What God Can Do With 57 Cents

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...
> >> >>> >>
> >> >>> >> 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 WHAT GOD CAN DO
> >> >>> >> WITH 57 CENTS.