Phantom Blooper
09-04-03, 06:26 AM
> >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 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 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 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 unselfishlove 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.
> >Russel 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. Semper-Fi !! Chuck Hall
> >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 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 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 unselfishlove 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.
> >Russel 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. Semper-Fi !! Chuck Hall