DAN WOODING, of ASSIST News Service, reports on a “pay it forward” initiative to share God’s love in a Florida community – a model which the creators hope will be emulated elsewhere in the US and around the world…
Everyone in America knows our communities need more love, kindness and generosity. But until now, no city had ever launched a #PayItForward movement for an entire community over 40 days.
cChurch and Christian leaders in Titusville, along Florida’s space coast, wanted to be the first community in the country to build and launch a prototype model of what it would take for an entire community to experience #40DaysofGenerosity.
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#40DaysofGenerosity website provides a range of free resources for you to start a PayitForward movement in your own family, church, school, or community.
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The Church is One, a ministerial weekly prayer group, invited Brian Kluth, a leading generosity author and speaker, to help their city plan and launch LovingNorthBrevard – #40DaysofGenerosity.
“Over a number of months, several hundred church, community, civic, school, government, media, and business leaders attended free VIP Vision-Sharing Events,” explained Kluth. “These events helped each leader/group know how they could easily help launch the #40DaysofGenerosity event and #PayItForward experience through their constituency.”
To kick off the event, 50,000 free #PayItForward cards were printed. Two slightly different versions were created – ‘community cards’ for public school, government, business, and civic groups. ‘Christians cards’ were made for churches, ministries, and private schools. The goal of these cards was to unleash tens of thousands random acts of kindness over 40 days. Brian Kluth’s 40 Day Generous Life devotional and #LoveInAction Ideas flyer were also made available for free.
At the launch event attended by over 500 people, the mayor made an official #40DaysofGenerosity proclamation.
“Public schools are using the cards in the classroom and also sent home over 10,000 Community PayItForward cards for students and parents to use in their neighborhood,” stated Kluth. “Churches are giving out thousands of the Christian version (of) PayItForward cards that include a link to a video about God’s love. One man gave out 1,000 slices of banana bread and 1,000 cards at the offices of the mayor, police chief, school superintendent, and chamber of commerce.”
“Many businesses are doing unexpected nice things for their customers and giving out cards. As random acts of kindness are done and thousands of PayItForward Cards are used and given out, it is causing a chain reaction that is leading to tens of thousands of acts of kindness spreading across the community and beyond.”
“The McDonald’s manager said they are running out of gift cards because people are buying them to give away with PayItForward cards. Complete strangers have paid for people’s groceries or gas. Drive-thru restaurants and coffee shops have reported hundreds of people paying for the person behind them. Restaurant servers have tearfully shared stories of receiving big tips (50 per cent, 100 per cent or larger!) and of patrons paying for the bill of people they don’t even know. One person said this is helping thousands experience ‘God’s love from above.’”
Beyond small acts of kindness, ‘appreciation lunches’ for police officers and firemen are taking place. A single mom organized a free block party in a crime infested neighborhood. People helped a disabled man to replace his broken wheelchair. Kiwanis, Rotary, and others are raising $US200,000 for the city’s first splash park.
The Church Is One leaders and a group of prayer intercessors are hoping this will spread to other communities because “what gets built and launched on Titusville’s Space Coast, goes around the world and out of this world!”
The #40DaysofGenerosity website allows anyone to get free materials and #PayItForward cards for use in their family, church, school, or community.
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