A pro-life prayer event to date seen only in Barre and Rutland will be held next month in Burlington, the state’s largest city and home to abortion providers.
“40 Days for Life – the nation’s most innovative, peaceful prayer outreach – is coming to (Burlington),” said John Averill, who is coordinating the local campaign. “We are eager to join together with people of faith and conscience from over a 1000 cities from coast to coast – and beyond – to pray for an end to abortion.”
40 Days for Life runs February 22 – April 2. “Abortion takes a tremendous toll in our city, but many people aren’t even aware of it. We will share the facts with as many people as possible during the 40-day campaign,” Averill said.
The campaign will feature a peaceful 40-day prayer vigil in the public right-of-way outside Planned Parenthood at 173 St. Paul Street. All prayer vigil participants are asked to sign a statement of peace, pledging to conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner at all times, Averill said.
40 Days for Life is a peaceful, highly-focused, non-denominational initiative that focuses on 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil at abortion facilities, and grassroots educational outreach. The 40-day time frame is drawn from examples throughout Biblical history.
“40 Days for Life has consistently generated proven life-saving results,” said Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life’s president. “During 30 internationally coordinated campaigns, over 8000 communities have taken part. The efforts of over 1,000,000 people of faith helped have made a tremendous difference.”
Carney said numerous cities reported a significant drop in abortions: “over 20,000 mothers have chosen life for their children; more than 200 abortion workers have quit their jobs; and over 100 abortion centers where 40 Days for Life vigils have been held have gone out of business.”
Averill added, “We’ve seen what 40 Days for Life has accomplished elsewhere. We can’t wait to begin. It is our prayer that this campaign will help mark the beginning of the end of abortion in Burlington.”
For information visit www.40daysforlife.com/burlington.