Anti-abortion rights activists gathered outside a Madison Planned Parenthood Wednesday evening to mark the beginning of a 40-day vigil to pray for women entering the clinic.

The 40 Days for Life campaign began three years ago in Texas, and this year, more than 90 groups will be participating in the 40 days of prayer and fasting throughout the nation.

The Madison event took place in front of Planned Parenthood at 3706 Orin Rd. The program stresses peace and the power of prayer and God.

"We just hope that more clinics end up closing down through the power of prayer," said Steve Marshall, a participant in the vigil.

The opinions expressed by Marshall were echoed by many of the other people in attendance. Although those praying during the event do not intend to speak directly with people entering the clinic, they do hope their presence will be felt.

One of the speakers at the event, Tom Lang, discussed the effects he thinks the groups' presence will have at this clinic.

"When we hear the statistic of 60 to 80 percent of women being coerced to have an abortion, these 40 days here will have a profound effect on women who are having second thoughts," Lang said.

Lang and many of the other people present at the vigil hope to inform people about the options besides abortion. Group supporters also wish for legal action against abortion, but they are currently focused more on changing people's personal feelings about it.

"We all pray for legal change, but it also has to be a conversion of hearts," Lang said during an opening ceremony.

The presence of religious leaders was strongly felt at the kickoff for the campaign. Multiple religions had representation at the event and two of those leaders spoke during the opening prayer ceremony.

One of them, Pastor Dave Konkol, expressed his opinions on abortion and his views on the importance of prayer. Konkol also offered a message to unborn children who may be aborted.

"We cry out tonight for the innocent, unborn children who are unwanted, and we say to them that you are wanted," Konkol said.

The organizer for the event, Amy Hying, said she has always felt strongly about abortion. Hying, like the many other people in attendance, believes that God has given them this event to begin the process of changing people's minds about abortion.

Abortion, Hying said, is actually killing two people: the unborn child and the mother, who dies spiritually.

"So many women have had abortions and are in pain," Hying said after the opening proceedings.

However, according to Lisa Boyce, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood, the campaign's outreach efforts are counterproductive.

"If they were really interested in reducing the incidences of abortion, they would instead put their efforts towards enhancing women's reliability on clinics to prevent unintended pregnancies," Boyce said.

Boyce added the campaign has never deterred people from entering the clinic in the past.

"It only delays women from seeking out treatment and puts her health at risk," Boyce said. "It puts off exams that could potentially reveal cervical cancer or a sexually transmitted disease that could then be passed on if not caught right away."