Vijest

40 Days for Life was held in 49 countries worldwide this year: that’s a record! There were 29 countries outside the Americas in nearly 100 locations out of 646 local cities internationally in total.

We have just had our international leader’s conference in Rome 2 weeks before the campaign started, leaders were on fire with zeal, passion and camaraderie after meeting each other. In addition, we held a workshop in Paris, France as a new vigil started in that country for the first time.

In the United Kingdom, Glasgow had the most astonishing campaign. Lorries turned up in an attempt to blockade the vigil. The national media was vilifying vigil participants, Doctors were complaining, while the National Parliament was doing everything possible to attempt to ban the vigil. One baby was saved during the campaign, now 4 in total in Glasgow over 9 years, and 134 people turned up at a candlelit vigil at the end of the campaign. A lifesitenews article helped to cover what was actually happening there. Thanks to Rose Docherty for leading an exemplary, textbook vigil in the face of great hostility and persecution.

In Ealing, 6 babies were saved from abortion, despite the buffer zone being in place! A vigil is held at either end of the street, and incredible witness there in the face of adversity, a truly brilliant effort. In Manchester, the NUPAS abortion centre closed. A mission trip 12 years ago visited London, Birmingham and Manchester. Now an abortion centre has closed in each city: who would have thought that! 5 leaders have also been charged or arrested in the UK now because of buffer zone laws.

In France, a small vigil got started thanks to Marcos Agudo, and also a leader in Lyon is interested in starting. France is now the first country to recognize abortion in its constitution, and many people think it is illegal to pray in public, but they have got out there and done it anyway!

There is considerable potential across Europe right now for prayer vigils. We have witnessed considerable growth in European countries like we have never seen before! In Portugal, Lisbon is one of the best vigils in Europe. But now we have Porto, Algarve, Coimbra, Barreira also join the 40 Days for Life family.

In Hungary, there are now 5 campaigns in total, as out from Budapest people from over the country now want to participate. In Poland, a major pro-life organisation is interested in doing vigils, when the liberalization of the abortion law is up for major political debate: this represents a major opportunity and development.

In Ireland, we now have vigils in Limerick, Cork, Galway, Portlaoise and other cities open and interested. In Holland now growing to a third vigil site for the Autumn outside the largest abortuary in Holland. In Italy, Modena thanks to Grazia Ruini is going strong once again, with San Marino and Slovenia set to join in the Autumn.

Jamaica is a first time campaign for 40 Days for Life. An incredible mission trip with Haywood and Daphne Robinson saw great results. Jamaica has more Churches per mile than anywhere else on the planet. It is a country known for Bob Marley, Reggae, Olympic champion sprinters, a very relaxed national temperament, and of course the first tropical country to enter the Winter Olympics, inspiring the film Cool Runnings.

Jamaica reported 6 babies saved for a first time campaign, with the abortionist being aggressive on the first day, an explosive and inspiring campaign. Abortion is illegal in Jamaica, but there are between 28 and 60 abortions a day in a country of less than 3 million people, a predominantly Protestant population. The total fertility is 1.9. less than replacement level.

The local leader is Dr Daniel Thomas, leader of the Love March Movement with the zeal, passion, intensity and mission experience of getting discipleship off the ground. He committed his life to Christ aged 12 and now works as a Doctor with a young family.

During the visit there was front page and extensive national newspaper coverage, while Montego Bay is interested in doing a campaign next time with many Christians and pro-lifers willing to raise the profile of the pro-life movement. There is already an established crisis pregnancy movement and during a talk to youth, individuals opened up about their crisis pregnancy experiences and experiences of rape.

What was beautiful about Jamaica was the authenticity of the Churches and mission, the potential to set a precedent for the whole region and save many more lives.

It is important to recognize the outstanding efforts of several leaders: in Taiwan, Sister Maria Fidelis continues to inspire people on the Island with her pro-life message spreading across the island.

In Croatia, national leader Petra Milkovic, who won an award now sees 40 Days for Life in its tenth year in Croatia: twins were saved in Koprivnica and a mother discovered on the ultrasound she was pregnant with twins and decided to keep her child.

In Nigeria, Yusuf Ayuba and Maureen Aduba continue to inspire despite abortion being illegal there. Rachel Guy organized a brilliant conference in Uganda for the very first time.

Thanks to our wonderful leaders in New Zealand and Australia in Brisbane, Perth, Wellington and Auckland - praying outside the buffer zone there: Brendon Wong, Steve Klomp, Maria Hammond and Simon Archer.

We are still receiving reports of babies saved, collecting the results and impact of the campaign, wherever you live, whatever you do, got out there and pray publicly for an end to abortion. How amazing the results are we just received, to God be the glory.