The vigil site in the aftermath of the violent tirade, but after vigil participants had collected the scattered pieces and reorganized things a bit.

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The violence taking place inside of Planned Parenthood spilled out onto the streets today.  A solitary man stopped near the vigil location, got out of his truck, and attacked.  He kicked a vigil participant, fortunately not causing serious injury, and the banners — on display as a part of the community outreach portion of the campaign — were ripped from their frames; one was stolen.

Four vigil participants were praying at the time of the attack, the license number of the perpetrator’s vehicle was documented, the sheriff was summoned, and a report was filed.  Hopefully, once identified and arrested, this man will receive education about his fellow Americans’ first amendment rights, and also a redirection of his upset toward Planned Parenthood — the cause of our prayerful presence, and an organization richly deserving of his outrage (but not his violence).

New banners will be ordered tomorrow, and should be up and in place by early to the middle of next week.  In the meantime, please consider signing up for an additional vigil hour or two… As this incident strongly indicates, we should have at least two vigil volunteers at every hour — for the sake of safety.

The old green van is back up and running, and will once again be parked in its usual spot beginning Wednesday, October 7th. Glenn says he isn’t sure what the problem was – it just seems to be fine now. This means the banner will be more regularly back at the vigil site. If you arrive at the site and no one/no signs or banner are there, call Glenn at 360/329-4985.

With the van not running, the banner has not been on-site at the vigil this week.  Glenn and Lori will be back this weekend and hope to effect repairs or find an alternate vehicle by early to mid next week.  If you have a vehicle that can be used for the purpose of storing and transporting the banner, signs, and other vigil items, please get in touch!  In the meantime, keep in mind that the banner is part of the 40 Days for Life campaign’s community outreach, and that your prayer is just as effective without it.

On Saturday September 26th, a janitor at Bremerton Planned Parenthood approached and talked to a vigil participant.  She really wants to quit working for them and hopes to join us at the prayer vigil soon!  She actually tried to join the K40DFL vigil last spring, but the day before she was to come and pray at the vigil she was bitten by a dog.

Are you also finding the devil setting up road blocks to your participation?  Don’t be too surprised, he will do everything he can to prevent you.  Plow right through those road blocks… their existence can be signs to you that you are doing what God wants you to do!

In concert with 211 other sites in 45 states and around the world (8 sites in Washington State alone), Kitsap County residents participated in the first day of the 40 Days for Life campaign, standing in prayerful vigil on September 23rd at the Planned Parenthood facility in East Bremerton. This was a Wednesday, a particularly significant day at this site because that’s the day of the week on which Planned Parenthood actually kills unborn children by abortion.

From now until November 1st, the vigil goes on from 7am to 7pm daily. We invite all who respect life to join us in public witness during these days of intense prayer and fasting, that we may end the scourge of abortion in our beloved nation – and first, in Kitsap County.

As Mother Teresa put it: “Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use violence to get what they want.”

Kitsap County 40 Days for Life participants pray and display at East Bremerton Planned Parenthood on the first of 40 days

Jennifer Atsma, our Church Coordinator, started us off right acknowledging the ultimate force behind our efforts – that is, with a prayer asking God’s blessings on us as we battle the culture of death. Father Derek Lappe further emphasized the vital importance of remembering our foundation; he wasn’t able to be present for the kickoff rally, but had recorded a video (thanks, Andrew!). To further uplift us, Jeryl Struble sang a song of her own composition, “You Are so Loved”.

Then we were treated to the keynote address by Lee Anne Martinez. Her theme was “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right”. She shared her own story as a post-abortive woman: how she trusted those who told her that abortion would solve her ‘problem’ – but it just brought different problems and pain; how she eventually found healing and is now determined to do what she can to prevent other women from the same destructive path. She encouraged us all to persevere with her.

Michael Ferman, one of our great vigil warriors, shared a few stories of challenges and saves he’s seen while standing in public witness, followed by Glenn Stockton outlining the logistical side of the upcoming campaign, including an explanation of the Statement of Peace, showed a brief exhortational video by a Georgia participant in last fall’s 40DFL campaign, and closed with a moving personal story about the wake-up call that brought him to put his own pro-life beliefs into action.

The vigil, prayer, fasting, and outreach begins on September 23rd and continues through November 1st. Join us to end abortion – first in Kitsap County!

Lee Anne delivers her story and encourages faithful commitment in defense of the unborn

Don’t Miss the Kick-off Rally:
Date: Tuesday, September 22^nd, 7:00 PM
Location: Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church
500 Veneta Ave, Bremerton, Center Room #1 (across the street from the sanctuary)

Opening Day of the Autumn 40 Days for Life campaign follows on Wednesday, September 23^rd, beginning at 7:00 am.

The Kitsap County version of the Autumn 40 Days for Life 2009 is just around the corner! The Kick-off gathering is planned for Tuesday evening, September 22nd.  The exact time and venue will be announced later.

Have you been involved in a previous 40 Days for Life campaign? If not, this is your call to action.  Come, stand with us and pray for the innocent babies that are being slaughtered throughout our nation, and right down the street from where you live at the Planned Parenthood on Riddell Road in East Bremerton.

Does the idea of taking such a visible stand by participating in the vigil in front of Planned Parenthood make you feel uncomfortable? We completely understand.  Just about without exception, for all vigil participants the first vigil is a breakthough in their personal comfort-zone.  We live in perilous times, with tremendous assaults on our right to life.  It is time to come out of our homes a take a visible stand on behalf of the least of these – our unborn brothers and sisters.  Keep in mind that you will be standing with others who have been a part of this and similar vigils – some of them for many, many years.  Call for more information and we will help you get started — 360.329.4985.

Those of you who have participated in previous 40 Days for Life campaigns, it is important to keep in mind the impact that the “40 Days for Life” (and especially the vigil portion of it) has had on the growth of the active pro-life community in Kitsap County.  Think back for yourself… What was your introduction to this type of street activism in the pro-life movement?  For many of you it was a “40 Days for Life” or other similar vigil in front of an abortion facility.

The “40 Days for Life” campaign serves as an important foundational activity that brings the vast resource of pro-life people out of their homes and literally into the streets, often for the first time – putting their bodies, minds, and souls on-the-line, standing against the slaughter of the innocent and defenseless unborn children.

Will the  “40 Days for Life” campaign end abortion?  Not likely, but we can’t know.  Will ANY specific action or activity do so?  Not likely, but we can’t know.  God is in control, only he can end the holocaust.  But, we know the “40 Days for Life” campaign serves as a great introduction to the kind of vast activism that is required to enable God to act through us in ways that WILL bring an end to the suffering and death.  It plays a critical role in multiplying the numbers of active pro-lifers, many of whom then bring others into the movement through their own evangelization.

— The Kitsap County Autumn 40 Days for Life campaign is sponsored by Samuel’s Hand Coalition, a new non-profit interdenominational and  inter-religious pro-life organization.

Neither snow, nor sleet, nor rain, nor wind, can keep us from our appointed 40 Days for Life prayer vigil at Planned Parenthood.