This year there will be pro-life vigils organized by 40 Days in 377 participating cities across 31 countries, with now over 150 cities outside of North America. In the United Kingdom alone there will be 10 campaigns running.

This will be 40 Days for Life‘s largest ever Lent campaign.

Recently, I met up with two people involved in 40 Days for Life here in the United Kingdom. Robert Colquhoun is a veteran of 40 Days campaigns as befits his role as the organization’s Director of International Campaigns. How does he prepare each year for the Lenten campaign: “It is always important to put first things first and mentally and spiritually prepare, putting prayer first before starting a campaign. It takes considerable courage and a lot of hard work to organize a good [local] campaign”.

Colquhoun says that the campaign and mission is the same every year: praying to end abortion, organizing prayer vigils outside of abortion centers for 12 hours a day during Lent and conducting community outreach. He points out that “the whole point of this is to take a positive and upbeat pro-life message to the whole community”. Colquhoun feels that these are the core elements that make up a 40 Days campaign and therein lies its strength: “It is simple, and effective, because it works. Lives are saved, hearts and minds are changed and eternal souls are impacted. Abortion workers leave [their employment] and abortion centers close”.

In contrast, Sarah Bignell is a London wife and mother taking part this Lent in her first 40 Days for Life campaign. So what was she hoping to achieve? “By bringing a 40 Days for Life campaign back to London, I wanted to redress the totally inaccurate portrayal of vigils and highlight the good work they do, so that it can be something Christians want to get involved as a beacon of hope and mercy for those facing a time of great difficulty”…

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