- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 17,078
A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from
which she had been turned away because it was "too
crowded."
"I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the
pastor as he walked by.
Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor
guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took
her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday
school class. The child was so happy that they found
room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking
of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.
Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of
the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for
the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their
daughter to handle the final arrangements.
As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and
crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been
rummaged from some trash dump.
Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in
childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help
build the little church bigger so more children can go
to Sunday School."
For two years she had saved for this offering of love.
When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew
instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the
cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the
story of her unselfish love and devotion.
He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough
money for the larger building.
But the story does not end there..
A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read
by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands.
When told that the church could not pay so much, he
offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.
Church members made large donations. Checks came from
far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift
had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time
(near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had
paid large dividends.
When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up
Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of
3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, where
thousands of students are educated.
Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and
at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of
beautiful children, built so that no child in the area
will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school
time.
In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the
picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57
cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable
history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind
pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book,
"Acres of Diamonds".
This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN
DO WITH 57 CENTS.
which she had been turned away because it was "too
crowded."
"I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the
pastor as he walked by.
Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor
guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took
her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday
school class. The child was so happy that they found
room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking
of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.
Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of
the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for
the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their
daughter to handle the final arrangements.
As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and
crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been
rummaged from some trash dump.
Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in
childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help
build the little church bigger so more children can go
to Sunday School."
For two years she had saved for this offering of love.
When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew
instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the
cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the
story of her unselfish love and devotion.
He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough
money for the larger building.
But the story does not end there..
A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read
by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands.
When told that the church could not pay so much, he
offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.
Church members made large donations. Checks came from
far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift
had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time
(near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had
paid large dividends.
When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up
Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of
3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, where
thousands of students are educated.
Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and
at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of
beautiful children, built so that no child in the area
will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school
time.
In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the
picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57
cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable
history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind
pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book,
"Acres of Diamonds".
This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN
DO WITH 57 CENTS.
