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.
