Spring Newsletter

History & Future    Prior to founding ECCFL in 2011 Ernie and Mary Beth Cyr brought 40 Days for Life campaigns to Pensacola. In 2014 Ernie added Sidewalk Advocates for Life training to its mission. I was trained early on and became a trainer myself shortly after joining the Board of Directors in April 2015. In 2016 Ernie and I co-founded the Emerald Coast Walk for Life; our first event was in January 2017. I eventually became the sole coordinator of the Walk and Vice Chair of ECCFL. In December 2020 Ernie surprised me with his intention to resign, nominated me for Executive Director and expressed his confidence in my ability to lead ECCFL forward. We wish Ernie well as Vice President of Majella House, a maternity home for homeless women he and Mary Beth are working to establish. 
January 2021 – Pensacola’s covid restrictions forced the 5^th annual Emerald Coast Walk for Life to go virtual (with only eight days to the event). Ryan Bomberger consulted us before creating his video, tailoring it to our focus. Dr. Lile (ProLifeDoc) and Patti Smith (Silent No More) were in a loaned studio. Thanks to Bibi Reed (Communications Director) and Chez Fillipini for putting together an event watched by thousands. If you haven’t seen it go to our beautiful new website. You can also purchase a t-shirt to witness for life year round or donate to help us continue our three missions. 

With a fantastic team (always multitasking), innovative ideas, enthusiastic volunteers and God’s guidance, we work our current events, plan for the future and strive to increase our mission and outreach. Pray for us and may God bless you all. 

Exec. Dir. &  Board Chair, Jane Witzman

It’s hard to believe our 40 Days for Life Pensacola Spring campaign is nearly over!  What a crazy ride it’s been!  It’s always difficult to take over a leadership position, particularly when you’re asked to replace a legend! No one will replace Ernie Cyr; he and Mary Beth have been the heart and soul of our 40 DFL campaigns since they started in 2007.  He was my mentor when Jan and I became involved in 2017.  When I was asked by the ECCFL Board to take on the coordinator position for this Spring campaign I was surprised and intimidated. And it was only 4 weeks until the campaign would begin.  After two days of prayerful discernment as a couple, Jan and I – contemplating the loss of the Pensacola campaign’s bright legacy, and the babies being killed at the old warehouse on Village Oaks Drive, agreed.

Thankfully the ECCFL Board,  particularly Aine’and Bibi, agreed to help spearhead a Campaign Kickoff.  Although a challenge for all concerned, their hard work, the good graces of West Florida Baptist Church, wonderful speakers, and the Holy Spirit resulted in what I have been told, was the best 40 DFL Campaign Kickoff to this point.  Having attended the past few, I will say that it was the best I have attended. Thank you Bibi and Aine’!

Seeking counsel from my 40 DFL mentor for the scheduling challenge, I reached out to Ernie. He was kind enough to recommend which churches he saw as the strongest as a starting point.    While some on the list were great, others were difficult to schedule.  There are many reasons. Certainly the COVID climate, the Pensacola City Commission’s mask mandate; the new political climate, which makes us in the pro-life arena feel as if we have a target on our chest, and the fear being generated in the local Pro-Life community by the current abortion satanists hounding our vigil on ever expanding days of the week. Whatever the reasons, the challenge of scheduling 40 Days of Prayer, Fasting, and Peaceful Vigil has been tough.

Nonetheless, there have been strong positives in our campaign to this point.  The most significant, of course, is the confirmed turnaround by our ECCFL sidewalk counselors on Thursday March 4^th when a young couple from Mississippi changed their minds thanks to prayers, literature, information, and God Almighty!  We have also had a very strong campaign for individual vigil volunteers.  This has been strengthened by our ECCFL group texts updating members on days and hours when they can be most helpful.  This is particularly useful to those who live nearby and/or have flexible schedules.  One of our long-time local vigil volunteers told the ECCFL this was the best campaign turnout he has seen.  Congratulations and THANK YOU to all who have come out to ‘Pray for the End of Abortion’ in Pensacola – and to the ECCFL Board who initiated these ‘calls to action’.

I have been so Blessed to meet and get to know so many of you at the Campaign Kickoff, at the vigil site, on the phone, and via email. 

For Life, Jim Eastman  40 Days for Life Spring Campaign Coordinator
 

Sidewalk Advocates for Life seems to get a breath of fresh air in the spring. Whether it’s the enthusiasm the Walk for Life brings to the Emerald Coast or the Spring 40 Days for Life Campaign, I’ve noticed each year we have the most new advocates and interest during these early months. Our first training of 2021 March 20th was quickly filled. A group from Orange Beach, Alabama, participating in our 40 Days for Life, requested training so they could better minister to men and women in crisis. Praise God for so many people willing to become advocates! Please keep them in your prayers. I pray God will bless their servants' hearts and they will be blessed by this ministry.

           New initiatives on the Sidewalk! We’ve already seen the fruitfulness of the Blessing Bags!  We brainstormed as a team about effective signs. West Florida Baptist Church generously offered to raise funds for the cost; may God Bless them for their efforts to promote the sanctity of all human life! The first 2 signs focus on Abortion Pill Reversal hotline information and abortion pill side effects; approximately 75% of the women entering the clinic are taking the abortion pill. Another is a sign promoting our Text “Talk” to 474747 hotline. They can text to see what help is available.

Thank you so much for all you do for Life! I believe the Emerald Coast is the most Pro-Life area in the country; all of you prove me right on a daily basis! Keep up God’s work for these precious mothers and fathers in need. When we change hearts and minds, we save lives!!  

SAFL Director, Aine’ Canning

       40 Days for Life, an international pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion through prayerful campaigns, holds prayer vigils halfway through each campaign. Pro-life advocates sing religious songs and peacefully pray in front of abortion clinics throughout the country. Locally there were two prayer vigils at the American Family Planning  Abortion Clinic in Pensacola, the only abortion clinic along the Gulf Coast. The vigils on March 9 and 11 were both disrupted by what could best be described as demonic responses. The responses were so vile that some questioned, should pro-lifers continue to meet and pray at the American Family Planning abortion clinic in the future?

      The campaign had been uneventful until the halfway point when the abortion clinic encouraged individuals to disrupt prayer vigils. The pro-lifers encountered protesters dressed as witches, satanic priests, provocative dancers and one as Satan. They held signs that said “Pedophiles for Jesus,” “Pedophiles in Training,” Abortion is Healthcare” and the like. Others banged drums, wafted foul incense toward pro-lifers, yelled obscenities and blasphemy, yelled into voice changers and mockingly laughed. One ‘witch’ set up an altar with candles and incense and what appeared to be a picture of Mary with the Christ child. 

     Before we left the abortion advocates yelled “Abort Everyone.” Ironically, in the distance  a sign could be seen that seemed to be the complete opposite of the behavior of these protesters. It read “In this House We Believe / Black Lives Matter / Women’s Rights are Human Rights / No Human Being is Illegal / Science is Real / Love is Love / Kindness is Everything.”

      While the advocates left, surprised by the new and violent display of opposition, they were neither shocked nor discouraged. Those who are involved in 40 Days for Life know that the fight against abortion is a spiritual battle between good and evil. They are prepared to meet it peacefully and prayerfully. The answer to the question, Should pro-lifers continue to meet and pray at the American Family Planning abortion clinic in the future? is a resounding Yes!

Written by 3 teenagers who participated in the vigils, including Kaitlyn C. and Grace J.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little."