The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. This movement shows what can and does happen when millions of believers join in praying for the lives of the preborn.
As the 2025 Spring campaign of 40 Days for Life begins, thousands of pro-life advocates across the world are now engaged in 40 days of prayer, fasting, and peaceful witness outside abortion facilities.
Running from March 5 to April 13, this campaign is part of a larger international movement dedicated to ending abortion through grassroots activism and unwavering faith in the sanctity of human life.
“Pro-lifers in 660 cities worldwide hit the streets this morning to begin peacefully praying for an end to abortion as part of the largest Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign ever,” 40 Days for Life campaign director Shawn Carney wrote.
“It looks like at least a few of those cities won’t finish the vigil…for the best possible reason,” he continued. “The Planned Parenthood abortion facilities in Bloomington and Decatur, Illinois, are scheduled to close FOREVER!”
The 40 Days for Life movement began in 2004 in Bryan-College Station, Texas, when a small group of passionate pro-life advocates decided to devote 40 days to focused prayer and action to fight abortion in their community. Since then, the movement has grown worldwide, reaching over 60 countries and saving thousands of lives. With its foundation rooted in the power of prayer and love, 40 Days for Life offers a peaceful response to the culture of death, encouraging participants to stand in solidarity with unborn children and their mothers.
The heart of the campaign is prayer and fasting, an acknowledgment that spiritual battles require divine intervention. Faithful men and women across the world unite in prayer, seeking God’s guidance in ending abortion and healing the wounds caused by it. Many participants commit to fasting, offering personal sacrifices for the conversion of abortion providers and for women facing unplanned pregnancies.
A major component of 40 Days for Life is the peaceful vigil, which takes place outside abortion facilities where lives hang in the balance each day. Volunteers stand as a visible sign of hope, offering silent prayers or engaging in compassionate conversations with women who may feel they have no choice but to end their pregnancy. These vigils have been instrumental in saving lives, as countless women have chosen life for their babies after seeing the loving presence of pro-life advocates outside the clinic doors.
The impact of these efforts is undeniable. Since 2007, 40 Days for Life has helped save over 25,000 babies from abortion. Beyond these lives saved, the campaign has contributed to the closure of 161 abortion facilities and has led 268 abortion workers to leave the industry.
Stories abound of clinic staff members who, after witnessing the kindness and persistence of pro-life prayer warriors, decided to walk away from the abortion business forever. Some of these former workers have even become outspoken advocates for life, revealing the horrific realities inside the abortion industry and urging others to join the fight.
This year, local campaigns are being organized in cities around the world. In Nashville, Tennessee, volunteers are taking shifts outside Planned Parenthood, praying daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Similar efforts are taking place in Cincinnati, Ohio, where pro-lifers gathered for a kickoff rally led by Fr. Jacob Willig.
The pro-life movement, however, is not without its challenges. Governments in other countries and even some U.S. states have implemented buffer zones around abortion clinics, restricting how close pro-lifers can stand while praying or offering help.
In the United Kingdom, buffer zone laws have been enacted to keep pro-life advocates 150 meters away from clinics, making it harder to reach women at their most vulnerable moments. Despite these obstacles, pro-lifers continue to find ways to stand for life. Even when forced to move outside buffer zones, they refuse to be silenced.
Recently, in Glasgow, Scotland, a 74-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly violating an exclusion zone outside an abortion clinic. Stories like hers illustrate the increasing hostility toward pro-life voices in certain parts of the world.
While opposition is fierce, the truth remains clear: 40 Days for Life is changing hearts, saving lives, and bringing hope to a culture that desperately needs it. Women who once thought abortion was their only option are discovering compassionate alternatives, thanks to the presence of those willing to pray, counsel, and offer practical support.
As the 2025 spring campaign unfolds, pro-lifers worldwide remain committed to their mission. With faith, perseverance, and love, they continue to stand in the gap for the unborn. The testimonies of babies saved, mothers helped, and hearts changed are a powerful reminder that this fight is worth every effort.
Christians are called to defend the defenseless and uphold the sanctity of life. Scripture repeatedly affirms the value of every human life. Psalm 139:13-16 reminds us that God knit us together in our mother’s womb and that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Every preborn child is created in His image, and as believers, we must protect these precious lives. Proverbs 31:8-9 commands us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” The preborn have no voice, but we can be their advocates, offering prayers and tangible help to their mothers.
Jesus taught to reach out to the broken and bring healing to those in need. Women facing unplanned pregnancies often feel alone, afraid, and pressured into abortion. By standing outside abortion clinics in peaceful prayer, believers offer a lifeline of hope. Many women have turned away from abortion simply because someone was there to remind them they were not alone.
The spiritual battle against abortion is real, but so is the power of prayer. James 5:16 assures us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Whether through joining a vigil, fasting, or interceding from home, every Christian can serve in this life-saving mission.
For those who feel called to participate, it’s not too late to get involved. Whether through joining a local effort, committing to prayer and fasting, or spreading awareness, every action matters. For more information on how to get involved with 40 Days for Life, visit 40daysforlife.com.
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