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This sermon was originally delivered by Russell
Conwell to his Grace Baptist (Temple) church. It
has been circulating over the Internet recently and
we thought you might enjoy it.
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 dividend.
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. Russell H.
Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of Diamonds." A
true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD, CAN DO
WITH 57 cents.
Author Unknown
Submitted by Muriella D'Silva
Please forward this to those
friends who would receive a blessing from reading
this true story. Send this page to your friends!
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Stone
Creek Crossing
