On Tuesday, September 22, citizens will mark the 25th consecutive 40 Days for Life prayer campaign in the city of Birmingham, and the first campaign to be held at the new Planned Parenthood, located at 1019 1st Ave N.
At 6:30 PM, pro-life citizens, pastors and leaders will gather for the Fall 40 Days for Life Candlelight Kickoff, a special vigil that will begin forty days of prayer, fasting and outreach on the sidewalk directly in front of the new facility.
Speakers & Leaders include:
- Fr. Terry Gensemer, Charismatic Episcopal Church For Life
- Ed Carrick, 40 Days for Life
- Mary Ann Vann, Helpers of God’s Precious Infants
- Rev. Justin Wallick, Christ Church Branch Cove
- Natalie & Matthew Brumfield, Bound4Life Birmingham
- Ashley Wright, UAB Students for Life
- Jim & Joy Pinto, Her Choice Birmingham
- Rev. Joshua Altonji, St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic University Chapel
- Katie Trundt, Life on Wheels
- Jennifer Geralds & Shaylene Burlage, LoveLife
Though Planned Parenthood announced a “soft” opening for its new location in the news, it still seems unable to provide any abortions, just as it has struggled to do for the last three years.
The pro-life community, on the other hand, is thriving with renewed interest from citizens to join outreach on the sidewalk, new ministries in the city and even a brand new mobile ultrasound unit that will be parked right outside of Planned Parenthood as often as possible, including at Tuesday’s prayer service.
Fr. Terry Gensemer, Director of CEC For Life and emcee of the event comments, “While Planned Parenthood has worked so hard to build a new facility in hopes of ramping up its dying business, we have seen the Lord continue ramping up this pro-life community. It is so clear that Birmingham citizens want to see abortion ended in our city, and that’s what we are continuing to work towards — prayerfully, peacefully and legally.”
Ed Carrick, the local director of 40 Days for Life, adds, “We have been holding these campaigns for over ten years. In that time we have seen hundreds of babies’ lives saved, and their mothers and fathers assisted with kindness and compassion. For us, this new location is just a new opportunity to reach hurting people. And we’ve already been amazed at the positive response we’ve seen just from people driving by at this new location. Our message is much more visible there.”
Part of that very visible message will be the Life on Wheels mobile ultrasound unit, which has been preparing for Planned Parenthood’s opening for months.
Robyn Blessing, the Executive Director of Life on Wheels, says, “The Mission of Life On Wheels is to use the power of ultrasound to serve women, save babies, and share Jesus. We have seen such miraculous provision that has allowed us to establish a brand new mobile unit in Birmingham. With this new opportunity we are ready and equipped to serve on the front line and provide women in Birmingham with compassionate support and tangible resources to help them make life-affirming decisions.”
The Fall 40 Days For Life Candlelight Kickoff will take place tomorrow, September 22, at 6:30 PM. All citizens are invited to join. City requirements for COVID-19 will be observed.
