John,

The 40 Days for Life campaign in Eastpointe, Michigan is not your typical campaign.

Located on 8 Mile Road, a street made famous by rapper Eminem’s 2002 film 8 Mile, the vigil takes place in an area controlled by the Seven Mile Bloods gang.

That means that Ed--the longtime leader in Eastpointe--needs to take a different strategy when it comes to filling his vigil. Instead of using bulletin announcements, flyers, and social media posts, Ed personally invites volunteers who know the neighborhood...and how to stay safe.

"The abortion issue has to be pretty strong in your gut if you come out here," he said. "It has to be pretty meaningful for you. You’re out there because abortion touched you so deeply that you can’t help but to do something."

The Eastpointe campaign will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of Day 41 magazine. To get the issue, you must sign up for your FREE quarterly subscription by Sunday, October 3 at:

40daysforlife.com/magazine

In spite of the difficult environment, Ed and his team have helped save eight babies from abortion over the years--including a set of twins!

They also helped the local pregnancy resource center acquire a property directly across the street from the abortion facility.

"When there are people there praying, it makes a difference," said Nancy, the center's executive director. "[P]eople are dissuaded from going into the abortion clinic. Or they’ll come to us. Then, we get to talk to them before the abortion facility does, which is ideal."

Gherla, Romania

Stefana in Gherla had doubts about leading this autumn's 40 Days for Life campaign. But the support of local church representatives reassured her.

"I told them we have to pray more than ever because the battle is harder than ever," she said. Former Communist countries in Eastern Europe have some of the highest abortion rates in the world.

And those prayers are being answered, as the vigil has been covered every day so far. And the team has a new church involved.

Stefana and her team are now working on youth outreach to educate students about pregnancy and abortion.

Leeds, England

Chris in Leeds organized a nighttime vigil in front of one of the busiest abortion facilities in the area.

Families, including young children, turned out for prayer, hymns, and a message from the clergy.

"Fr. Paul urged those in attendance to pray for the conversion of society, which has become so ambivalent about the morality in question that it finds it difficult to allow opposing viewpoints or truth to filter through," reported Shannon from the Leeds campaign.

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

— Psalm 82:4

Father, may you empower the hundreds today who are serving in our pregnancy help centers. Grant those answering calls, providing ultrasound and following up with a bold spirit of truth, love and perseverance.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life