Paying It Forward

The film, Pay It Forward, which was a hit in 2000, has continued to inspire people of all ages. The story revolves around a challenge given by a teacher to a young boy to take a small gift and see what he can do to multiply it in the service of others, much like the parable of the talents. The idea of using something for the sake of others touches the core of our beings and brings a happiness that the money itself cannot buy.
Yesterday, Bridget Shaheen, Director of Lazarus House Ministries, offered such a challenge to Central students. She told a recent Pay It Forward story at Brooks Academy, where a student took Bridget's offer of $50.00 and returned five weeks later with $1,167.00 raised by events financed by the original seed money. From these earnings Bridget is giving money to other schools, and gave our students $100.00 and five weeks to see what they can do. Her goal is to raise $100,000 in time, believing that the Pay It Forward concept will work to that huge extent. It is a bold and daring move, but with faith and trust in the goodness that is in all of us, she believes it will work. We all know the good that Lazarus House does, so it stands to reason that this drive will succeed. How blessed we are to have such an act of faith at work in our community...especially during Lent!
Bro. Rene