We live in an era when people tend to always push for the separation of Church and State, believing that the affairs of government and religious groups should not intertwine.
In a small city in Florida, however, residents are proving that the Church and the state government can cooperate to promote the value of generosity.
City officials and local church leaders in Titusville, located across from Cape Canaveral, joined hands to launch the so-called "40 Days of Generosity" project, which saw little acts of kindness being done by one person after another.
The mechanics of this project was simple: the organisers printed out 25,000 cards asking the recipient to "pay it forward" one act of kindness or generosity.
In an article on CBN.com, Titusville Mayor Jim Tulley expressed amazement at how little acts of kindness have brought about change in the city in a big way.
"It's helping others on such a grand scale that there was no way the city would not step up and say, 'Go for it,'" the mayor said.
Brienne Robertson, one of the 40 Days' organisers, meanwhile highlighted how various sectors contributed to the success of the project.
"Every sector of our community was a part of 40 Days of Generosity -- municipal level, government, the city hall -- the mayor made a declaration," Robertson also told CBN.com.
For instance, at drive-throughs in Titusville, one generous act by one customer would kick off a positive chain-reaction.
"The person would say, 'I'd like to take care of the bill for the people behind me' - and you would hear it going on for eight, nine, 10, 15 cars later, taking care of the bill behind them," Robertson said. "That happened many, many, many times."
Some members of the community meanwhile chose to throw a feast for the entire police department.
"The police chief told me no one had ever come out and just fed all of them. We tried to take enough for the second shift and everything," Park Avenue Baptist Church Pastor Richard Lord shared.
The little acts of kindness were even felt at homes. Ryan Gordon, a little boy, for instance, showcased his selflessness in his own way.
"I decided I wanted to give my birthday money away to the family shelter fund," Ryan said.
