Contact: Amber Dolle, 40 Days for Life, 804-852-2979

WASHINGTON, July 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Cities across America are applying to participate in the fall 2008 nationally coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign – a focused initiative that promises to be the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in history," said David Bereit, national campaign director of 40 Days for Life. "Abortion claims more than 1.2 million innocent lives in the United States each year," he added, "and in 2008, the stakes for our nation are higher than ever. People of faith and conscience are approaching this challenge with a heightened sense of urgency."

40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that features 40 days of prayer and fasting, round-the-clock peaceful vigil outside an abortion facility and grassroots educational outreach. Simultaneous campaigns will be conducted coast-to-coast – and internationally – as part of a unified outreach from September 24 through November 2. Local pro-life leaders are now applying to host 40 Days for Life campaigns in their cities this fall (http://www.40daysforlife.com/apply.cfm). The application period continues until July 29.

"The rapid expansion of this effort has exceeded our wildest expectations," said Bereit. "As shown on the map on the 40 Days for Life web site (http://www.40daysforlife.com/location.cfm), more than 300 cities across America, and in four other countries, have already stepped forward and expressed interest in the fall campaign. People are eager to get started."

This fall's effort will mark the third nationally coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign. In previous efforts in 139 cities across 43 states, 150,000 people have responded to the call for prayer and fasting. Over 35,000 have prayed outside abortion facilities and Planned Parenthood centers. More than 500 unborn children have been confirmed saved from abortion. Abortion workers have quit their jobs and left the industry, and two abortion facilities that were the sites of 40 Days for Life prayer vigils – in Dallas, Texas, and Rockland County, New York – have gone out of business.

Said Bereit, "This clearly demonstrates the importance of maintaining a regular, prayerful presence outside abortion facilities where the lives of the unborn are at risk. The call to participate in 40 Days for Life is a call to sacrifice. It's a call that people of faith are taking very seriously. We can't wait to see what is in store for America this fall!"