Volunteer Meeting Successful BUT More Help Needed

Last Wednesday God blessed us with a saved baby and a fruitful volunteer meeting!  If you missed it, please read Friday's email for details of a mother leaving the waiting room of Planned Parenthood and thanking a child who prayed outside with her family.  Amazing story!  That evening we held our fall 40 Days for Life volunteer meeting with Fr. Rick Heilman and Jim Ball, the 40 Days for Life leader in Green Bay, as our guests.  We had about 40 in attendance.

But Wednesday, July 31st, was a very special day for a third reason!

Our volunteer meeting coincided with the closing day of Green Bay's abortion clinic and the leader of the men and women who prayed on the sidewalks for this closure was our speaker.  Coincidence?  I don't think so....more likely, God's Providence!  We too have a mission to close Planned Parenthood in Madison and God brought Jim here to help.  At the meeting, Jim stressed the need for us to grow our base as he did in Green Bay.  He fills his 40 Days for Life vigil hours before the campaign even starts!

Here is his plan - We are going to try it!

40 Days for Life begins on Wednesday, Sept. 25th and ends on Sunday, Nov. 3rd.  Hours on the sidewalk are filled by parishes/churches/groups/individuals signing up for a 2-hour time slot between 8:00am and 6:00pm each week during 40 Days for Life.  This is ONLY 5 or 6 shifts during the entire vigil!  The 6:00pm to 8:00am shifts are filled by men; Jim calls this the Sleep No More part of the campaign:  "....men need to stand near the killing field to serve, protect, and defend the family, the cornerstone of a rightly-ordered society."  Further explanation about the day and night hours is below; you can also call me with questions.

We need your help to fill our schedule NOW before 40 Days starts.  The meeting elicited a good response but there are still vacant positions that need filling:

Church Liaisons - with the approval of your pastor, choose a 2 hour time slot each week during 40 Days for Life.  Call 4 people per week from your church to fill the slot, 2 people per hour.  When you think about the size of your parish, this is not asking a lot!  Post flyers and bulletin announcements.

Sleep No More Men - get a group of men to take a weekly shift (2 hours or more).  Examples: Knights of Columbus, Knights of Divine Mercy, That Man is You, Bible Study Groups, etc.  This also is not too demanding if enough men participate.

Vigil Captains - We will still have vigil captains to call our list and fill any hours not filled by liaisons or Sleep No More men.  The captains choose a day of the week for which they are responsible.  I have no one for Sundays during 40 Days and would like to have 2 captains per day, if possible, to share the phone calling.
Emergency Coverage during day-time (8am to 6pm) and night-time (6pm to 8am) hours - If you can jump in and cover for someone who can't make their hour due to illness, emergency, etc., this would be a huge help!

Volunteer Callers - help call our list of past 40 Days for Life participants and invite them to come back for this fall's campaign.  We have a prepared script for you to read.

These are general descriptions of what you can do to help; you can call or email me if you'd like more specific information on a position.

The main point I'm trying to etch in your mind is this:  We need a lot of people doing a little so a few people aren't doing a lot!  What is God calling YOU to do to close Planned Parenthood here in Madison?

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

Open Hours - Save A Child This Week By Praying at Planned Parenthood, Orin Rd.!

Tuesday, 8/06/13:  1 needed at 10:00, noon, 1:00, and 2:00pm; 2 needed at 3:00, and 4:00pm 8 hours open!  Only 50% filled!

Wednesday, 8/07/13:  1 needed at 10:00, 1:00, and 2:00pm;  2 needed at 8:00, 9:00, 11:00, noon, 3:00, 4:00, and 5:00pm  17 OPEN HOURS!!  Only 15% filled!

Thursday, 8/08/13:  1 needed at 1:00, 3:00, 4:00, and 5:00pm

Friday, 8/09/13:  1 needed at 2:00pm

Go to vigilforlife.org or email info@vigilforlife.org to sign up for one of these hours or a recurrent hour.

Sidewalk Counseling Training

There will be a sidewalk counseling training session held before 40 Days for Life starts on Sept. 25th.  Please let me know if you would like your name added to the current list.  Details on date and time will be announced soon.

Have a blessed week!