40 Days for Life Campaign of prayer and fasting draws support
From community; Ire of Planned Parenthood
Everett, WA - For the past 21 days local citizens have been praying and fasting for an end to abortion in front of the Everett Planned Parenthood. Over 100 people attended a rally last night to celebrate the midway point of the Everett 40 Days for Life Campaign. Eighty-nine cities in 33 states across the nation are united in an intensive effort designed to raise awareness, save lives, bring healing, and prepare America for the beginning of the end of abortion.
"The support from the community has been terrific," said Michelle McIntyre, local coordinator for the campaign. "People have stopped to offer us coffee and tell us thank you. Even Planned Parenthood's own customers have been friendly and grateful for the information we offer them."
Planned Parenthood of Western Washington, the state's largest abortion provider, is fearful that the Campaign may cut into profits. It issued a statement last week claiming that their clinics were "under siege from anti-choice protesters," and encouraged supporters to make donations. "It's odd that they call us anti-choice when it's the dedicated and loving folks participating in this vigil who are offering women the choice of having their baby - a choice that Planned Parenthood doesn't give them," said Ms. McIntyre. "As far as we know a single baby has never been born at a Planned Parenthood facility," she continued.
According to data posted on its web site, the supposedly not for profit Planned Parenthood Federation of America received $254.4 million in tax dollars in the 2002-03 fiscal year and reported revenue of $903 million during its 2005-06 fiscal year. In 2005, Planned Parenthood of Western Washington took in almost $34 million for a net profit of almost $4 million. In their 2005 annual report, the number of pregnancy-related client visits dropped slightly, but the number of abortions performed jumped from 6,200 in 2004, to just over 7,000 in 2005.
There has been little to no opposition to the Everett 40 Days for Life Campaign.
The Campaign officially began at midnight on September 26th and will end on November 4th. Vigil goers have seen their message resonate, especially with Planned Parenthood customers. One young woman came out of the Everett clinic after her abortion and walked up to vigil goers tearfully saying, "I'm sorry. I didn't want to do it but I had no choice." Vigil goers were able to offer compassionate support, the gift of prayers and a referral for post-abortion support at Project Rachel, an organization that offers women compassionate healing support after they've had abortions.
Women who have experienced abortion in the past are also participating in the 40 Days for Life Campaign. Nancy Johnson who had an abortion at the suggestion of Planned Parenthood 35 years ago, that she now regrets, is praying at the Olympia and Everett locations with a sign that reads I regret my abortion. "I wish something like 40 Days for Life had been there for me. I wasn't told about other options or warned about the harm that abortion does to women," Ms. Johnson said.
The 40 Days for Life Campaign is a nation wide effort of prayer fasting by every day Americans in 89 cities across the United States. For more details, visit www.40daysforlife.com or www.40daysforlife.com/everett
I was listening to a Pajama Media podcast several months ago and it was one of the female shrinks who repeated just what you said above- that was her own abortion many, many years ago.
Her upshot was that all the options weren't given- like adoption. She felt pushed into the abortion at the age of 16.
Posted by: swatter on October 18, 2007 12:47 PMThere are 4 cities in Western Washington participating; Everett, Olympia, Seattle and Tacoma. Visit www.40daysforlife.com/locations to get the details.
Posted by: Michelle on October 18, 2007 05:31 PMhttp://www.40daysforlife.com/location.html
As for the sign, we have made it a policy for the purposes of this campaign, to avoid graphically disturbing signs.
While I see the value in using signs which show the truth about abortion (they might be better left for college campuses, Olympia, rush hour traffic, D.C., and other places where laws are passed, as well as courts) one of the goals of this campaign was to bring out people who've never volunteered for pro-life activity before. Many families bring small children with them too, and we leave it up to the parents to choose when their children are ready to see that.
Also, standing in front of the clinic everyday has been a real eye opener as to what gets through to women and what doesn't. The more compassionate and loving our message is, the more of an attitude of prayer we have, the more likely they'll be receptive of the message. Our signs mostly say, "'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you'-God" or "Women Deserve Better than Abortion" or "Pregnant? Need Help? Call XXX-XXX-XXXX (number of your local pregnancy help center)"
I realize that you are just asking about a sign directing people to a website, but I think we are better off with messages that speaks to them in the hear and now. After all, they're on their way in.
All of that said, there are two kinds of women going for an abortion: the overwhelmed, confused and scared; and the deeply disturbed and hardened hearted, often those who've had more than one abortion.
Please visit the Everett blog for some of our stories and pictures: http://everett40days.blogspot.com
Posted by: Michelle on October 20, 2007 09:17 AM
It is important that we continue to support organizations like Life Choices that show women their children through the wonder of modern ultrasound.
Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on October 20, 2007 12:31 PMMost women who enter a place like Life Choices aren't abortion minded and have no intention of having an abortion. Thank God for that and thank God for the women LC reaches who may have had that fleeting thought.
Being ready to offer help and hope to the women headed for Planned Parenthood is the way to reaching those who haven't been already directed to Life Choices.