The 2009 40 Days for Life Mid-Point Rally was on held on October 12, 2009 at McLean Baptist Church. Over forty people attended the rally, united in a mutual respect for life despite various different cultural and denominational backgrounds.
The rally featured a keynote address by Priests for Life’s Fr. William Scott Daniels, O.P. He shared with all present the importance of always being mindful that we are created in God’s image as unique individuals that cannot be repeated. He brought up the reality that each and every innocent baby murdered through abortion is a human being, an individual soul and person with inherent dignity that is lost to this world once the heinous act of abortion is committed. Fr. Daniels urged all to make a stand for life, saying: “What we do or don’t do towards another human being reflects on how we perceive our own humanity. We can say all day long, ‘I love you God,’ but if it is not manifest in our love for neighbor it is a lie.”
Those who attended were led in hymns by John Simmons, Music Minister of McLean Baptist Church, who also shared his own short testimony on his past experiences taking part in pro-life work, citing the importance and power of prayer in this effort to change hearts and minds and save lives.
The most significant moment of the evening was when those at the rally drove the short distance to Planned Parenthood, circling the building during a candlelit prayer vigil. As the crowd walked down the sidewalk of Union Avenue in prayer holding signs which read, “Pray to End Abortion” and quoting Jeremiah 1:5, supportive honks encouraged. Richard Roland, a coordinator for 40 Days for Life Memphis, led the closing prayer for the event.
Christopher Cook, Campaign Director of 40 Days for Life Memphis, shared the exciting news of the blessings God has given the Fall 2009 campaign. For the past twenty days Christians across the city have been petitioning God to bring an end to abortion not only in their homes, parishes, and local community organizations but also in the daily 14 hour vigil outside Planned Parenthood at 1407 Union Avenue. Since the start of the campaign two mothers have reported saving their children after being convicted on seeing the prayer volunteers outside the clinic, and numerous women and men have been shown a path to find healing for their post-abortive pain. 40 Days for Life will continue for twenty more consecutive days, and prayer volunteers are needed for the daily vigil. To learn more and sign up to be a part of this life-saving effort visit www.40daysforlife.com/memphis, e-mail 40daysforlifememphis@gmail.com, or call 901-267-8592.
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