Heard of the Temple Baptist Church, Philadelphia..? Its really a very beautiful and an enormous church with a seating capacity of 3,300, and Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained. This church has history which is really amazing, especially the cost incurred in building it. It was started with only 57 cents....! amazing isn't it...?!
Temple Baptist Church - old days
Temple Baptist Church - today
The auditorium
Well there is a true and a touching story behind this. The story goes...
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 touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.
Around two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the 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 purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribble 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 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!
In the congregation was one newspaper reporter who heard the story and was deeply moved as much as the entire congregation did. He immediately published this story in his daily newspaper which was read by many. Of the readers who read it, there was one Realtor who was moved very much reading it. He then offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands and at a prime location. But the pastor said that they had no money and all they had is only 57 cents. To every one's astonishment the realtor offered it for 57 cents.
Soon this story spread throughout Philadelphia and contributions poured in. 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 (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.
In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl named Hattie Mary Wiatt whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell.
Hatti Mary Wiatt
Dr. Russell H. Conwell
Today the temple has stands as a symbol of this little girl's unselfish love and has inspired everyone who happens to hear this story.
Absolutely amazing and wonderful
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