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From My Heart To You
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
kindhearted
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 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 hundred of students are trained. Have
a
look, too, at the Good Samartian Hospital and at a Sunday
Schol
building which houses hundreds of Sunday School children
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. Along side of it is
a
portrait of her kind Pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of
the
book "Acres of Diamonds". A true story, which goes to show
WHAT
GOD, CAN DO with 57 cents.
Midi ~ It is no secret what God can do ~
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