This fall, Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood will once again join the national 40 Days for Life campaign. Our vigil will take place September 23 through November 1 outside Planned Parenthood Aurora. For this year’s vigil, Fox Valley pro-lifers will once again lead the way for pro-lifers nationwide with a new strategy for 2009, with three key components.
1. Target the hours Planned Parenthood is open.
Fox Valley pro-lifers have already set the nationwide standard for how a 24-hour, round-the-clock vigil is done. This year we’ll focus all those “man hours” of prayer onto the hours that Planned Parenthood is opened. So—for example—instead of having two people at the clinic at four in the morning, this year we’ll work to have four people out there at two in the afternoon, when Planned Parenthood’s doors are open. We’ll also work hard to expand the participation of local churches in our ongoing prayer witness. Out of more than 60 churches that signed onto the Clergy for Life statement before Planned Parenthood opened, only 28 are still involved. Let’s invite the others to join us again on the front lines!
2. Expand the critical sidewalk counseling ministry.
Sidewalk counseling builds on the power of prayer to reach out to abortion-bound mothers and show them the face of Christ’s compassion. For 2009, we’ll expand this critical pro-life ministry during 40 Days. We’ll start with a sidewalk counseling training seminar before 40 Days begins. Then, during the vigil, we’ll offer special opportunities for aspiring counselors to do some “on the job training” with our core group of experienced counselors.
3. Highlight the vigil with great special events.
An opening 24-hour candlelight vigil, seven-day Jericho March event and closing “Do-It-Yourself” Pro-Life Concert will punctuate our 40 Days campaign with excitement and enthusiasm. These big special events will increase community and media interest and energize our our pro-life base, while providing ideal opportunities for new people to get involved.
More details coming soon—so stay tuned
All the dates and other details for the special events and the sidewalk counseling seminar are coming soon, so stay tuned. If you’re not already signed up to receive e-mail alerts from Families Against Planned Praenthood, fill out your information under “Join the Effort” on this page. Meanwhile, please keep the fall 40 Days for Life campaign in your prayers. We’ve got a lot of work to do to make this new approach a success, but with God’s help, we can do it.
