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 appear 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 Christ.
Some two years later,
this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement building and the parents call
for the kind-hearted 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 scribble in childish handwriting
which read, “This is to help the little church bigger so more children can go
to Sunday School.”
For two years she had
saved for the offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he
knew instantly what 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 a 57 cent payment!
Church members made
large subscriptions. 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. 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
3300, 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 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.
