The class of fifth graders groaned as the teacher explained the assignment.
“Remember the movie Pay It Forward?” he said. “Well,
were going to try something like that. In the movie, the class was told
to come up with a plan for changing the world.
(The following is designed as a story to be read to children regarding the
Cooperative Program)
The class of fifth graders groaned as the teacher explained the assignment.
“Remember the movie Pay It Forward?” he said. “Well,
were going to try something like that. In the movie, the class was told
to come up with a plan for changing the world.
“Thats what were going to do,” the teacher continued.
“There are a lot of things that need to be done in the world. People are
hungry. People are poor. Life is getting worse in many ways.
“Your assignment is to come up with a plan for changing that,” the
teacher said. “And the rule is – it has to be possible. For instance, you
cant say, Well, we should pass a law that everybody gets to eat
or We should find a magic genie and make three really big wishes.”
Several persons laughed.
“There goes my idea,” one boy in the back said.
Several others laughed.
“And by the way, you cant use the idea presented in Pay It
Forward,” the teacher said.
This time, several people groaned – and the teacher laughed.
A couple of weeks later, members of the class presented their ideas. Some were
clearly not
possible. Others were possible but not big enough to make any difference.
It was Kyles turn.
“Well, my idea is that if everybody in this country would give $10 a year
– just that much – we would have – lets see, close to $3 billion a year.
“Then, with the money, we could send people out to places to help others,”
Kyle said. “And we could use the money to buy food or grow food or build
houses or pass good laws or all kinds of things.
“We could have a committee of people that decided how the money would
be spent. We could do a lot on $3 billion a year, and with this plan, we would
have that much – or more – every year,” Kyle said.
“So, thats my plan.”
The teacher clapped lightly as Kyle finished.
“Thats a very good idea, Kyle,” he said. “I like it. I
like it a lot. It would provide money to do a lot of things. And it could start
making a difference fast.
“As we have seen, a lot of the plans you came up with start small and
figure to grow over time,” the teacher told the class members. “Kyles
plan would start big and get bigger.
“So, very good job, Kyle,” the teacher said. “Theres just
one problem.”
Kyle looked puzzled. “What is it?” he asked.
“Do you really think it would work,” the teacher asked. “Do
you really think you could get a very large group of people to work together
like that – to cooperate? In other words, Kyle, tell me the truth – do you think
your plan is possible?”
Questions for discussion:
1. What do you think of Kyles plan?
2. Do you think it would work?
3. Would you be willing to be part of such a plan?
4. What kind of things would you do with such a plan?
You may be surprised to know such a plan as Kyles does exist and is working
with millions of people each year. The Cooperative Program is a Southern Baptist
plan just like Kyles idea. Each year, millions of Southern Baptists give
money through the plan. That money is used to help poor, sick and hungry people.
It is used to educate people, to train people, to encourage good laws to be
passed and many other things. But most importantly, it is used to go around
the world and tell people that God loves them and wants them to live the life
he meant for them to live.