A Cup Of Coffee And A Piece Of Toast
Humor
Windows for Sermons
Stories And Humor For Inspired Preaching
Object:
How an afternoon snack led to building a Senior Retirement Center in a town of 8,000 people.
When the pastor called, Martha Kiggins, a shut-in, was finishing an afternoon snack of a cup of coffee and a piece of toast. It was a Wednesday afternoon in 1961. He asked her when was the last time she had eaten a good full-sized meal.
She thought a bit, then answered, "My nephew brought me a fine dinner on Sunday noon." Sunday to Wednesday! She said she wasn't hungry most of that time, so just had a piece of toast now and then. She looked like she needed nourishment.
The pastor wondered how many other shut-ins were like that. He made a study of the town and wrote letters to the editor of the town newspaper, who supported the idea. They needed a place for Senior Citizens to receive good care at reasonable rates.
Then came a pleasant surprise. An eccentric retired stock broker, Mr. Arnold Dienstberger, offered a trust account worth over 82,000 dollars in memory of his wife -- if the town would match the gift. The churches and schools began to work on the project. The community supported it and raised over 90,000 dollars. Today there are facilities for 100 people readily available for people like Miss Kiggins who obviously had needed such care.
Notice these ecumenical facts:
* The stock broker was Lutheran.
* The pastor was a United Methodist (so was Martha Kiggins).
* The editor of the newspaper was a Jew.
* The co-chairman in the developing organization was a Roman Catholic priest.
* All churches in the town participated including United Methodist, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Christian Union, Assembly of God, the Church of the Nazarene, and the Evangelical United Brethren.
The name of the town -- Delphos, Ohio.
The Care Center -- Van Crest of Delphos.
When the pastor called, Martha Kiggins, a shut-in, was finishing an afternoon snack of a cup of coffee and a piece of toast. It was a Wednesday afternoon in 1961. He asked her when was the last time she had eaten a good full-sized meal.
She thought a bit, then answered, "My nephew brought me a fine dinner on Sunday noon." Sunday to Wednesday! She said she wasn't hungry most of that time, so just had a piece of toast now and then. She looked like she needed nourishment.
The pastor wondered how many other shut-ins were like that. He made a study of the town and wrote letters to the editor of the town newspaper, who supported the idea. They needed a place for Senior Citizens to receive good care at reasonable rates.
Then came a pleasant surprise. An eccentric retired stock broker, Mr. Arnold Dienstberger, offered a trust account worth over 82,000 dollars in memory of his wife -- if the town would match the gift. The churches and schools began to work on the project. The community supported it and raised over 90,000 dollars. Today there are facilities for 100 people readily available for people like Miss Kiggins who obviously had needed such care.
Notice these ecumenical facts:
* The stock broker was Lutheran.
* The pastor was a United Methodist (so was Martha Kiggins).
* The editor of the newspaper was a Jew.
* The co-chairman in the developing organization was a Roman Catholic priest.
* All churches in the town participated including United Methodist, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Christian Union, Assembly of God, the Church of the Nazarene, and the Evangelical United Brethren.
The name of the town -- Delphos, Ohio.
The Care Center -- Van Crest of Delphos.
