John,

Omar's 40 Days for Life campaign in Downey, California, got off to an interesting start.

No sooner had he arrived at the vigil site to set up for Day 1 than a motorist drove by, cursing and angrily extending a middle finger.

"Well, they know we're here!" Omar said.

Omar wasn't deterred. He spent most of the 91-degree (33 Celsius) day in the hot sun praying.

His prayers were answered when he talked an expectant mother into leaving the abortion facility--before she even went inside!

Having spent most of the morning and part of the afternoon at his vigil site, Omar left to get out of the heat...

...but just for an hour before he came back. With dedication like that, this probably won't be the only baby Omar helps save this 40 Days for Life campaign!

A few campaigns couldn't wait for Day 1 to hit the sidewalks. They went out early and saved babies from abortion!

Santa Teresa, New Mexico

Mark Cavaliere, who helps lead the vigils in Santa Teresa, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, reported the first saved baby during each of the previous two 40 Days for Life campaigns.

This time, his team didn't even wait for Day 1 to start saving lives.

"Yesterday, two prayer volunteers actually showed up a day early but decided to stay and pray anyway since they were already there," Mark and his team reported. "A young woman came running out of the abortion facility to...ask for help after choosing life for her baby!"

Houston, Texas

An abortion-bound woman in Houston made a last-minute decision to stop and talk with a sidewalk counselor outside the largest abortion facility in the Western Hemisphere.

She was getting no support from her family--or even from the father of her baby.

But when the sidewalk counselor walked the frightened mom over to the Big Blue Bus mobile ultrasound unit, everything changed. She chose life and now plans to attend maternal assistance classes.

"There is nothing like the excitement, joy and relief of seeing a pregnant mother choose life for her pre-born child and reject the deadly threat of abortion," wrote the Houston team.

In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

— Acts 6:1

Father, in the Church’s desire to engage our communities with the Gospel, let us gain wisdom from those who have gone before us and cherish their experiences and perspectives. Help us to appreciate every soul in the body of Christ and minister properly to everybody.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life