40 Days to End Abortion in Georgia

40 Days to End Abortion in Georgia

By Kateri Howard

Last September, Atlanta once again united with thousands of believers across America in the nationally coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign of prayer and fasting to end abortion.  In October, strongholds crumbled.

Former Director of Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas

In Pensacola, Florida, an abortion facility that had stood for twenty-five years in the city, a dark seemingly unshakable fortress of evil, was shut down.

In Bryan, Texas, the director of the local Planned Parenthood walked out.

In Kalispell, Montana, the local Planned Parenthood closed completely.

On November 2, figures were released showing at least 534 babies confirmed as saved from abortion in just over 40 days.

What a sign of hope!  The best part of these incredible pro-life successes is that they did not come from big funding, political strategies, or legal action.  Important as those can be, ultimately, it is the Lord himself who transforms hearts and heals the wounds of nations.  These hope-filled successes are the results of people who simply put their trust in God in prayer and fasting, and took their faith to the streets.  He did the rest.

To date, more than 5000 churches in five nations have joined 40 Days for Life in their local communities.  Through their efforts, hundreds of men and women have been spared the pain and loss of abortion.  Hundreds more with abortion in their past have found forgiveness, hope, and healing.  Dozens of abortion facilities have cut back hours.  At least twenty-nine abortion industry workers have quit the deadly industry.

Here in Atlanta last fall, over a dozen churches from more than four denominations prayed and fasted in this powerful campaign.  People of faith from diverse corners of the Atlanta area – Gainesville – Marietta – Alpharetta – drove into the city to participate in peaceful hours of prayerful vigil at the Feminist Women’s Health Center abortion facility.  Speakers took a pro-life message to youth, and campaign volunteers contributed to the placing of a billboard with a pregnancy center hotline number in a strategic interstate location.  Most importantly, by the grace of God we know of six lives that were saved as through these efforts, and I am hopeful that somehow through our prayers and presence God has begun to melt the hearts even of the abortionists and workers at the facility.

To stand in front of the facility and see people go in and out and pray for them, or even try to talk to them is an experience that goes right to your heart.  One man who rolled down his window to speak with me, it later turned out may have been one of the abortionists.  He said no one wants to adopt black babies.  That’s just not true of course, and it was the saddest thing to hear him say, since he himself is black.  Some other pro-lifers and I afterwards spiritually adopted him and have been praying for him ever since.

In any given community, the most visible component of a 40 Days for Life campaign is typically that peaceful, round the clock vigil presence outside the local abortion facility.  40 Days participants also perform community outreach projects, knocking on neighbors doors, writing letters to the editor, and spreading the pro-life message in other creative ways.  In Atlanta, we’ll be carrying out five community outreach projects this spring.  But the results of these visible efforts flow from the hidden centerpiece of the campaign, prayer and fasting.

Through humble prayer and fasting, Christians tap into God’s promise of healing for a nation

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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Efforts at ending abortion once and for all have not succeeded – yet!  Jesus speaks of some demons that can only be cast out through prayer and fasting.  Through humble prayer and fasting, strongholds are crumbling.  Through humble prayer and fasting, hearts are being changed and healing taking place.  Through the humble prayer and fasting of the 40 Days for Life campaign, God Himself appears to be moving to bring about the beginning of the end of abortion across America.

The dates for the Spring 40 Days for Life campaign are February 17th thru March 28th.

For More Information about the Atlanta 40 Days for Life Campaign and to find out how to get involved or get your church involved, please visit, http://www.40daysforlife.com/atlanta/