Douglas, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Sioux Falls, was alone at the vigil on Day 1 when a car pulled up ... and a woman walked over.

"Seeing my pro-life sign," he said, "she asked if it was okay for her to pray also."

The woman said she had five children and her husband was pro-life. "She'd never heard of 40 Days for Life, but she'd passed the Planned Parenthood facility many times, and always felt compelled to pray."

Douglas told her that this was a good day for her very first time of sidewalk prayer, since it was also the first hour of the first day of the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil ... and now she was the first volunteer.

"She then knelt down in the snow and prayed for about 15 minutes," he said. "What a joyous encounter!"

David Brandao, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

With 40 Days for Life, David wears many hats. Prior to joining the 40 Days for Life team, he was an award-winning radio and TV journalist. He has also served as a board member for a pregnancy help center and as publications director for a major national pro-life organization.