40 Days for Life in Cape Town is appealing for support to change the community through prayer, fasting and a peaceful vigil to save lives through its campaign which is being conducted in tandem with groups in other cities around the world.
“For 40 days, from Wednesday 28 September 2016 to Sunday 6 November 2016 we will pray and fast for an end to abortion, participate in public outreach to spread the gospel of life, and be a witness for Christ in peaceful, prayerful vigil outside Marie Stopes 91 Bree Street Cape Town,” said Colette Thomas, prayer coordinator at 40 Days for Life in Cape Town.
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The Bible teaches us that children are a blessing. Psalm 127:3 says — Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.
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“40 Days for Life invites the community to recognise the tragedy of abortion and emphasises a call to prayer and conversion,” said Thomas.
“As prayer is the most powerful weapon in our arsenal to end the scourge of abortion, we humbly ask that our brothers and sisters in Christ join us in prayer and fasting on behalf of all those who are organising, participating and witnessing in this campaign.”
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Thomas said 40 Days for Life will pray:
- That God bless the efforts of His faithful during the coming 40 days of prayer;
- For the conversion of the workers at the Marie Stopes abortion facility;
- For the women who are struggling and feel they have no alternative;
- For the women and men who carry the pain of being a part of an abortion in the past;
- For innocent children who are at risk of perishing;
- For revival and renewal in our churches;
- For repentance and healing throughout our nation; and most importantly…
- …That God brings an end to abortion in Cape Town, South Africa and the world.
“We know the prayers of members of the body of Christ will be a powerful help in the great struggle to end abortion, which is the reason that we are trying to motivate churches across denominations to take hands in prayer in a union for life,” said Thomas.
“40 Days for Life is a spiritual battle conducted in peace, fasting and prayer to save the life of unborn children by God’s power.
“The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity with the purpose of repentance and seeking God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion.
“The campaign puts into action a desire to cooperate with God in the carrying out of His plan for the end to abortion.”
Thomas explained that while 40 Days for Life is encouraging people to pray if they want an end to abortion, Christ said some demons can only be driven out by prayer and fasting.
“Prayer and fasting go hand in hand. Prayer keeps us focused on carrying out God’s will. Fasting is a sacrifice that helps us reach beyond our own limitations with God’s help, so people of faith are also invited to fast throughout 40 Days for Life, which is a powerful means of drawing closer to God by blocking out distractions.
“Fast from certain foods and whatever separates you from focusing on God, like watching too much TV or consuming too much liquor too often.
“We believe that when God’s people fast with broken, repentant and contrite spirits, our heavenly Father will hear from heaven and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation, and our world.
“The body of Christ is invited to unite in prayer and fasting and participate in 40 Days for Life to save lives and make an eternal impact,” said Thomas.
According to Priests for Life, at the heart of the abortion tragedy is the question raised in the Psalms: Lord, what is man that you care for him, mortal man that you keep him in mind? . . . With glory and honour you crowned him, giving him power over the works of your hands — Psalm 8:5-7.
“There is the key. Not only did God make us, but He values us. The bible tells us of a God who is madly in love with us, so much so that He became one of us and even died for us while we were still offending Him (see Romans 5:6-8).
“In the face of all this, can we say that human beings are disposable, like a car that becomes more trouble than it is worth? ‘God doesn’t make junk’. If you believe the bible, you have to believe that human life is sacred, more sacred than we have ever imagined!”
Priests for Life also emphasise that the bible teaches us that God is just and “an act of justice is an act of intervention for the helpless, an act of defence for those who are too weak to defend themselves”.
If God does justice for His people, He expects His people to do justice for one another Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful — Luke 6:36
Go and do likewise — Luke 10:37.
Do unto others as you would have them do to you — Matthew 7:12.
Love one another — John 15:17.
“Abortion is the opposite of these teachings. It is a reversal of justice. It is a destruction of the helpless rather than a rescue of them. If God’s people do not intervene to save those whose lives are attacked, then the people are not pleasing or worshiping Him.
“God says through Isaiah”, Trample my courts no more! Bring no more worthless offerings…Your festivals I detest…When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean…learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow — Isaiah 1:13-17.
“Indeed, those who worship God but support abortion are falling into the same contradiction as God’s people of old, and need to hear the same message,” said Priests for Life.
Thomas informed that the 40 Days for Life campaign has been running for the last four years in Cape Town, however, it has not formally been taken up in other parts of South Africa.
“We would like the 40 Days for Life campaign to spread to other cities and provinces of the country, but it seems that people are scared to do anything for the first time.
“We are one of the countries in the world in which abortion is legal so it is important that we oppose abortion here to stop the practice spreading into the rest of Africa.
“For people interested in starting the campaign in their own city all the material to run a campaign is provided, including training,” says Thomas.
Should you feel called to join in public and peaceful witness at the prayer vigil outside the Marie Stopes Abortion Facility you can sign up to participate at www.40daysforlife.com/capetown or contact colettethomas.hli@gmail.com or 083 412 4936.
