57 CENT 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
