A Texas church paid it forward over the weekend by gifting parishioners envelopes containing various amounts of money in hopes they would be inspired to spread kindness out in the world.
The congregation at Preston Meadow Lutheran Church in Plano were stunned when Pastor Paul Mussachio passed the envelopes, which contained blank checks totaling $125,000, around during Sunday’s service, according to Fox News.
“In the envelope was either $250, $500, or $1,000, but I didn't tell them that until they sat back down,” the pastor said, Fox4News.com reported. “I didn't tell them that because I wanted to create that anticipation and really let this hit home with them of just how big of a deal this was going to be.”
In a video, Mussachio explains that he wanted the churchgoers to use the money to help spread the value of “joyful generosity,” CNS News noted.
“We gave them no direction over it, other than to follow the lead of God and to participate in Christ’s mission of grace for this world,” he said.
The envelopes were handed out on the condition that the checks be cashed within 30 days, that the money be used where most needed, and that churchgoers do not give it back to their church.
“The instructions are pretty simple,” Mussachio told the congregation. “Whatever the greatest need is in your life right now, whatever God is placing on your heart, give to that.”
The large sum of money came as a donation by several church members who saw a similar experiment amongst fourth-graders take off.
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