Two ancient spiritual tools combined into one new digital project.
It's Global Fast 2007, and it's encouraging people to fast and give alms. The goal: to change the world by getting 10,000,000 people to give up their food for one day and donate the money saved to charity.
It's an audacious goal, but Global Fast Founder Rich Halvorson thinks it's possible. "I'm the first to admit that it's going to be hard," says Halvorson, "but from the beginning, this was a miracle-oriented project. It depends on God. And it depends on people being empowered by this vision for change, and doing their part to make it a reality."
Calling the project "GF07," Global Fast has targeted February 21, 2007 — Ash Wednesday — as the fast day. "The beginning of Lent," says Halverson, "is the ideal time to bring together fasting, prayer and charity into one coordinated effort. Tens of millions of people fast and go to church every Ash Wednesday — we're hoping to gear all that spiritual energy into one day of charity and real change."
How it Works
Global Fast is a new movement that works with established charities. Its goal is not to amass donations, but rather to act as a conduit. When people agree to fast for a day and pledge that day's food money, their gifts are given directly to charities targeted by Global Fast.
"Our goal with the charities is to get as much as possible to the areas of greatest need," says Trisha Amadura, who serves as Partners Coordinator for Global Fast. "For 2007, that means 100% efficiency — because we don't even touch the donations. They go straight to our charity partners, who are committed to match what our fasters donate."
"In a way," Halvorson says, "we're a charity research organization. We engage in extensive research to find out what faith-based charities are efficient, meaningful, and most worthy of donations."
The first Global Fast project announced is with Food for the Poor, and Global Fast's primary goal is to move thousands of people off a trash dump in Haiti – and into livable housing with clean water and sustainable food.
"Haiti is one of the three poorest countries the world," says Halvorson. "I've seen it myself. There are 10,000 families literally living on a trash dump."
That's where Food for the Poor comes in. Ninety-six percent of all money raised at Food for the Poor goes to relief efforts, and they've agreed to use all money raised by Global Fast to create a sustainable village with wells, a community center, schools, and job training. The cost averages $4,000 per family, and Food for the Poor has pledged to match all money raised during GF07 for this specific relief effort.
To give fasters a choice in their giving, Food for the Poor isn't the only charity that will reap the benefits of Global Fast 2007. A quick peek at their website reveals 15 other charities that are under consideration: World Emergency Relief, HOPE, Feed the Children, and others. Global Fast also welcomes charity recommendations.
"The charities have been so responsive and enthusiastic," says Amadura. "In mid-January, we will announce our top ‘Priority Projects' with about five charities." Global Fast asks each charity to agree to find matching dollars for every pledge dollar that GF07 fasters give.
When Does the Money Flow?
Perhaps the most interesting thing about GF07's effort is the pledge system. Right now, it's asking for pledges, not actual money. When Ash Wednesday gets closer, it will remind people via email to start sending their money to the respective charities. They will provide ample instructions and links to make donating easy, but Global Fast doesn't want participants to send the money until the Lenten season.
"This isn't only about charity," says Halvorson, "The real key to change is fasting and prayer. What is the power of millions of us praying together to fight poverty and injustice? Some nations desperately need our charity, but the whole world needs spiritual renewal. Fasting is a spiritual change-agent for personal growth and national — or even global — change."
Catching the Vision
GF07 is a grass-roots movement. To date, Global Fast has not sought big donations and has even declined overtures from potential big donors who have heard about the project.
"This is about empowering individuals to change the world together," says Halvorson, "We want five hundred $20 donations, not one $10,000 donation. We want families and schools, churches and communities to catch the vision, not one big foundation to pay the freight for everyone else."
GF07 needs a lot of local support. It will look under every rock and in every home to find 10,000,000 American fasters. To spread by word of mouth, the effort needs local leaders of all ages:
? Teenagers can take pledge sign-up sheets (available at the GF07 website) to school.
? Adults can provide sign-up opportunities before and after church.
? Workers can take sign-up sheets to their places of employment.
? Priests and ministers can preach Global Fast from the pulpit.
? Bloggers can urge readers to join the fast.
"Any number that ends in ‘million' is humbling for a grassroots movement," says Halvorson, "But we believe that most people truly want to make an impact. If we all commit our food and prayers for one day, we can save thousands or tens of thousands around the globe."
"In the future, we hope the number of fasters worldwide increases to 50,000,000. That would be a great day in the battle against our world's spiritual and material poverty."
If you want to help, check out the GF07 website and click on the "Get Involved" link.
