Blackout

What to stay silent from?

Blackout is all about staying silent. It’s about choosing to limit our freedom, and giving up the stuff we love so that we can stand alongside our brothers and sisters in the persecuted church.

We don’t want this to be easy – it should cost, and the thing(s) we give up for a few days should give us time to refocus our prayers and thoughts. Plus, people are sponsoring you, so there needs to be some element of challenge in it!

So, here’s some ideas of things to give up for the duration of your Blackout. You can use some or all of them – your choice!

1. Get unsocial

Stay away from all social networks. So that’s keeping silent on Twitter, FB, YT, Instagram, Bebo, MySPace or Ask FM. If you do this, make sure you download one of our Blackout profile pics so that others know why you’ve gone dark for a few days.

2. Shy away from the screen

Ban the internet, TV, smartphone, xbox, Wii, Playstation or anything else you use that has a screen (a car windscreen is ok if you need to travel about the place).

3. Limit your palate

Go old school and do a proper fast – from food. Only eat some bare essentials, and stick with water as a drink. If you go down this route, you can (and should) eat something, but limit it to really basic things – a bowl of rice or noodles or a roll of bread. Each time you feel hungry, see it as a reminder to pray.

4. Be a slouch…

Is sport your thing? Well sit out for the weekend and slouch it up! Instead of running about and working up a sweat, sit down and get intense with your prayer life.

5. Still stuck?

Can’t work out what to do? Just ask yourself what you love doing most. Hanging out with mates, watching movies, listening to music? Choose the thing you love the most and get sponsored to go without it for a few days

Don’t forget to download the Blackout Guide (where these ideas are from) to get a whole bunch of other stuff to help you organise and run an event…