Pay It Forward Story - 1st Place

The theme for the 2009 Member Appreciation Day was “Pay It Forward”. The first 50 people who came in the credit union and wanted to participate in the event were given $10. The rules were simple: take the money, do something nice for someone, then tell us your story.

We received over 30 stories from members who made a difference in someone else’s life with just $10. The winner of the event was Tracy Cothran. She received a $100 Visa gift card for herself along with another $100 to be donated to the charity of her choice.

Here’s Tracy’s Pay It Forward story:

You probably think that ten dollars will not purchase anything of any real value in today’s market, right? Well that’s what I thought, too, until I started going to The Mat with Janell Fadler. There we have the opportunity to demonstrate God’s love in a practical way by offering people quarters to start the machines or helping them with their laundry. The quarters will not only start the machines, but they will also open the door allowing God to do his thing. It’s not always a lost soul that God sends our way. Sometimes it’s a student from one of the nearby colleges, an abused wife, struggling family, Laundromat employee, or even the owner. It’s always cool to see God in action and how He can take ten dollars to further His kingdom.

If you pick my Pay It Forward experience, I would like to give the $100 donation to The Mission Fund here at LifeWay. I would also use the $100 Visa card to purchase ten rolls of quarters. Can you imagine what God can do with ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS?

Thanks,
Tracy Cothran