New Hope Church Partners with MHS for a “Pay It Forward” Challenge It is well known that teachers and faculty give so much to students – but it’s not every day they are presented the opportunity to gift students or their classroom Target gift cards.
a couple faculty members to share some of the stories with the New Hope congregation, where they can celebrate all the “wins” that were accomplished through the Challenge.
But due to the generosity of New Hope Church and its members, Manteca High School students are benefiting from the notions of kindness and the spirit of giving through the church's “Pay It Forward” Challenge.
“The creativity staff has shown in who they select and why they select them has been endlessly phenomenal!” stated New Hope Youth Pastor Tim Kemptner.
impacted him. He confided in me that he was very close with Mr. Font and looked at him as an uncle of sorts and that he was one of his favorite teachers, even previously buying one of Mr. Font’s old guitars to fix up. This young man asked if I’d be willing to sell him one of my old guitars so he could use some of its parts to fix up Mr. Font’s old instrument. I agreed, but instead of selling it, I went to his house and gave him the guitar, along with the gift card to buy cleaning and repair supplies as needed. He was extremely grateful for the thought, and I felt that this was a great way to ‘Pay It Forward’.” - Wes Ayala
Hearing faculty members speak about how they “paid it forward” is The “Pay It Forward” Challenge, also always particularly illuminating for known as PIFC, began three years Mr. Kemptner and his fellow pastors ago as a partnership between New at New Hope. “Some of the stories Hope Church and MHS and will help us to discover other specific soon be implemented at Sequoia needs where we can lend further For Mr. Kemptner and all New Elementary this upcoming spring support to the school community.” Hope representatives, the Challenge for the first time. presents an opportunity to create Some notable MHS “My Story positive changes in our community The PIFC process begins with Card” submissions include faculty by continuing to give back. representatives from New Hope members who donated their gift introducing the Challenge to the cards to students living in hotels, “We would definitely love to see school’s faculty at a staff meeting (at displaced due to financial hardship other churches and businesses use the invitation of the Administration) amid the coronavirus pandemic, the PIFC as a catalyst to connect and inviting everyone to participate. and teachers who passed their with a local school so there can be Each faculty member who volunteers gift cards along to help purchase ongoing support,” said Kemptner. to participate is then presented with new band equipment for students a $75 gift card to Target, and they mourning the recent loss of beloved are instructed to use the card to “Pay MHS English teacher and music It Forward” however they decide. lover, Mr. Fontanilla. New Hope Church requests in return from participating faculty members a “My Story Card” explaining how the card was used and whom it impacted.
“I have a former student that graduated in May that I keep in touch with. He was very active in band and music and played guitar at many of the rallies and football games. He recently reached out to On a Sunday following the PIFC, me because he found out about Mr. New Hope representatives invite Fontanilla’s passing and it has really
