57
Cents Church
A
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.
Cents Church
A
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....
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. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, 'Acres of Diamonds'.
This is a true story, which goes to show
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. Russell 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.
