A traditional business lunch might typically involve some catered sandwiches and lukewarm coffee, but for employees in the Christian Reformed Church’s office in Burlington, Ontario today’s lunch was anything but typical. After fasting together for 24 hours, the staff members met together today for a potluck meal that celebrates God’s good gift of food.
“World Renew has an annual church campaign that highlights global hunger,” explained Maria Oliveira, one of the organizers of the event. “This year’s World Hunger theme is: Think, Act, Fast. We thought it would be great for staff to join churches in the campaign by fasting together.”
The fast began on Monday evening at 7:00. Staff members were asked to refrain from eating anything from that time until 7:00 the following evening, but to continue consuming liquids such as water and juice to keep people hydrated.
“I have never done a fast before, at least not for 24 hours, so it was good to be encouraged to do it,” said Rose Dekker, one of the fast participants. “It was a good exercise for me to take part in.”
“I participated to challenge myself to intentionally fast and also intentionally use the opportunity for some personal devotional time,” added another participant, Rachel VandenBurg.
As people adjusted to the hunger pangs in their stomachs and their food cravings on Tuesday, they were encouraged to turn inward and seek spiritual nourishment from God. To assist them in this, the fast organizers provided all CRCNA employees in Burlington with devotional and worship opportunities throughout the 24-hour period regardless of their participation in the fast.
This included a ½ hour worship time with lessons on the Biblical basis for fasting. It also included hourly reflections sent via e-mail that asked people to read scripture and reflect on short passages from Henri Nouwen’s book “Bread for the Journey.”
The meditations encouraged participants to reconnect with God in a very intimate way; consider the ways that they might be physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually in poverty; and ask God to reveal how they could best respond to poverty around them.
“The hourly lessons helped me get through the day by turning my focus to what God was saying and away from what my body was saying,” confessed fast participant Jan Disselkoen.
VandenBurg, who wasn’t working in the office on the day of the fast, used the e-mail materials at home. “I was able, amongst my housework and errand running, to feel like I was being part of an experience that will stick in my head and remind me of poverty and global hunger,” she said.
After breaking their fasts at home at 7:00 last night, the CRCNA employees were encouraged to bring potluck dishes to the office today that reflected an “international” theme. Chicken biryani, hummus with pita bread, Tabouleh salada, Indian-spiced potato salad, and apple sauce were just a few of the offerings.
“The fast was good at reminding us that we get our strength from God not from food," said Oliveira. “The potluck was good at reminding us that food is a good gift from God and that we have been richly blessed.”
Participants left the experience re-energized for responding to the needs of the hungry around the world. They also found a new appreciation for the spiritual discipline of fasting.
“I’m adding fasting to my devotional life,” said VandenBurg.
“This has inspired me to bring a proposal to my church’s Worship Ministry team about a possible congregation-wide fast during Lent,” added Amanda Bakale, a World Renew staff member.
For more information about World Renew’s “Think. Act. Fast” World Hunger Campaign, please visit worldrenew.net/worldhunger.
