(Author Unknown)
(Based on a true story as told by Dr. Russell H. Conwell)
[Edited for factual clarity]
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 pastor told her, "We should some day have a room big enough for all who should come."
The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.
A few weeks later the girl suddenly took ill and died. At the funeral, the girl's father took the kind-hearted pastor aside who had befriended their daughter. He quietly told him that their little girl had been saving money for the church. Quite surprised, the pastor was even more taken aback when the girl's father handed him what she had saved - 57 cents in pennies. For two weeks she had been running errands and saving her pennies in a little bank for the church.
The pastor was amazed at the love demonstrated by this little girl and tearfully shared this story at his church the following week. The trustees of the church were so moved by the actions of this girl that one of them proposed buying a new plot of land for the church that would allow it to grow considerably. Only a few days earlier a new church building seemed like only a distant possibility. But now, spurred on by this girl's actions, all of a sudden it seemed like something to attain for. The building fund, started by this little girl, quickly began to grow.
The pastor shared the story of the girl with the owner of the plot of land. The owner was so moved that he sold the property for only $10,000 with the first payment to be just 57 cents. Due to the growth of the building fund, in just a short while the church was able to buy this property free-and-clear.
The girl's 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 hundreds of students are trained. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital (Temple University Hospital) and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of children and adults, 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. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of Diamonds." - a true story.
Goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 cents.
