Dads4Kids is going through a period of change. We need to connect more with you, our readers. We need to consider what we have achieved, who we are doing it for and what we might do better. Improvement is always possible and none of us can ever say that we’ve got it all together. Sometime ago a good friend of mine, Darryl Mills, sent me this story about a young girl with the subject heading the ‘Power of an Idea’.
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 unselfish love had paid large dividend.
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 story, which goes to show
WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.The above story is the dramatised and simplified version of the original story found at http://library.temple.edu/collections/scrc/hattie
For some reason, as I read this story, I began to cry and had to ask myself why this story about a young girl affected me so much. Maybe it was because I could identify with children like her. My upbringing wasn’t exactly perfect. For at least half of my first 12 years I was fatherless. Perhaps this young girl was too. I really don’t know. All I know is that there are millions of children who grow up without the love of a father both here and around the world. Our children pay for our mistakes. It would seem that the innocent always suffer for the guilty.
Dads4Kids, whilst making a stand for men as fathers, is not a father’s rights organisation. Our main goal is to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. The main beneficiaries of loving fathers are children. Dads4Kids is all about the idea of unconditional love. There is nothing like the beautiful innocence of a child. The little girl in the story showed unconditional love for the children around her. Her sacrificial giving of 57 cents was multiplied ‘exceedingly abundantly, above all she could ask or think’- such is the power of love.
Dads4Kids has accomplished a lot in the last 12 years with very little and yet there is still much to be done. Our children need to know the love of a father both on this earth and into eternity. Will you help us? We need to raise a million dollars, not to build a bigger building, but to build a more effective outreach to fathers in our nation. The mission of Dads4Kids is to inspire fathers and renew families, all for the sake of our children.
Your help will be a blessing to many generations.
Lovework
Share the story of this little girl’s sacrificial giving with your children and your family.
It will inspire them. You too can change history through the power of love.
Yours for unconditional love
Warwick Marsh
PS. Yes, Dads4Kids needs to raise a million dollars to turn the tide of fatherlessness but rather than aim for a million dollars we are going to start with $50,000.
Together with your assistance we have raised $30,350. We thank you for your amazing sacrificial contributions. To reach our goal we still need to raise $19,650. We still have matching funds of $825 available from generous donors who have given us all the challenge to give. Your gifts today can turn that $825 into $1,650 – such is the power of matched giving. Our goal to reach $50,000 before the end of the financial year is getting closer and closer. Thank you in advance for your kindness towards the children of Australia.
Give today and that amount will come off your taxable income this year. More importantly you will experience the greatest gift first hand, that is ‘gift of giving’. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive. Like the little girl you too can change history through the power of love. Become a history maker, make a DONATION NOW.
Leave A Comment