John,

Academia should be a place where ideas can be intellectually and civilly argued. 

Sadly, some of our great institutions have rejected an intellectual and reasonable approach to learning. Others have promoted bigotry or become downright clown shows.

Without backing from elite universities, atrocities like abortion, euthanasia, and gender theory never would have gained acceptance.

So we're helping pro-life students fight back. Our outreach director and former Planned Parenthood manager Ramona Trevino just spoke at Yale.

"I explained that being pro-woman means being pro-life," she said. "I shared detailed stories of many ways Planned Parenthood is antithetical to all things pro-life and pro-woman."

Her message made an impact.

"One of the event's organizers said even many pro-life students believe Planned Parenthood is a good resource for health care," Ramona said. "She thanked me for exposing Planned Parenthood."

Ramona was pleased to set the record straight...

...and it appears she'll have more opportunities to do so.

"My experiences working in the 'family planning' part of Planned Parenthood proved to be eye-opening for the students," Ramona noted. "So much so that three young women from Wellesley College (Hillary Clinton's alma mater) who attended approached me about speaking at an event on their campus."

Richmond, Virginia

While today marks the last day of this fall's 40 Days for Life campaign, vigil participants aren't packing up and going home.

Prayer warriors often continue to show up and pray, launch 40 Days for Life 365 vigils, learn to do Sidewalk Outreach, or stay active in other ways.

David in Richmond got involved in the local 40 Days for Life campaign just last year. "After praying on the sidewalk just one time, I was hooked," he said. "I found myself on the sidewalk for many hours a week."

All that time at the vigil left David with countless opportunities to hear God's call, which he answered by becoming the leader of the local 40 Days for Life campaign and by starting a ministry that is aiming to open a maternity home next year!

"I am so thankful to God that He used 40 Days for Life to bring me into the pro-life movement," David continued. "No matter how far I go in helping mothers to give their babies a wonderful and fulfilling life, I will always remember that the sidewalk is where it all begins." 

Canton, Ohio

Praying in front of Planned Parenthood is a family tradition in Canton.

Longtime campaign leader Linda prayed alongside a woman who has been showing up to pro-life vigils since her mother first brought her at eight years old.

Later that same morning, a young man arrived with his young children. "He said his mother would take him to the sidewalk in Maryland when he was in a stroller," Linda recalled.

His parents continue to pray at abortion facilities, and now he brings his own kids out to pray. In fact, his fifth grader even helped lead prayers.

"Those parents [were] a witness for life to the women going into the facility [and] to their own beautiful children," Linda reflected. "These children, now adults, are on the sidewalk and teaching their children. God is so good."  

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.

--Matthew 28:19-20

God, you have given me more than I could possibly ask. Help me never stray from your presence, for it is you whom I long to share with everyone I encounter. Show your face through my humility, direct my steps, and let every word I speak be from you. You ascended to Heaven not to abandon us but to be with us. You sent the Holy Spirit to guide our actions. As we conclude this 40-day fast, pour forth your grace on us to carry your light to the ends of the world. Amen.

For life,

Shawn Carney

President & CEO, 40 Days for Life