By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer

A campaign director for the national 40 Days for Life program says their efforts are paying off. One abortion center employee asked for prayer to help her find another job and patients at one clinic who learned their doctor was performing abortions have taken their business elsewhere. Two other clinics have temporarily closed just to avoid the prayerful vigils.

More than 130 communities in the United States, Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland are currently hosting 40 Days for Life events through April 5 and according to a report by Shawn Carney, Spring Campaign Director, the abortion industry is definitely feeling some pain.

In one case, a clinic employee who became so unnerved by the prayerful presence of protestors that she decided to get out of the abortion business altogether.  

“Her message was simple,” Carney writes, “she just couldn’t take it any longer. It was time to look for a new job.”

The woman actually asked vigil participants to pray that she can find another job so she can quit the clinic. 

The same woman also told the local campaign coordinator that the prayers of the vigil participants have a definite impact at the clinic. “When there are prayers happening outside, she said the tone of what happens inside changes. Everyone is aware of their presence, and she for one, can no longer pretend that what is happening is OK.”

In another part of the country, women in Carson City, Nevada found out through the 40 Days for Life program that the ob/gyn practice were using for routine health care has been performing abortions. The women were shocked, says the local campaign coordinator Carol Marie.

“We know of at least three patients who have left the practice once they learned that abortions are performed,” Marie told Carney.

One of those women told the abortion clinic staff she would no longer be their patient and the receptionist gave her a stack of forms to fill out. But the woman’s response was that she was only interested in one form – a form where she could explain to this medical practice why she was going away.

“She then proceeded to put a long note in writing as to exactly what she thought of an ob/gyn center performing abortions as a part of their regular practice,” Carol Marie said.

“This wonderful woman has ensured that they fully appreciate the reason they have lost her as a patient. By being present at the sidewalk, we are informing their patients about what is being done behind closed doors,” she said. “With enough patients lost, they could rethink their commitment to performing abortions.”

She added, “If you ever wondered if what we’ve been doing has been making a difference, well the Lord has given us an answer, loud and clear. Lives are being saved, people are leaving the business.”

In the course of the current campaign, two abortions centers – one in Austin, Texas and another inJacksonville, Florida – temporarily closed their doors to avoid the presence of the prayerful vigils.

A pro-life advocate in Austin said she one center closed down two Sundays in a row when abortions were scheduled thanks to the 40 Days For Life campaign.

“With the clinic not opening its gates for clients at all last Sunday that makes two Sundays that the clinic did not harm women and abort children,” she said. “Even though we do not need to see the fruits of our labor to know we are doing what God wants, it sure is unbelievably encouraging.”

Carney told Life News.com that results show that a peaceful, prayerful presence at an abortion center is effective in saving unborn children from abortion and helping women avoid a decision they will regret the rest of their lives.

“I know I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again and again: being there makes a difference,” he said. “Being there on a regular basis makes a bigger difference. Being there on a regular basis in large numbers makes an incredible difference.”

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