About the Freedom Fast
A sacred pause. A national act. A shared beginning.
The Freedom Fast is a
one-day
nationwide
invitation
to fast, reflect, and reconnect — with each other, with our communities, and with our shared civic and moral values.
Rooted
in faith traditions
and civic practice
it offers people from all walks of life a space to pause and ask: What does freedom ask of us now?
Our Mission
To bring together people of all faiths and political traditions in 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, to seek guidance, practice humility, and foster healing through prayer, fasting, and local action.
Rooted in History
For centuries, American leaders have declared national fasts in times of crisis or conflict:
The Continental Congress called for fasts in 1774 and 1775
Abraham Lincoln used fasts to unify a nation on the brink of collapse
Faith leaders across traditions have long used fasting to humble hearts and prepare people for transformation
The Freedom Fast is a continuation of that tradition — and a reinvention of it for our time.
How This Began
This project was born from a question:
Could we reintroduce the ancient practice of fasting into the modern American soul—not just as a spiritual exercise, but as a civic one?
Inspired by Isaiah 58 and America’s own tradition of national fasts, Jim Copple and a growing team of partners began building a movement that invites everyone—regardless of background, belief, or party—to participate in a shared moment of reflection and commitment.
We have no right to ask God to do our duty.
~ 19th-century preacher during a national fast
