The late Rev. Al Henderson had a habit of wrapping up conversations by saying “Carry on.”

Residents of Fort Dodge and Webster County are being asked to spend Friday carrying on Henderson’s legacy of support and compassion on what has been named Pay It Forward Friday.

Doing so will not require some big elaborate action, according to organizers of the event. Small gestures of kindness can make a huge difference, also.

Henderson, who was killed on Oct. 2, 2019 – exactly one year before the inaugural Pay It Forward Friday – was the pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. He was also the chaplain to the Fort Dodge police and fire departments, Webster County Sheriff’s Department and District 7 of the Iowa State Patrol. He established a group called Serving Our Servants to support local law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel.

Starting Serving Our Servants was a big move. But those who knew Henderson say he was also doing lots of little things that lifted up those around him.

In that spirit, St. Paul Lutheran Church and Serving Our Servants joined forces to create Pay It Forward Friday.

The goal of Pay It Forward Friday is to demonstrate acts of kindness, big or small, in the community, according to TJ Pingel, the president of Serving Our Servants.

There are countless kind and compassionate acts that can be done Friday to honor the legacy of Henderson. The possibilities range from making a donation to a food bank to holding a door open for an older person.

We urge everyone to go the extra mile in performing acts of kindness to honor Henderson not only on Friday, but on every day.