Yet another SPUC activist leads the way with 40 Days for Life

This year the first Welsh 40 Days for Life campaign was launched in Cardiff city, by a young woman called Rhoslyn Thomas, amongst others, who has been a longstanding activist of SPUC and a 2012 intern. Another SPUC activist, Kelechi, has also been proactive in setting up a 40 Days for Life in her hometown in Nigeria, and supporting the 40 Days for Live vigil in Milton Keynes. 

40 Days for Life Milton Keynes, with Andy (R), founder David Bereit (L) and Kelechi (L, centre)

 A little while ago Rhoslyn posted some good news on Facebook about a child spared death at the hands of an abortionist. Here is a fuller version below:

This year, we ran our very first 40 Days For Life campaign in Cardiff on St. Mary's Street. The abortion clinic is unmarked and, for the most part, unknown. It is a busy street with lots of shops, night clubs, cafes and restaurants and offices. Indeed, the clinic itself is above a restaurant and the building is shared with a number of offices. We were a few weeks in when we were approached one day by a young man who calmly asked us what we were doing. We replied that we were praying for an end to abortion, but specifically praying for everyone who entered that clinic, that they would choose life. He told us that his girlfriend was inside the clinic, discussing and planning her abortion.

He told us that she had aborted a previous baby and that they also had other children but that they were living in temporary accommodation and were being pressured by social services to abort the baby that his girlfriend was currently carrying though they wanted their baby. When I heard him say this, I was saddened but not very surprised.

Again and again we are told that this is a woman's 'right to choose', yet it seems to me that few women do choose. Yes, some do, but many do not. More often than not, there seems to be some source of coercion. As the suffragette, Mattie Brinkerhoff, wrote in 1869, "When a man steals to satisfy hunger, we may safely conclude that there is something wrong in society - so when a woman destroys the life of her unborn child, it is an evidence that either by education or circumstances she has been greatly wronged" We told him that we knew of an organisation in London, the Good Counsel Network, who could help him. I told him what I knew to be the truth: if he phoned them and asked them for help, there is no way they would turn him down.

They would (not might) help them with anything they needed: money, clothes, prams, food, counselling, accommodation. He seemed glad to know this and we were hopeful that he would phone, though he declined our offer to use our phones on the spot. So, after he and his girlfriend left, all we could do was pray and pray.

Being a former intern at SPUC and having parents who have volunteered and worked for SPUC for many years, we had quite a network of people to call on for prayers! We had people up and down the country praying for this couple and many offers of a home and help for them from total strangers! I was sorry that I didn't ask for a telephone number from the couple but I felt that it was so important, at a time when they were being pressured from all sides, not to add to this pressure and to leave them in God's hands. I kept asking the people at Good Counsel over the following weeks if they had phoned or not.

Sadly, they had not but I didn't give up on them because I know that no prayer goes unanswered. 40 Days For Life ended on the 24th March this year. By then, we still hadn't heard but we didn't forget about that couple. We all slipped back into normal life until one day about a week ago I got an e-mail from a member of the vigil's 'core team' saying that they had some good news...the couple had phoned Good Counsel and they are keeping the baby!

To say this was the best news I had heard all year was an understatement! I was so thankful that we had been there so that we met that young man and gave him that little card. It was such a little thing but it saved a life! In fact, it not only saved the baby, but it saved their mother and father from another abortion and the repercussions of extinguishing that life.

I think that few reading this blog could imagine just how many people screamed and shouted at us saying that we were "intimidating women" by standing outside a building where human beings are killed and peacefully praying. I am glad that we were there and we will be back for another 40 days, so that when the next couple comes up to us needing support and love, we will be there.

Rhoslyn (L) with 40 Days for Life founders Shawn and David. Also pictured is Ann Howard, a former SPUC intern

Pro-abortion protesters oppose the prayer vigil in Cardiff

40 Days for Life vigil supporters praying

A baby is born, thanks to a young woman who talks the talk and more importantly, walks the walk

I received this email (below) from a friend, Kelechi. She has been a regular volunteer with SPUC in our London office, has attended several of our conferences and training days, including the conference on international development, maternal health, and abortion.

Through SPUC, Kelechi came into contact with 40 Days for Life (we went to the fundraising banquet in Westminster a few years ago). We also provided Kelechi with advice and some materials (foetal model set, leaflets etc). Since then Kelechi has been a regular member of the 40 Days for Life in Milton Keynes (an initiative that involves a public prayer vigil outside an abortion facility, prayer and fasting, and community outreach). She also went over to her home town of Abuja, Nigeria, in January. She spoke at several churches and halls, leading to the founding of the pro-life group "Save the Unborn Babies" Nigeria. She also helped to establish a 40 Days for Life campaign in Nigeria. As a result at least 6 babies have been spared abortion. In fact, Kelechi has made and will continue to make trips back to Nigeria to ensure Save Unborn Babies develops and keeps up its lifesaving and educational work. On top of all this Kelechi works full-time as a business studies lecturer at a college of further education.

In my opinion, Kelechi is a excellent example of a motivated young woman who has put her pro-life conviction into effective action - outward facing, bringing the message to wider society, not being stuck in a cycle of jumping from talk to talk, conference to conference - talking the talk but doing little else. We are honoured to be able to work with her.

