A Georgia pastor is being praised for raising $12,000 to help out a pregnant Waffle House waitress and her baby.
Bishop Eusebio Phelps had once lost a child of his own. And young ones have since claimed an extra-special place in his heart.
Phelps, a Henry County pastor, stopped by Waffle House one night for an all-star plate with extra bacon. But he got a whole lot more from his pit stop than a late night meal.
When the head of New Faith Christian Church approached the counter to pay for his meal, he was struck by the waitress, who was 7 ½ months pregnant.
“She was just so kind and she was so pleasant,” Phelps said. “She was a sweetheart and that just touched my heart.”
Soon, it became clear to him that he’d met her for a reason. After chatting for a little while, he asked how far along she was.
After answering, the waitress, whom he learned was named Hannah Hill, added that she was planning to name her baby boy Samuel.
Phelps was floored.
Immediately, he knew he had to help Hill.
He gave her all the money in his wallet, but somehow, it just didn’t feel like enough.
“I went home,” he said. “I told my wife what happened ... my wife and I were talking, I was like, ‘listen I wanna raise a thousand dollars to give to Hannah so she can buy whatever she needs for the baby.’”
But he didn’t expect to wake up and find that he’d surpassed his goal of $1,000 overnight.
Still, donations didn’t stop there. Money kept pouring in from good Samaritans, until Phelps had collected an astounding $12,000.
Ecstatic, he set out to track down Hill and present her with the ultimate baby shower surprise.
When she walked inside her workplace, she was astounded to find a small crowd cheering as Phelps threw her a surprise baby shower.
Smiling, Hill thanked them, saying, “I didn’t get to do a baby shower this year because of COVID!”
But the surprise wasn’t over. As Hill sat down near a table full of baby gifts, Phelps presented her with a whopping $12,000 check.
A shocked Hill told the news outlet that finances have been a struggle. But incredibly, she had never shared her struggles with anyone, including Phelps.
Hill said it was miraculous that Phelps sensed her need for help.
“Lately I have been praying just because I’ve been really stressing lately. I’m like, dang I want a place to live before this baby gets here,” she said.
New Faith Christian Church gave her the additional gift of free childcare for both of Hill’s children for one year.
The money will help Hill procure a car and find housing with the baby’s father and their roommate before little Samuel arrives.
“I’m so grateful,” she said. “I’m so grateful, thank you so much.”
