Prayer, Providence, and Human Events

By Dr. Jeff Mirus ( bio - articles - email ) | Nov 11, 2009

The Community Healthcare Center was one of two abortion clinics operating in Pensacola, Florida until it closed on October 30th. It seems that the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration inspected the business earlier in October and found it had been operating without a license for over a year. The Center was given the choice of closing or paying $413,000 in fines. Later, it was offered a reduced fine, so it seems negotiation was possible. But it closed.

Does this explain why it closed, or why it closed exactly at that time, when it had already been without the required license for 413 days? We don’t fully understand the relationship between prayer, Providence and human events, but it is at least noteworthy that this clinic had been the site of three 40 Days for Life campaigns, and in fact the closure took effect on the final weekend of the third campaign. Three in honor of the Trinity? It is also worth noting that, so far, five clinics have closed after being the sites of 40 Days for Life campaigns.

In addition, the director of Planned Parenthood’s facility in Bryan, Texas, Abby Johnson, had a change of heart concerning abortion during the 40 Days for Life campaign at her facility. She quit her job, which she had held for eight years. Johnson later revealed that Planned Parenthood puts pressure on its clinics to meet assigned quotas for abortion, deliberately seeking women and performing as many as possible.

The 40 Days for Life effort features forty days of witness and prayer at each abortuary. The story is intriguing and inspiring. It’s worth thinking about the links between prayer, Providence, and specific worldly events. Learn more about this particular work of mercy at 40daysforlife.com.