Abortion Facility Prayer Guidelines

Dear Prayer Volunteers,

God is blessing the 40 Days for Life ND effort abundantly!  Each day we hear from more people of many different faiths who want to join in the effort of praying for an end to abortion.  Many are scheduling hours of prayer on the sidewalk outside the abortion facility.  Others are committing to prayer in their own communities.  Hundreds are receiving notification via phone or email on the days when it appears abortions are being performed and, when they do, they stop what they are doing to pray.  With so many prayers being raised to our Heavenly Father at one time, we know He is hearing our plea to bring an end to abortion and to bless the mothers, their unborn babies, those encouraging abortions, and those who work in the abortion industry.

Our witness on the sidewalk is an opportunity for us to pray in union with our brothers and sisters of other faiths who are also dedicated to defending the right to life of all human persons.

As you pray outside the abortion facility:

- Please greet others who arrive to pray with you.  Ask their names and the church or group they might be with.

- If people of different faiths are praying on the sidewalk at the same time, please pray silently or join in ecumenical prayer so that all feel included.  (Printed ecumenical prayers are in the 40 Days for Life backpack kept by the sidewalk.)  

- Praying silently is a powerful witness of our surrender to God's will.  It also helps us to focus on what He is calling us to do as His children, and unites all who are on the sidewalk in one common action.

- Please do not hold signs or banners other than the 40 Days for Life signs. Signs showing aborted babies, or images reflecting a particular faith background, may be offensive to some who are praying.   

- The abortion facility now has "escorts" on site on the days that they are receiving customers.  Please demonstrate your love for the escorts by greeting them kindly and by praying for them.  

- Trained sidewalk counselors are designated for each abortion day.  To allow them to be most effective, please refrain from speaking to the women entering the abortion facility, unless a sidewalk counselor is not present.  Every word spoken to those entering the facility, or to facility workers, must express the love God has for them.  Hearts are most effectively transformed with love.

Thank you for the many sacrifices you are making to educate people about the evil of abortion and to pray for an end to abortion in our state and nation.  May God bless your efforts and the efforts of people across the nation who have come together through 40 Days for Life to defend the right to life for all human persons.

The 40 Days for Life North Dakota Committee