40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting and peaceful presence to end abortion.
Prayer – for an end to abortion, for God’s guidance for those involved in prayer gatherings and pro-life action around the country.
Fasting – please consider fasting. It simply involves renouncing an activity that can put a barrier between you and God. It could be television, the internet, a favorite food or drink, etc. You really can do without it! Biblical fasting helps us to take our minds off the things of the world and focus more completely on God.
Peaceful Witness – we stand witness and maintain a peaceful presence outside the Planned Parenthood 3825 Government St, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Your presence sends a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. It also serves as a call to repentance for those who seek abortion services there.
The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40-day campaign seeking God’s help to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion.
The spring campaign runs from February 14 through March, 2024.
The first 40 Days for Life event was held in Baton Rouge in 2011. More than 80 unborn children have been confirmed saved since 2011.
The official hours that we cover are from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. seven days a week. Of course, you are always welcome to come outside of these hours if it fits your schedule, but we do encourage coming when others are present for safety.
The event is held on the sidewalk outside of the Planned Parenthood 3825 Government St, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
The availability of parking depends on the day of the week. We want to be good neighbors so respect the business in the area.
Weekend Parking:
Weekend parking is very easy as all of the businesses are closed. Please park in any of the nearby lots.
TBD
No. 40 Days for Life is a peaceful prayer gathering.
Contact Bridget Soileau: 40daysforlifebr@gmail.com
Pray! By doing this we cover many needs, all of which have a tremendous impact! Even just being physically present makes a huge impact – so imagine the possibilities when you add the prayers to God!
You may pray out loud or silently, you may pray individually or in a group, you may stand or kneel. Any type of prayer will work – most people use formal and informal prayers while at the abortion facility. You may face the abortion facility or the road while praying and others like to walk up and down the sidewalk as they pray.
Do not obstruct the driveway to the abortion facility or the sidewalks. Also, do not march up and down the sidewalk as that is more in keeping with a protest, which this is not.
Sing! There are some who like to sing quietly to themselves or in groups.
Read Scripture! As with the other actions, read it aloud or silently. Over the course of the 40 days, we hope to have the entire Bible read out loud by participants.
We strive to maintain a prayerful atmosphere while at the abortion facility. Kindly hold personal conversations away from the prayer site (across the street or down the sidewalk) in order to allow others a peaceful prayer space.
(Please see the Statement of Peace for more on appropriate conduct at the event.)
Go with someone who has been before. You may contact us, and we will provide you with a day and time that a group is scheduled to be out so that you may join them. Once you have participated the first time your hesitations will go away! 40 Days for Life is the FIRST TIME that MANY people come to pray at an abortion facility.
Anyone! This is an nondenominational effort, a call to bring the body of Christ together. Typically churches or groups will participate as a whole.
Absolutely! Many youth and smaller children come out to pray with us. Some people like to come as a family and bring a wagon, snacks and coloring books for the little ones. However, this is a busier and potentially less-safe area than where we used to be located in the past so please take this into account.
As often as you want! Typically, a church or group will “adopt-a-day” (or days) and sign up to cover the hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. This is very flexible – come on your church’s day and then know that for the entire 40 days there will be people out there and you are welcome to just show up. There will always be gaps that need to be filled – so we can use all of the volunteers that we can get. Please check the prayer calendar to see what hours are open and not adopted.
Stick to the sidewalk and do not block vehicles.
We ask that each participant commit to at least one hour. You are welcome to stay as long as you want, and chances are that you will be helping to fill in gaps if you do. Some prayer volunteers travel a long distance, so stay for a few hours if you can. There are also days you may want to come but haven’t signed up beforehand, come anyway!
You may bring signs. The signs should bear ONLY POSITIVE and ENCOURAGING MESSAGES AND IMAGES.
Graphic imagery is NOT HELPFUL OUTSIDE OF THE ABORTION FACILITY FOR MANY REASONS.
