57 CENTS CHURCH

> 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!!!!!!!!!