A sobbing little girl stood near a small church Sunday School class 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. The little girl came from the tenement close to the church and her tears touched the pastor's heart. The pastor took her by the hand, he brought her inside and found a place for her in the crowded primary class.

The little girl was touched by the pastor's kindness but that night she couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned as she thought of all the children who couldn't go to Sunday School because there wasn't any room. She decided she would do something about it.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the small apartments in the large tenement building. The 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 purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 pennies 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."

It seems that for two years the little girl 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 congregation to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

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 of dollars. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it to them for 57 cents. 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.

This little 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 and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of Sunday scholars, 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."

It goes to show What God can do with 57 cents!

Special Thanks to the Stalled VW for sending me a variation of this true story..

God Uses What We Have.

Have you ever tried to make a deal with God? God just make me rich.. let me win the lottery.. let me win the jackpot.. and I will give you half.. twenty percent.. really God I will. God.. when I am rich.. I will really do something for you. I'll build you a great church.. or I will send a missionary to..

God doesn't need our money.. He wants our heart. He can take the smallest gift and do wonders with it. He isn't looking for you to build a monument to Him.. He wants you to trust Him with what you have. You see you just might have 57 cents that God can use to build a great Church, a hospital, a university.