John,

As we reach the midpoint of this fall's 40 Days for Life campaign, your prayers have already helped save 157 babies from abortion!

People often ask how that number is calculated.

These saved baby reports come right from the source. The moms themselves share that they changed their minds and chose life!

That's why the "official" number of saved babies tallied is just the number of confirmed life decisions. Only God knows the complete number of lives spared.

Converted abortion workers report that when somebody is praying in front of an abortion facility, the no-show rate for abortion appointments can go to as high as 75%! Most of those moms leave without saying a word...

...but an abortion-minded woman in Allentown, Pennsylvania made it overwhelmingly clear she changed her mind. She texted a 40 Days for Life participant to announce her life decision--and to express her gratitude.

"I wanted to let you know I decided to keep my baby. Thank you for being there[.] You definitely make a difference!!"

Duitama, Colombia

When a 15-year-old girl found herself pregnant, hospital personnel told her she had to have an abortion she didn't want because she was too young to have a baby!

"She began to fall into a depression," reported 40 Days for Life Director of Latin American Campaigns Lourdes Varela. "The pressure to abort was so strong, she stopped eating and sleeping."

Thankfully, a friend connected her with the local 40 Days for Life campaign, which provided her the support and encouragement she needed to resist the pressure and say "yes" to life!

The Duitama campaign team later empowered a 44-year-old mother expecting her sixth child to choose life after hospital staff told her she was too old to have a baby.

Santa Teresa, New Mexico

With the Texas Heartbeat Act banning most abortions in Texas, abortion businesses in neighboring New Mexico are looking to take advantage.

But 40 Days for Life participants are equal to the challenge.

"A woman heading to the abortion facility noticed the prayer volunteers...and she slowed down," reported Rebekah in Santa Teresa.

"She went straight to the Mobile [Ultrasound] Unit," Rebekah continued. "With the help of our sonographer and counselor, she was empowered...to be a hero for her child."

Rebekah said the mom has a hard road ahead of her, but the Southwest Coalition for Life (which runs both the 40 Days for Life campaign and the ultrasound bus) has promised to accompany and support her every step of the way.

Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples, born of you, shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.”

— Genesis 25:21-23

O, God, you formed us in our mother’s womb and planned a unique and special life and purpose for each of us, and we do thank you. Grant that we may pray and work for an end to abortion, especially in these 40 days, so that no unborn baby you have made may fail to achieve your divine intention for him or her because of intentional abortion.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life