Fwd: 57 cents - A true and inspirational story

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57 cents

 

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 22:12:53 -0800 (PST)

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.

N.

Aparna Rao