Join us in fasting to impact the world!
World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. (From worldvision.ca)
World Vision hosts the 30 Hour Famine to help youths understand that we live in a world where hunger exists. People all over the world go hungry every day. What does not eating do? The Famine is a 30-hour experience where we fast to:
- Help us empathize to the hunger all over the world by experiencing our own deeper hunger
- Raise funds to help World Vision provide education and clean water to people all over the world
- Build awareness for yourself and your friends about the needs and how you can help meet them (Matthew 25:35 - For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink)
- Connect our physical hunger to our spiritual hunger (Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”)
- Here's a short video on the Famine.
How can you participate?
- You must be 13 or over to participate in the fast!
- Fill out the TWO waiver forms linked on this page (World Vision & Emmaus) and email it to pastormgaw@gmail.com.
- Sign up on the Emmaus google form
- Join our World Vision Team - https://www.teamworldvision.ca/team/5348
How does the 30 Hour Famine work? How do we do it?
- Our fast starts early March 15, Friday, at 1am (Thursday night) and we break our fast Saturday 7am making a total of 30 hours.
- On Friday, we come to the church at 7pm for our large group 30 Hour Famine event where we'll talk about the Famine, have games and pray together.
- At 9pm, those who aren't participating in the Famine will get to go home. The rest of us we'll be staying / sleeping at the church until 7am which when we'll break our fast with foods! We will have more sharing, prayer, plus games and fun all night.
- If you are not fasting, you cannot join the all-nighter. This is a time of fun and games, and prayer and empathizing with worldwide hunger. We want to have the mindset that we are participating in something world changing, not entertaining.
How do we fundraise? Join the Emmaus Team and make an account and send out this link (https://www.teamworldvision.ca/team/5348) where friends can support us support World Vision support people all over earth who need help! We have made the goal of raising $1000 for Emmaus! I hope you and your family and friends can donate to this cause.
- Here's how it works to participate in our Famine team. Go to this link: https://www.teamworldvision.ca/team/5348
- There is a fat button that says "Join our team". Hit that and put in your info.
- You can send the same link to friends who want to contribute some moneys. But instead of hitting "Join our team" they would press, "Support us" and it will take you to a donation page.
Timeline of the night - There was great confusion about how the night will go.
- On Thursday night, you'll all be in your homes, eating or not eating, whatever way you think is best for you to prepare.
- You'll likely go to bed at your own home, maybe 9 or 10pm like a normal person, and our 30 hours of fasting starts at 1am.
- You'll wake up at your own home Friday morning and NOT eat breakfast. You will go to school, and see all your friends have snackies and food at recess and lunch. Drink some water.
- You'll go home and NOT have another snack. This will be about your 3rd meal that you miss. Drink some water.
- You'll be at home and NOT have dinner. Drink some water.
- At 7pm, you'll come to church with your waiver forms if you haven't sent them to me! Drink some water. We'll be doing a ton of activity and action at the church until 9pm.
- 9pm, those who aren't doing the famine will go home and rest in peace. Some of you will possibly do the fast and also not be able/allowed to stay with us. Bless your heart. Drink some water.
- We will pray and party all night. Some will be sleeping, some will be playing. Drink some water.
- 6:30am, the breakfast team will start preparing our food. Drink some water.
- 7:00am, our fast ends and we eat together. If you're fasting with us but can't stay overnight and want to join us at that time, please show up then! (tell me though so i know you need fooood)
- 8:00am, all parents will take their teens home.
- 8:01am, everyone sleeps more. Drink some water.
What will we do for the all-nighter?
- Spiritual component - We'll be doing worship music, prayer, scripture, letter writing for Mublueso and ways to impact the world.
- Fun component - Organized group games like sardines, foosball, jenga, board games, dutch blitz.
- Fellowship component - Our Friday schedules are often too packed to have good talks. Take this opportunity to sit down with someone and talk with them at a deeper level.
- We will minimize how much you're on the phone as we want people to interact and have fun together.
What do we bring for the all-nighter?
- Comfortable clothes like pjs and slippers to wear all night.
- Sleeping bag, pillow, maybe a camping mat as the floor is hard.
- Toiletries, toilet, toothbrushes, towel and cleaning items if you need them.
- Board games and fun things.
- If you have a Switch, ask Pastor Matt if you are allowed as we don't need too many devices. We want you to be playing games TOGETHER instead of isolated single player games. I have a few couch coop PC games I want to try as well.
- Water bottle and juices!
- Flashlight.
How to fast and not eat
- #1 - Don't eat! Don't eat solid foods or even liquified versions of it (smoothies, yogurt, liquid meal supplements like protein shakes)
- DO drink fluids often like water and juices.
- Don't chew gum or eat ice cubes. They make you more hungry instead of curbing your appetite.
- Don't drink sugary drinks like Gatorates, pop, caffeine or energy drinks on an empty stomach. It's not good for you even if you weren't fasting.
- If you're getting light headed or have a headache, eat something light like toast and yogurt, wait for 15 minutes and eat some more. Make good choices.
- Recognize that when we're hungry, we should also be hungry for the Lord. When you have hunger pains, pray for people in our city that are hungry, pray for people in the world who don't have access to food, pray for organizations to be able to meet those needs and pray that God will use you to be his hands and mouth to people who have needs.
Will I suffer through this 30 Hour Famine?
- Likely, yes, and that is the point! Our goal is to empathize with other people’s struggle, not to suffer and pass out. You will taste the hardship of hunger like others in the world but we can end our suffering by going to our fridge.
- When we feel the pain of hunger, our response should be empathy and compassion that moves us to action, not complaining. Our suffering will be short and purposeful. We are suffering to bring awareness to people who live this every day. If you hate suffering, our hope is that drives you to hate other people’s suffering even more which drives you to action.
Will I die or get sick or lose weight if I don’t eat for 30 hours?
- This short of a fast will have no long-term effects. You won’t lose weight. We can survive up to 3 months without solid food. Drink water & juice and stay hydrated. Returning to a regular diet after will bring you back to a normal state.
- Some can get light headed or headaches. If you do, eat something light (bread or yogurt) and more later. Our intent is to understand world starvation. Regain your sugar levels, don't eat too much, and maybe try to continue fasting with us.
Please join us in the Famine to bring more awareness of suffering in our world and help raise funds to help World Vision bring the Bread of Life to the nations!