Key Verse: For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Romans 1: 16-17.
It is through faith that a righteous person has life. One of the most inspiring examples of faith that I recall hearing is about Hattie Wiatt - a little girl who lived in Philadelphia in the early 1900's.
Russell Conwell, who later founded Temple University, was the pastor of Grace Baptist Church. Hattie was a little girl who lived near the church. Apparently it was so crowded in Sunday school that she got turned away. She tearfully told Rev. Conwell her story and he shared that someday they would have a bigger building where no kids would have to be turned away.
Later the little girl became sick and died. At her funeral Hattie’s mom told Rev. Conwell that Hattie had saved her money to help build the bigger building – the mom gave him a purse containing 57 cents.
Conwell was moved by Hattie’s faith and he came up with an idea. He converted the 57 cents to 57 pennies; he told his congregation the story and offered to sell the pennies. That raised about $250. There was a house available near the church which they bought for $250 and used for Sunday School.
Later that house was used to hold the first classes of Temple College, which became Temple University, were held in that house. Temple continued to grow and a hospital was also started.
The faith of the little girl and her response started a chain of events that changed many lives. “This is accomplished from start to finish by faith.” And it is Good News!
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