Dear John,

Planned Parenthood began doing abortions last fall at its new mega facility in Birmingham, Alabama.

"The new building was designed...to make it as difficult as possible for us to speak with [clients]," reported Ed, the longtime campaign leader in Birmingham. "Signs have become our best hope."

Recently, one of those signs saved a baby. Vigil participants observed a man reading their sign as he and his girlfriend arrived at Planned Parenthood.

"The young man noticed the sign and seemed to think about it," Ed said. "After a short time, he went back inside and brought out the young mother."

As the couple drove away, they smiled, waved, and gave vigil participants a “thumbs up."

Ed said the presence of men at 40 Days for Life vigils is critical. "Men on the sidewalk appealing to the father can be very effective."

Men often pressure--or even force--women into unwanted abortions.

But men can also be the heroes that save their babies from abortion--or victims with no voice to defend the lives of their children.

In any case, abortion is not just a women's issue.

Pensacola, Florida

A young couple from two states away came to Pensacola for an abortion.

The pregnant woman entered the abortion facility, but the father of her child stopped and accepted crisis pregnancy information from 40 Days for Life volunteers.

A few minutes later, the man announced, "I gotta get her out of there!"

The man called the woman, who emerged from the abortion facility.

"As they left the parking lot, they were smiling and waving," reported the Pensacola team. "Praise God! Please pray for this young couple! We are so delighted about this turnaround, our first of this campaign!"

Modesto, California

A man approached Janice as she stood vigil and shared that in his younger years, he lost a child to abortion.

Janice consoled him and gave him resources for post-abortion healing. The man remained at the vigil for some time, praying from his knees on the hard, concrete sidewalk.

Lawndale, California

A man stopped to share his much more recent abortion experience with vigil participants in Lawndale.

"He wanted to keep the child, even raise it on his own," said Laura, the Lawndale campaign leader. "But she would have none of it and aborted."

40 Days for Life participants prayed with the man, who was grateful to accept post-abortion healing resources.

"Our laws failed to protect both him and his child," Laura noted.

Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgressions of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us; and will subdue our iniquities.

— Micah 7:18-19

Hear our prayer of repentance, Lord, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We praise you for your tender mercies and your compassion that never fails. Lord, it is only by Your grace that we can live lives that are just, and merciful.

May Your Holy Spirit enable us to walk humbly in Your presence and may You be pleased to restore our nation so that a generation not yet born may praise you.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney

President/CEO, 40 Days for Life