Quotes

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church. It was so crowded she couldn't get inside. She saw her pastor nearby and cried, "I can't go to Sunday School!" Seeing her shabby appearance, the pastor took her by the hand and found a place for her in her classroom. The little girl was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus. Two years later, the child died in a wretched tenement building. The parents called for the pastor who had so befriended her earlier. They found her worn, crumpled purse with 57 cents in it and this note: "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School." That 57 cents represented two years of saving and work. The next Sunday, the pastor carried the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit and told the story. He challenged his people to get busy and equal that child's dedication. A newspaper got the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who gave them a huge parcel of land. Checks started coming from far and wide. Within five years the gift of 57 cents had increased to hundreds of thousands of dollars - and this was a hundred years ago! A beautiful church was built. Next time you're in Philadelphia, visit Temple Baptist Church that seats Thousands, and also visit Temple University where thousands of students are trained. Visit a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of children. 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 her picture is a portrait of her pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell. That's right, he's the man who wrote "Acres of Diamonds."


source: Dan Betzer tags: Money, Giving

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