NASHVILLE -- More than a dozen churches in Middle Tennessee sent their congregants away on Nov. 24 with crisp $100 bills to spread through their communities over this holiday season.

According to the Tennessean, $50,000 was distributed to members of about 15 Christian congregations with the goal of giving it away in the name of Jesus -- with no strings attached -- to needy persons.

The non-denominational program is called Seeds of Kindness. The effort is funded by a businessman, who gave the money anonymously to Woodmont Hills Church of Christ, which is administering the program.

"The point of this is to plant seeds of kindness," said Rubel Shelly, minister at Woodmont Hills, who distributed the bills to his members.

Started last year, the idea was inspired by the movie Pay It Forward and by the biblical parable about investing one's talents to do good in the world.

Shelly and church members say they feel slightly awkward about the media attention the program has drawn.

"This is not about this church," Shelly said.

The Seeds of Kindness Web site explains that the group "is akin to an underground railroad of goodwill that operates quietly, out of sight, but effectively. It puts into practice the maxim, 'If you don't care who gets the credit, the sky is the limit to what can be accomplished.' "

Participants can post anonymous messages at the Web site describing how they helped someone else. One posting is from a Nashville elementary school principal who wrote that one of the gifts went to a boy and his sister who have little support at home.

"They come to school dirty and in ragged clothes," the principal wrote. "We are purchasing a few pairs of underwear, shirts/blouses, pants and shoes. Kayla told our school counselor she doesn't have many crayons -- those she has are all broken -- the kind most of us throw away rather than fool with. This Christmas, she's going to have a BIG box of NEW crayons."