I'm fasting for 30 hours!

SirThom

SirThom

New Member
Yes, you read that right -- next wednesday, I will be fasting for 30 hours, in order to starve hunger in needy countries like Africa. I won't be doing it alone, however. Over 50 kids from my youth group and tens of thousands of students around the country will also be raising money for needy kids in other countries. The 30 Hour Famine, organized by World Vision, has raised over $100,000,000 in the past 15 years they have held the Famine with the help of students. This year, their goal is to raise $15,000,000 nationwide. Purdy darn amazing, if you ask me.

And now for the sob story:

Every time you take a breath, one child dies of hunger or another preventable ailment. But $1 can support that child for the entire day -- that's about the price of a bottle of pop at school lunch, right? What if you give up a bottle of Coke one day a week for the rest of the year? That's about $30. $30 can support one child for a full month.

In 2006, over ten million children died due to poverty in Africa.

But not all hope has lost. Since World Vision started organizing the Famine, the number of preventable deaths in Africa per day has gone down from 40,000 to 29,000. 29,000 is still a lot, but contributions from students have clearly assisted in that decline.

End sob story.

So what can you do?

You have two options, and you should be able to do either of them:

1. Pray for the 30 Hour Famine, that we could help take a dent out of world hunger -- and that our community outreach events at our church will touch people's lives.
2. Make a charitable, tax-deductable donation to World Vision and the 30 Hour Famine. My personal goal is to raise $150 -- that feeds five children for a whole month -- and your help is needed. Whether it's $2 or $20, your donation makes a difference. Your donation is safe with me -- I'll only be holding it approximately one week before I send it off to my youth group leader. Financial donations need to be completed on or before April 10th, 2007.

Thank you in advance for your support.
 
It's great to fast for such a good cause, fasting can also be a great way to grow in your relationship with God. Good luck 30 hrs isn't an easy fast!
 
I did it for this reason back in the 90's for church... I actually thought it wasn't that bad... once you got past the first hunger craving... too bad in the back of you head you know you are going to eat the real ones don't get that feeling.
 
Yep - 30 hour famine, my church has done it for ever since I remember. Last year we raised over $5,000 from just 24 people. Excellent program to raise awareness and raise money.
 
Congrats and good luck. Make sure you understand the difference between this fast and a biblical fast though. Fasting in this sense will give you a small idea of what those who are starving go through everyday, although one could even argue that it's different because you have the the ability to eat.

Christian fasting is done generally as a way of drawing closer to God. I don't recall any place in scripture where it was done as a fund raiser. In fact, Jesus warned against fasting in order to appeal to men. He commanded that Christian fasting be done in secret.

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:16-18).

I'm not knocking the 30 hour famine because I don't see any difference in that and Jump Rope for Heart, candy fundraisers, rock-a-thons, etc. It's a great way to raise money for a cause! Best wishes!!! :)
 
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