Daniel Plan
Breaking bread is often a way for churches to stay connected. In some cases, foods can also strengthen ties to their faith.
This is especially true for some members of Community Life Church, whose New Year activities included participating in the Daniel Fast, a partial fast based on the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. More recently, a few are continuing their efforts with the Daniel Plan, an adaptation of the fast meant to be followed for 52 weeks.
“The Daniel Fast was something we did for the first three weeks of January,” said Pastor Mamie Ogle, who co-pastors the church with her husband Steve.
The non-denominational group meets at the McQuistion Elementary School, and Ogle estimated 40 adults out of about 100 participated in the fast, which eliminated foods like meat, sweeteners, dairy products, processed foods, solid fats and leavened bread.
Acceptable foods included whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, legumes, soy products and some oils.
“We were all trying new recipes and bringing things in,” Ogle said. “Even people that staunchly said ‘I will not eat tofu' ... they were trying the dips and were surprised. It was a real learning experience for a lot of people on just eating well.”
The concept stems from the prophet Daniel, who along with three friends was deported to Babylon when the Babylonians conquered Judah.While training to serve on the royal court there, Daniel and his friends asked to be exempt from dietary practices that included drinking wine and eating meat — which didn't comply with the Mosaic Law.The official in charge feared Daniel and his friends would offend the king by refusing his provisions, then weaken from ingesting only vegetables and water. But after 10 days, the group was stronger than those who had eaten the royal fare.Ogle said she, too, felt better after the fast and continues to feel better while following the Daniel Plan.“If you eat your doughnut in the morning and your sugar spikes — and all of a sudden you're down,” Ogle said. “It's the whole grains that kind of keep the metabolism going steady.”“We (also) gave up coffee,” Ogle added. “I said to my husband about the third week in, ‘I don't feel like I've been yawning at all during the day.'“Part of that clarity is believing my mind is more alert to the spirit of God. All the way around you just feel a little more alive. ... Several people in the church said we ought to do this again in the summer or fall.”“One of the greatest things is to hear people in our congregation say ‘I want to eat better and feel better,'” Ogle said.“As pastors we felt it was just another benefit for people: that taking care of their physical bodies was an aspect of spirituality, too.”Tammy Tack, 37, of Butler is among congregants who participated in the fast.“The reason I do it is basically to become closer to my lord and savior,” she said. “To fast you have to rely on God to do it. It's not like a diet where it's will power: It's God power.”Like the Ogles, Tack is continuing on with the 52-week Daniel Plan, which allows items like chicken, fish and eggs.“It's not as hard as I thought it would be — but then again I'm only at the third week,” Tack noted. “I made my kids pizza and I wouldn't eat any of it (because) I only eat sprouted bread.”According to Ogle, many churches participate in the Daniel Fast as a way to begin the new year. This was New Life's first year for the fast, but the Ogles previously had done the fast on their own. They decided to continue with the Daniel Plan when they learned of it early this year.The plan was introduced by Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church, a California megachurch where The Purpose Driven Church curriculum and Celebrate Recovery program were founded.The Daniel Plan was developed with help from Dr. Daniel Amen, bestselling author and psychiatrist; Dr. Mark Hyman, a metabolism expert; and Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiac surgeon and television host.Having posted information in the church bulletin, Ogle said she is unsure how many have decided to follow the plan.But even if the number is small, Ogle said discussion groups are plentiful online, where various other information is posted.With or without group support, Tack said the plan is worth the effort.“Not only do you feel better physically, but you feel better emotionally. My brain works better now,” she said.“I'm in a better mood. I feel better overall.”
