40 Days for Life underway in Bangor; Maine abortion rates down

*** 2014 Update ***

Those who wish to participate in Bangor are encouraged to sign up online HERE. Local campaign contact information is also available.

**********************

On September 25th the 2013 ’40 days for Life’ prayer vigil kicked off in Bangor and will run until November 3rd. As a peaceful national campaign, ’40 Days for Life’ participants pray and fast near abortion clinics with the goal that visitors may see them and think twice about their decision, and ultimately choose life for their unborn baby. Perhaps more importantly, those praying simply believe God will use their prayers to change hearts and minds concerning this issue.

In Bangor, those wishing to participate gather at the entrance to Evergreen Woods at 700 Mt. Hope avenue (across from the Bangor Humane Society) anytime between 7AM and 7PM. Evergreen Woods is home to the Mabel Wadsworth Center where abortion procedures take place regularly.

The center’s “abortion care” section of their website states the following:

…at Mabel Wadsworth Center we offer both suction and medication abortions. Suction abortions are available to women who are within their first trimester (up to 12 weeks 6 days from their last normal period) of their pregnancy.

Explained elsewhere on their website, we learn that “suction” abortions are where…

…the doctor empties the uterus [of the living baby] using either a hand held suction device or a suction machine.

Is that kind of shocking and uncomfortable to read? Ya, it was for me, too. That’s something everyone should want to pray to end — whether you participate in the vigil or not, and regardless of one’s religious affiliation.

While I disagree with some of the tactics employed outside this clinic, peaceful prayer and fasting done by individuals whose hearts ache with every loss of life is something I can rally behind. And for those of us who believe in the power of praying for the Holy Spirit to change hearts and minds, we should support this effort without hesitation.

The latest statistics on abortions in Maine show the petitions of these prayer warriors might just be working.

Maine Right to Life recently reported that abortion in Maine has decreased by 23% from 2010 to 2011. And in a four year period abortion in Maine decreased by 34%. Here is the press release detailing this encouraging news.

*** 2014 Update ***

Those who wish to participate in Bangor are encouraged to sign up online HERE. Local campaign contact information is also available.

**********************

Visit the 40 Days for Life national website for more information, or watch the following video:

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
– 2 Chronicles 7:14