57
Cents
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 of dollars.
When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for 57 cents.
Church members made large subscriptions.
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 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 scholars,
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." - a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 cents.
BANK ACCOUNT
You have just deposited
Love and Blessings
into your bank account.
The best part is that
it will cost you nothing.
I ask that you just use it in
abundance.
Your PIN number is:
J E S U S
Important notice:
If you lose your PIN,
you lose everything !