Dear SPUC Family,

Please rejoice with us at Save The Unborn Babies Pro-Life Initiative Nigeria, as our first saved baby was delivered on Friday, 31st May at about 1:25 am. Mum and baby are doing very well, and we are pleased to affirm that it is through your kind support that this baby boy has been saved from the abortion her mother had intended for him.

This baby may not have been here today if you did not give me the opportunity to work with SPUC as a volunteer while receiving pro-life training, nor join 40 Days for Life at Milton Keynes and other pro-life activities in Luton Good Counsel. Thank you also for your kind support with educational materials and encouragement towards my visit to Nigeria for pro-life work.

In December when I visited Nigeria, this new mum (then pregnant) had made some money deposit for an abortion and was in search of the balance to undergo the procedure. After I spoke in Church, she met me crying as she unfolded her ordeal, telling how her fiance kicked her out of the house despite her pregnancy. We encouraged her to keep her baby while supporting with her ante-natal bills. A member also offered her an accommodation. On Friday, 30th May, the young lady called me with the good news that she has put to bed. All glory be to God.

I must thank you all at SPUC for your encouragement and support to embark on this mission which has helped save this baby boy from forced death. Many thanks to Andy Burton's 40 Days for Life, Milton Keynes and Luton Good Counsel for their inspiration. It is incident like this, that give us fulfilment and encouragement to keep on doing the work.
God bless you all.
Kind regards,
For: Save The Unborn Babies Pro-life, Nigeria
Kelechi Anyaghara

First baby born, and sleeping well by the looks of it

Kelechi (3rd from left) at the SPUC maternal health conference with speakers and SPUC staff

Kelechi with 40 Days for Life founders at the London banquet

Young adults hold a public pro-life display

Kelechi speaking to a local group, telling them about pro-life work

Kelechi gave a training session to a group of recent graduates

Groundbreaking weekend for pro-lifers in London

It's been a momentous few days. David Bereit and Shawn Carney, founders of 40 Days for Life, together with Chris Slattery, founder of Expectant Mother Care who run 12 crisis pregnancy centres in New York, have been spending time with pro-lifers in London, Birmingham, and Manchester. On Saturday the Helpers of God's Precious Infants (HGPI) held a large pro-life vigil at the BPAS abortuary Bedford Sq, which was very well attended by members of the Helpers, 40 Days for Life, SPUC, Good Counsel Network, and students who came all the way from Bristol! Afterwards we had a great social with refreshments and a few impromptu talks by David, Shawn, and Chris. One of the Coordinators of HGPI announced that they would be adding a brand new vigil to their calendar - Stratford East London, where BPAS have recently opened a new abortuary on the ground floor of a residential block of homes.

 The vigil opposite BPAS, praying for the unborn and their parents

 listening to some short talks and enjoying the refreshments

 David Bereit sharing an inspiring story about an abortion facility that shut down unexpectedly

 Shawn Carney telling us how he got involved in the pro-life movement

Sister Nwadike, an inspiration to pro-lifers and an experienced pro-life counsellor. Her religious order cares for mothers and babies, including housing for 8 mothers with newborns.

Students from Bristol Students for Life getting some top tips 

 David Bereit, Shawn Carney, and Chris Slattery

Saturday evening witnessed the first ever 40 days for Life London banquet, held at Westminster Cathedral hall. almost 200 guests were treated to a warm reception, a sumptuous banquet meal, including 3 choices of curry, wines and candles on the table, and several excellent speeches. Robert Colquhoun, London campaign director, spoke very well and set out his vision for the next campaign, and the increasingly strong pro-life movement in the UK. David Bereit, Shawn Carney, and Chris Slattery also spoke and inspired the guests. We all felt very lucky to have been part of this event. It was good to see people making commitments for the next 40 Days for Life, and catching up with friends.   

 The banquet hall, almost prepared and ready

 Guests chat and wait for the evening's MC Italian Mauro Iannicelli to call us to order. Mauro did an amazing job introducing the speakers, entertaining the crowd, and telling a few jokes along the way! 

 Filling up

 Mauro doing his thing at the mic

 Chris Slattery speaking about running 12 crisis pregnancy centres in NY

 Robert giving his speech to the guests

 Chris, Shawn, Robert, and David

I feel very fortunate to be able to work in the pro-life movement full time, as a researcher and campaigns officer for SPUC. I am also very lucky to be part of the 40 Days for Life London organising team since we began in September 2010. I was reminded of all this on Saturday. I've made dedicated and passionate friends, young and old, who continually step up to the plate and help make things like this happen. There are many people to thank: those who helped promote, those who did some great IT/web work, the table hosts, those who helped set-up the hall, the caterers, the people who helped clean up afterwards, and all those who have and will spend hours in prayer and fasting for the unborn during our 40 Days for Life vigil.  You know who you are!

40 Days for Life will begin on 22  February. We will have a 40 day pro-life prayer vigil opposite BPAS abortuary Bedford Sq in London. 40 Days for Life will be holding campaigns in Manchester, Birmingham, and Brighton this year, along with London. If you live in or near any of these cities please give serious thought to joining them. If there isn't pro-life activity in your area, you're the person to start it. As David Bereit says when we face doubts and trials: "do it anyway!" 

For Life, Daniel