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The nickel taped to each of the bulletins handed out at College Park Baptist Church at the end of May represents potential schools, stock farms and wells for Third World countries.

The congregation’s goal is to get at least 100 people to give three nickels a day over the next year to established charities in needy countries.

“Three nickels a day in our society is insignificant,” said Frank Kendall , who served on the finance committee when the Rev. Michael Usey , who pastors the congregation near the UNCG campus, came up with the idea to help.

“It says 'I can pass up a soft drink once every week’ — and that’s all it takes to make a significant difference in people’s lives around the world,” Ken­dall said of his participation.

The congregation chose the name “3 Nickels” for the project because giving 15 cents a day works out to a little more than $1 a week, enough for a soda, a candy bar or an item off the value menu at McDonald’s.

“We’ve pledged to give more money outside of America because the rest of the world’s poor have been hit so much harder,” Usey said. “Actually, we’re doing it because of that Jesus fellow.”

One of the most basic Christian principles, Usey said, is giving out of your need.

“This means that if you are lonely, Christ calls us to befriend someone,” Usey said. “If you are depressed, find someone to cheer up. Trouble staying sober? Sponsor another. Finding it difficult to not have someone forgive you? Forgive someone that doesn’t deserve it. ...

“ And to this the point of where we are now: needing to make more money to thrive? Then give more of it away to what God is doing in the world.”

College Park has identified four groups to send money to this year: Pennies for Peace , which builds schools in Pakistan and other war-torn areas; Heifer International, which helps stock farms in other Third World countries; Project Ruth, an educational ministry in Romania; and Watering Malawi, a well-digging program.

Church members investigated each of the groups through the American Philanthropic Institute , which grades nonprofits on efficiency.

It’s not that the money wouldn’t be a blessing to local agencies that work with the needy. “We’re really aware that these agencies are really hurt by this worldwide recession, but those things we do really well,” Usey said of the financial contributions and hands-on work already done here at home with Greensboro Urban Ministry, Agents of Grace and even Peck Elementary, where church members send home backpacks of food with students on the weekend so they won’t go hungry before their next meal at school.

Plus, a dollar in some countries is worth much more.

“We are really among the richest people in the world, and we can live more simply so that other people can simply live,” said Usey, who got the idea from a lifelong friend, the Rev. Mark Jappe , who pastors a church in California.

Next year, the goal will increase to two sodas a week, until the giving reaches $1 a day from 100 people, which comes to at least $36,500 a year.

Kendall said his niece just came back from teaching in Tanzania, where $36 a year can educate a child.

The congregation encourages others in the community to do something for someone else.

“It won’t be huge this first year, but we hope to increase the giving up to a dollar a day soon ,” Usey said. “The heart of Christian giving is to give out of our need, and we are trying to honor that important principle. Those who are suffering need it now more than ever. And this is a great moment to get all of us from our focus on ourselves.”

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com