -- Sun 2-3pm; Mon 7-8:30am, 1-2pm, 4-7pm; Tues 8-8:30am, 2:30-5pm
  • S Whiting Street -- Tues 9am-12pm; Fri 9am-12:30pm; Sat 7:30-9:30am
Thanks for all your support during this campaign for life! Let us join together in continued prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil, and community witness for an abortion-free Alexandria. Our God is an awesome God, and at the proper time, will hear and answer every one of our prayers!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Day 12: You Can Change Hearts and Minds

Congratulations! Did you know there have already been reports of 148 babies saved by God's grace during our current 40 Days for Life campaign? New stories are reported daily at www.40daysforlife.com by faithful Christians just like you and me around the country and beyond. These exciting moments are not engineered through some fancy tricks or clever catch-phrases. The news comes to volunteers as they quietly pray on the public right-of-way, and they are able to provide local pregnancy resources to those in need, just like the ones we have compiled for you.

Needless to say though, a bit of sidewalk counseling training is helpful for everyone, and you have a chance to get some yourself in just a couple of weeks from a lady who has a great story to tell. James Sherk of DC 40 Days for Life is organizing a seminar with Elizabeth McClung, who helped convert former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson, and Elizabeth is visiting DC to discuss effective dialogue with mothers and fathers entering abortion clinics in this evening session on Friday, March 23. Click here for the Facebook event description. Click here for the event flyer.

The Lord is showing his love and mercy to so many parents and children who have been spared from the pain of abortion during these first few days of our campaign. Let's continue our prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and witness, and look forward to the revelation of even greater blessings during our campaign. As the King has said, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”

Friday, March 2, 2012

Day 10: October Baby

As the weekend hits we may think: "It's movie time!" One movie to mark on your calendar for sure is coming out March 23, and carries a powerful pro-life message. The following comments and description is brought to us by Students for Life:
October Baby Makes Waves in Mainstream Media with its Pro-Life Theme

Students for Life of America is proud to team up with the creators of October Baby, a brand new pro-life film that is already creating a huge buzz in mainstream media.

The movie, which will hit theaters on March 23, centers on a young girl who learns of her adoptive past and her survival of a failed abortion. Bewildered, angered, and confused, Hannah turns for support to Jason, her oldest friend. Encouraged by his adventurous spirit, Hannah joins his group of friends on a Spring Break road trip, embarking on a journey to discover her hidden past … and find hope for her unknown future.

In the midst of her incredible journey, Hannah finds that life can be so much more than what you have planned.

We were proud to host a sneek peek premiere of October Baby at our 2012 National Conference in January and encourage all student groups and leaders to purchase tickets for the nationwide premiere on March 23!
To watch the trailer of October Baby, click here.