Vigil for Life to host national civil rights speaker

In this issue:

• VFL to host national civil rights speaker Ryan Bomberger on Wednesday March 23
• Sidewalk counseling training leads to first turnaround at Madison's Planned Parenthood
• Help Needed for "365 for Life"!

Ryan Bomberger to speak on March 23

Ryan Bomberger, co-founder The Radiance Foundation and TooManyAborted.com, will speak in Madison on March 23 at 7 p.m. at the Bishop O'Connor Center (702 S. High Point Road, Madison), courtesy of Vigil for Life, Pro-Life Wisconsin and the Diocese of Madison.

Ryan is an adoptee and adoptive father, who has exposed the abortion industry's penchant for targeting minorities. Ryan's Black and Unwanted billboard campaign made national headlines in Wisconsin this year, drawing attention to the fact that with only six percent of Wisconsin's population, African Americans account for nearly a quarter of all abortions. His powerful multimedia live presentation illuminates the truth about pressing social issues, especially abortion and adoption.

This event is FREE and open to all ages. A reception will follow Ryan’s presentation.

Madison will also be hosting two other first-class events this spring:

• The Day at the Capitol (Thursday, March 10, 9 a.m.-noon) will feature Lieutenant Governor and Vigil for Life supporter Rebecca Kleefisch, top pro-life legislators, a full breakfast, and a comprehensive training on how to engage your legislators.
• Pro-Life Wisconsin's Annual Awards Dinner on Saturday April 10 will honor Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth, who risked his career in opposing the imposition of Planned Parenthood's explicit sex education curriculum on his community's public schools. The Event will be headlined by Joe Scheidler, considered by many to be the "Father of Pro-Life Activism."

Hope to see you there!

Sidewalk counselor training leads to first Planned Parenthood turnaround!

Vigil for Life and Pro-Life Wisconsin's February 11-12 sidewalk counselor training prepared more than 30 people (from all across Wisconsin and even Iowa!) to serve as the last line of defense for women considering abortion.

And we're happy report tonight that one of the newly trained counselors re-directed a couple from Planned Parenthood to the very pro-life Our Lady of Hope Clinic! Well done!

In the coming days, we'll be posting the sidewalk counselor training materials on the newly revamped Vigil for Life website.

Help Needed for "365 for Life"!

We need your help today for "365 for Life" in two ways:

1. We still have openings this week (9-11 Tuesday, 9-10 on Wednesday, and 1-3 on Friday). If you are not available for these times, please consider other open times in February and March, especially monthly commitments, to maintain and expand our perpetual presence. Sign up at http://vigilforlife.org/calendar/.

2. We need help your help in our outreach efforts for "365 for Life." A few of you have already volunteered to help with making phone calls to "recruit" prayer warriors. Thank you! We do need a THREE more volunteers. Contact Laura Karlen at 608-445-2064 or laura@vigilforlife.org if you can help!

Baby Saved on First Day of 365 Initiative!

Looking for a little extra motivation to sign up for the 365 Initiative? Consider this: it only took one day to save our first baby.

Earlier today, an older couple brought a frightened-looking young mother to Planned Parenthood, but the woman kept looking back toward the sidewalk. Even after entering the building and approaching the registration desk, the young mother kept peering out the window at a prayer warrior who simply held a sign that said “Life for Baby.”

The glances back to the sidewalk continued as an animated conversation began between the double doors of Planned Parenthood. By the grace of God, the woman never passed through that second set of doors, and the conversation ended with the mother exiting the building with a big (and relieved looking!) smile. Praise God!

We may not record a saved baby every day. But in giving up a short amount of time once a month you WILL save babies. Together we’ll save more than we ever know because it’s impossible to count the number of women scheduled for abortions who see us on the sidewalk—a sign of hope and an answer to their prayers—and keep on driving. So please, commit to signing up for a monthly or one-time two hour slot on the sidewalks. As always, you can call 608-445-2063 with questions or for additional information.

BREAKING: Baby spared at Madison's Planned Parenthood born safely!‏

Late last summer, we received an urgent text message from Jen of the Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe asking us to pray for Sarah and Melord--a couple she met at Madison's Planned Parenthood. Facing financial difficulties, they had come with the intention of aborting their child. Jen, along with Mark from Pro-Life Wisconsin's Dane County affiliate, counseled the couple and offered to help in whatever way they could.

Jen and Mark's kindness made the difference. At 12:05 this morning, Sarah gave birth to a seven pound baby boy named Zion! I just spoke with Melord who reported that both mom and baby are doing well.

But our work isn't done yet. Vigil for Life plans to throw a baby shower for Baby Zion and his parents later this spring. Stay tuned for the date, time, location and registry information, and please plan to help support this young family.

Congratulations to Jen and Mark, and big time thanks to all of you who pray and witness on the streets!

Vigil for Life draws national attention

Weekly Vigils Begin!

As 40 Days for Life draws to a close at the Madison Surgery Center, we will keep the momentum going with 2 weekly vigils, one at the Madison Surgery Center and one at Planned Parenthood. The schedule is as follows:

Madison Surgery Center: Tuesday, March 30 at 8:30 a.m. with Steve Karlen

Planned Parenthood: Thursday, April 1 at 4:00 p.m. with Laura Karlen

Please join us!

40 Days for Life Madison draws national attention

Earlier this week, the national 40 Days for Life team featured Madison's 40 Days campaign in its daily email and blog. Click the link to see a wide-frame shot of the Stations of the Cross vigil that drew 150 people last weekend. Special thanks, once again, to Mary Ann Croft (who organized the event) and Fr. Rick Heilman's Knights of Divine Mercy for making it happen!

The phrase “defenders of true freedom” comes from today’s devotional. Those words in a nutshell describe the people who have taken a leap of faith, during this 40 Days for Life campaign, to pray and fast for an end to abortion.

The 40 Days for Life team in Madison, Wisconsin stands witness in front of the Madison Surgery Center, where late-term abortions were scheduled to begin in January of last year.

“For 14 months, our vigils have held them off,” said Steve Karlen, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Madison. This center had been projected to do about 125 late-term abortions a year.

Steve said an enthusiastic community overcame the challenges “of a very hostile anti-life college campus at the end of a very cold winter.” Rather than just one or two vigil participants, it was not uncommon to see eight or twelve out at a time.

Organizers hoped to have 25-to-30 people attending a recent prayer service. “Instead,” said Steve, “we had nearly 200 people pack the sidewalks to pray.”

Announcements

• There will be a Rachel's Vineyard retreat April 16-18 in the Madison area for anyone suffering the emotional and spiritual pain of abortion. For information contact: HelpForYou@straphael.org or 608-821-3177 or call Mary at 608-221-9593, meadmt@sbcglobal.net.
• Pro-Life Wisconsin’s Spring Awards Dinner will be held Saturday, April 17 at 6 p.m. at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Visitor’s Center) in La Crosse. Click here for more information on registration.
• The Cenacles of Life meet at St Mary's of Pine Bluff on Saturday mornings at 6:45 am to pray 10 decades of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. All are welcome to join them.