How do you organize a 40 Days for Life campaign in a country where abortion is illegal? It is still possible to organize a campaign, even if there are no abortion centers. For example, in Nigeria abortion is illegal but common, those who find themselves pregnant will be in difficult circumstances. There is always work to do. In Nigeria, it is estimated that 33 abortions occur per 1,000 women aged 15-49 annually, an estimated 1.25 million abortions annually.

It is unlikely that in a country where abortion is illegal, you will have a prayer vigil outside an abortion center. 40 Days for Life is about God, prayer, and changing hearts and minds. Whether abortion is illegal or legal, abortions still happen and there is an abundance of pro-life apostolate to be undertaken. The mission field is a blank piece of paper, we need to write our own story with our imagination of the best possible things that could ever happen with God in charge. Nothing conceivable in our imagination is impossible to God, who is beyond time and space and can create something out of nothing.

Jamaica has had considerable fruits, helping over 20 women in a year since starting a campaign a year ago and praying outside a location where abortions have been reported to happen. In Poland, abortion is largely illegal, but now abortion advocates have opened an abortion center, and after two years of praying in public, there is a very obvious place for the vigil. Despite abortion being illegal in both of these locations, apostolates with considerable spiritual fruits are possible in the most amazing locations. All it takes is one crazy person to say yes to God.

The Philippines is a country where abortion is illegal. Despite this the campaign team has been meeting in an area where herbals are sold for abortions, reaching out to schools, and parishes. While speaking in a school they met with 2 women who had found out they were pregnant. In countries where abortion is illegal, organizing a campaign can be more difficult, but the mission field is alive with opportunities.

Community outreach is an important part of the campaign which can be adapted and made culturally relevant for each country. In the Philippines, the nuns organized a kick-off rally in a school with 500 children educating with a clear pro-life message. Awareness is crucial, and your message can be the message that helps somebody avoid a potential lifetime of regrets from abortion.

Community outreach can be conducted anywhere, which includes any way to build a growing awareness of the humanity of the unborn child. Door-to-door outreach, public visibility campaigns, and events in parishes, schools, and universities have been some of the most powerful ways to bring a growing awareness of the humanity of the unborn child.

In Britain, one woman handed a magazine to 4 young girls at a train station. With roughly one in three women having an abortion, this one act of love could have impacted their lives in ways we never know. One volunteer handed out 100 leaflets over one hour - some people thanked him, other people cursed him, but his witness reached hundreds in just one hour of prayer. Another teacher attended the vigil and took the pro-life message to all the children possible in his school. These are just the actions of one individual praying and acting at the vigil - what is possible to God when hundreds of people turn up to pray? Nothing is impossible to God, even the ending of abortion.

A public prayer vigil is an immensely powerful witness for life. Your presence touches consciences everywhere. It is still worth organizing a public prayer vigil even in countries where abortion is against the law. To meet people in person is one of the best ways to communicate and interact to save lives, inspire hearts and minds and impact eternal souls.

As abortion becomes more accessible, with the proliferation of abortion pills, we need to embolden ourselves to reach ever more people with our words, witness, and love. We need imagination, creativity, and love to bring to life a mission that is everywhere regardless of legality - hearts need to change until abortion becomes unthinkable.