What an incredible 40 days it has been. I have the names of 180 people who committed to participate sometime during the 40 Days for Life (many, many more stopped by whenever they were able or as they were driving by). 3 women definitively have chosen to give birth to their babies instead of aborting them, strong indications are that 5 others seemed to have changed their minds. That is 8 women who will never have to experience the pain and regret, 8 babies who will be a blessing to them, their families, and the world. And this does not even include the unknown numbers of women who may have changed their minds without our knowledge and the many, many minds and hearts driving on Route 37 that have been challenged to examine their perspective on abortion by our presence. God's graces were so tangible.
During the last couple days of the 40 Days for Life, we were privileged and honored by the presence of 2 remarkable pro-life champions at the abortion clinic--Chris Bell, his wife Joan Andrews Bell (who came Saturday night and Sunday afternoon), and their 7 children who stopped by to pray and hold signs.
The Bell family were in Toms River as guest speakers at the Knights for Columbus Respect Life prayer breakfast held yesterday. For those of you who are not familar with Chris Bell and Joan Andrews Bell--- Chris is the co-founder along with Fr.Benedict Groeschel of the Good Counsel Homes in New Jersey and New York City area which gives housing, education, and a variety of other support to pregnant women and their children who were in danger of abortion. Joan is primarily known for being sentenced to serve time for almost 5 years of her life because she was attempting to stop women from killing their children by blocking their access to abortion clinics in the 80's. She has been one of my pro-life heroes since my 20's.
At the prayer breakfast, Chris shared how meeting a 17 yr. old mother of a small infant was the catalyst in creating his maternity homes. This very young mother had approached him while he was in Time Square and told him that she was completely abandoned by the father of her baby and her family for choosing life for her baby and had absolutely no other support. She then asked him how he could help. Chris had learned, after meeting more and more women in similar circumstances, that there was nominal assistance for young mothers and lamented to Fr. Groeschel the lack of the community resources for those who wanted to choose life. Chris said Fr. Groeschel's reply was: Stop complaining and do something about it.
I thought Fr. Groeschel's wisdom was relevant to us all. :-)
Joan then was given an opportunity to speak. The only thing she wanted to say was to plead with everyone at the prayer breakfast to spend one holy hour per week at an abortion clinic. She reminded us that the babies who are to die at the abortion clinic may receive the only love on this earth from those of us who are willing to stand outside the abortion clinic and pray with them. Their short lives were/are surrounded with nothing but negative feelings of rejection and possible anxiety, depression, hopelessness. She said that we must come to Calvary as St.John, the Blessed Mother, and the small group of followers did, as they stood at the foot of the cross in union with a dying Jesus . "What you do to the least of my brothers you do to me." It was an incredibly moving statement she made.
I extend that same plea to all of you to continue your efforts and join us at the abortion mill during all hours of their operation. There will be others continuing their witness on Wednesday 4pm-6pm, Friday & Saturday 1pm-6pm (or as late as they close) every week until this place of death and suffering is closed down for good.
Speaking of abortion mills being closed down, 3 different groups of vigil attendees shared how their efforts of praying and witnessing in front of abortion mills resulted in the closing of 4 different abortion mills in Florida, Pittsburgh, and Lakewood. It can and will be done!
Although I was unable to attend the Victory Rally held at the abortion clinic I was told there was a very nice turn-out (approx. 50 people) and a lovely candle-light ceremony. The closing was punctuated by Karyn's son, Christian, who led the group in singing "God Bless America" for the upcoming election tomorrow (please vote tomorrow!).
I also wanted to share with you other victories that prove how our faith-in-action can lead to swift and powerful results. The Choice Hotel executives (that oversees all the Choice Hotels like Clarion, Super8, Comfort Inn, etc) stopped the practice of offering discounts at the Clarion Hotel in Cherry Hill to women having abortions because of the influx of phone calls, emails, and letters decrying the business practice. Also, McDonalds withdrew their presence on the Board of Directors for a gay and lesbian organization because of a boycott by the American Family Association to demand they stay neutral on this issue. This happened in a very short amount of time because of the response by concerned individuals. I share this with you as an example of what Christians coming together in prayer and action can do to combat injustice and evil.
Which leads me to my final words.......
Because of the overwhelming response and interest in the 40 Days for Life, I am asking if you would like to remain on this email list with updates of future Respect Life events being held either at the clinic or in the Ocean County area or other items of strictly local interest (I will assume national and less regional info can be obtained elsewhere and wish to refrain from redundancy). I promise I will not use this list to forward myriads of miscellaneous emails but will concentrate on pro-life issues at the local level, especially on events being planned at the Toms River abortion clinic itself. I also am contemplating creating a new website that will be similar in nature and concentrated on local community pro-life efforts. Please spread this email address to any who wish to be added to this list (please have them email me)
If you do not wish to receive these updates, please respond and I will take you off the list.
I can't thank you enough for all you have done for the preborn, their families, and the community during these 40 days. May God bless each and everyone of you for your prayers, sacrifices, and efforts in promoting the Culture of Life. I hope to keep in touch!
For His little ones,
Sandy
I got word yesterday that our 40 Days friend, Al K., is still in the hospital. He's had an irregular heartbeat that the doctors were trying to fix with medication but because that didn't work, they tried electrical cardioversion yesterday and wish to monitor him for a couple more days. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.
I also want to share with you some disturbing news that I feel must be brought to light in order to solicit more prayers. I was informed by one of the employees that works in the building of the abortion clinic (not at the abortion clinic however) that the owner of the building, Dr.Ynaya, recently allowed Dr. Brigham, the CEO of American Women's Services to rent additional space inside the building that wasn't being used in order to expand the abortion clinic services. Dr. Ynaya is denying the allegations but I was told the expansion happened a couple months ago which corresponds precisely with the longer hours and the use of the back entrance of the building by the clinic staff (they were previously using the main entrance along with their clients). Let's pray it won't mean even more additional days of killing babies than W,F,Sat.
We must also pray for Dr.Ynaya who now seems to be a willing participant in this awful, awful business. May God grant him, along with Dr.Brigham, the abortionist, and the entire staff a true conversion of heart and mind and make them staunch defenders of life in the very near future.
I have been receiving many forwarded emails asking for action on various pro-life items. Although I like to concentrate the emails I send to you mostly on events and information pertaining primarily to the local 40 Days for Life campaign, I thought you may appreciate some of them and wish to act on them ....plus I won't have many 40 Days for Life updates to give :-)
For God's little ones,
Sandy
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