Church members ‘pay it forward'
Assignment spurs effort to help community, inspires some to do more

Posted on Sat, Dec. 18, 2004

By LINDA CRUSE
Special to The Star

LINDA CRUSE/Special to The Star
Clif and Lisa Hooper (left) and Denise and Jeff Borker, all of Overland Park, were four of the more than 100 people who participated in the Kingdom Assignment through Olathe Bible Church.

A church assignment to pay it forward and help others hit home with an Overland Park couple, who plan to continue the effort on a monthly basis.

Denise and Jeff Borker were among 80 church members who received $100 from Pastor Rod Janzen at Olathe Bible Church last month. Members were told to use the $100 as seed money to multiply and use to help members of the community.

Janzen also handed out $100 to 20 members at the church's Gardner campus for the same purpose.

The project has been so inspirational, Borker said, that his family plans to continue the practice.

“This project really hit our family square in the heart,” he said. “We'll be putting $100 aside each month to do something good for someone. That's only $3.30 per day, and maybe it will make a difference in someone's life.”

The assignment was partially inspired by the movie “Pay It Forward” and the Parable of the Talents in the Bible, Janzen said.

“Also, I read an article about a California church that implemented a similar program and how effective it was,” he said. “In our case, we've received about 35 reports so far from those who participated and the money has grown from $10,000 to $40,000. I wouldn't be surprised if it grew to $100,000.”

The only rules were that the money was not be used to help any member of the church congregation or their own family. In addition, it was to be given with no strings attached.

The Borkers joined with Clif and Lisa Hooper, also of Overland Park, to help two single mothers.

“We combined our money, added some and had a total of $300,” Jeff Borker said. “We then came in contact with the Head Start gift and donation coordinator, who said it had been extremely difficult lately to obtain donations for Head Start families.”

The couples agreed to help one single mother furnish her empty apartment. She and her daughter's only furnishings were blankets and pillows they were using as a bed. The two couples completely furnished the apartment with a bed, table and chairs, a sofa and a television set.

The two couples also helped a second single mother, who needed tuition assistance. In addition, the couples are adopting a Head Start family for Christmas.

“In addition to buying them gifts from their wish list, we plan to provide them with a complete Christmas meal and deliver it all in person,” Jeff Borker said. “We are so glad we were able to help three families.”

Janzen plans to issue a second Kingdom Assignment in February and a third assignment in May.

“We're seeing phenomenal things happen – from donations to cancer wards and children's organizations to helping the homeless.”

The assignment touched the lives of hundreds of people. Some of the money was donated to organizations that help children, including the Children's Miracle Network, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, the Kaw Valley Center and TLC for Children and Families.

In one instance, money was given to people leaving an Olathe grocery store. Also, a group of college students donated hats, socks, gloves, food and Bibles to homeless people.

One church member who prays regularly for Olathe emergency personnel baked 110 loaves of pumpkin bread and donated it to members of the Olathe Fire Department, Med-Act and administrative workers. She called it “Pumpkin Prayer Bread” and delivered it with a note thanking workers for keeping others safe.

“It was very well received and much appreciated,” said Olathe Fire Chief George Bentley. “She made about 15 trips to our six stations to deliver the bread. Everyone appreciated how much time and effort went into the bread, as well as the notes that were delivered with each loaf.”

Others who accepted the Kingdom assignment found that the person who needed help was an acquaintance, neighbor or co-worker faced with mounting medical bills, family difficulties or joblessness.

Probably one of the most unusual activities that resulted from the first Kingdom assignment was a Texas Hold-Em Poker Tournament, Janzen said.

“The participants ended up raising $1,000, which was donated to the Ronald McDonald House,” he said. “Our church members have been extremely creative with this assignment.”