57 Cent



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 touched that 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 and the parents called for the kind-hearted
pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the

final arrangements.

As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled
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 Realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth
 many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so
much, he offered it 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 unsel
fish love had paid large dividend.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple
Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300 and Temple

University, where hundreds of students are trained. Have a
look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday
School building which houses hundreds of Sunday Schoolers,
 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"

Amazing what God can do with 57 cents.

~Based on a true story by Dr. Russell H. Conwell~

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Stella