Rain, sleet or hail, we’ll be there! However, use good judgment if it is very severe weather.
Most likely you will not. The way the area is designed, patients park in a lot on the building’s property. They will see us standing out on the sidewalk as they drive into the parking lot, but they will be a distance from us in most cases. Some participants may wish to hold signs that offer help, which increases the chances of interaction. Otherwise it is very unlikely.
**We strongly discourage participants from attempting sidewalk counseling. Sidewalk counseling is reserved for those with specific training in this ministry.
We will have the contact information for local pro-life pregnancy counseling centers available in the supply box that will be on the sidewalk. They include:
**Please remember to not touch the patient or anyone with the patient or members of the Delta staff. A well-intentioned pat on the shoulder or hand may be misconstrued and viewed as a hostile or offensive gesture.
The opposition you most likely face is very mild. Participants have found that there is much more support than opposition. If you face the road you will occasionally notice certain finger gestures and maybe hear the occasional “go home!”
You will mostly hear honks from supporters and receive thumbs up! The abortion facility is located in a business corridor, so there are a few people that use the sidewalk where you will be standing. It is always best to politely move for them to pass. If a passerby wants to have a discussion, just remember to keep the exchange peaceful. If you do not want to have a dialogue, politely tell them that you are praying. Again, the likelihood of interaction is rare.
We have listed below a few of the options that are close to the prayer site.
East Baton Rouge Parish Library (1/2 mile west of prayer site)
7711 Goodwood Blvd.
(225) 231-3700
Sun 2-10 p.m.
Mon-Thurs 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Fri-Sat 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Goodwood Grill (.2 miles east of prayer site)
8558 Goodwood Blvd.
(225) 927-7550
Mon-Fri 10:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sat. 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sun. Closed
Whole Foods (1.6 miles south of prayer site)
7529 Corporate Blvd.
(225) 218-0452
Sun-Sat 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Daily
Subway (1.17 miles east of prayer site)
7970 Jefferson Highway, Ste A
(225) 925-3278
Sun 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Mon-Fri 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sat 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Le Madeleine (2.1 miles south of prayer site)
7615 Jefferson Highway
(225) 927-6072
Sun-Sat 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Daily
Yes! Please try to take pictures of your group and forward them to the 40 Days for Life BR Team at 40daysforlifebr@gmail.com. It is a wonderful reminder of your group’s participation in this effort and will encourage other members to attend. Please DO NOT TAKE PICTURES OF THOSE SEEKING SERVICES AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
“The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the ‘freedom of speech.’ The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that peaceful communication – such as spoken words, display of signs and leafleting – are all protected forms of free speech, especially in public places like sidewalks and parks. The Supreme Court has consistently ruled that speech cannot be censored simply because the speaker’s message irritates or offends a listener.” (prolifeaction.org source cited).
The Baton Rouge Police Department is aware of this annual event. 40 Days for Life has a good relationship with the Baton Rouge Police Department. It is our goal to have a peaceful and safe prayer event. We do not anticipate that you will encounter any problems, but the police are there if we need them.
This is a nondenominational project of Baton Rouge Right to Life AND the Office of Marriage and Family Life/Diocese of Baton Rouge. This is a labor of love for the Lord and for the gift of life he has given to us. However, we have expenses for materials, including printing, paper, and signs among others, to execute this campaign.
If you would like to make a financial contribution to cover such operating expenses for the Baton Rouge campaign, please send a check to Baton Rouge Right to Life and annotate “for 40 DFL-Baton Rouge.” Baton Rouge Right to Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so donations are tax-deductible.
Baton Rouge Right to Life
P.O. Box 86005
Baton Rouge, LA 70879
For more information please contact Bridget Soileau at (225) 773-4727 or 40daysforlifebr@gmail.com.
Thank you for participating in the peaceful prayer, fasting, vigil and outreach activities of 40 Days for Life Baton Rouge. Together we will bring an end to the tragedy of abortion.
