Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The latest 40 Days for Life campaign, featuring almost 200 cities across the country and on an international scale participating, is less than a week along but 33 babies have already been saved from abortions. The director of the campaign tells LifeNews.com it could be the most successful yet.
"God has been incredibly faithful during each 40 Days for Life campaign and this is most obvious in the beautiful children -- made in God's image and likeness -- saved from abortion through prayers, fasting and standing vigil at abortion facilities," coordinator David Bereit said.
"I'm thrilled to report that the number of confirmed lives saved from abortion during this spring 40 Days for Life thus far is 33," he added.
Reports from local pro-life advocates show high levels of turnout and local pro-life groups are being reinvigorated by the campaign.
"Seventeen churches were represented today, and many had never done abortion clinic ministry before," a Riverside, California pro-life advocate named Mike said. "We had one saved baby in the first four hours! We had a great rally last night and people are fired up."
Christine, in Houston, Texas says she knows of two people who didn't go to their scheduled abortion.
"We know of at least two women who had appointments at Planned Parenthood today who left after speaking to the sidewalk counselors and went to the downtown pregnancy help center," she said.
Another activist in Huntsville, Alabama said a changed mind came at just the right time.
"A newspaper reporter covering our event was asking one of our counselors what she did and if any women ever changed their minds," the pro-lifer said.
"She replied that she handed out pro-life materials and tried to speak to the
women, and yes, women did change their minds. Just then, essentially during the newspaper interview, a woman -- we'll call her Gwen -- came out of the abortion center," he added. "Our counselor asked her if she had changed her mind and she said yes. The newspaper reporter then asked if she could interview Gwen, and she agreed."
Bereit said he was surprised by the conclusion of the story.
"The most amazing thing about this account is that the reporter for the Huntsville Times, a secular newspaper, wrote the story of this woman rejecting abortion -- and the paper actually printed it," he said.
Ultimately, Bereit is looking forward to the final numbers to see how effective this latest campaign will be in terms of saving lives.
