A pregnant Waffle House waitress was grateful for a generous tip from a Georgia pastor, but she assumed that was the end of it. It wasn’t the case, because soon after the kind gesture, she received a call telling her to hurry down to the restaurant.
Bishop Eusebio Phelps, the pastor of the New Faith Christian Church in Atlanta, started it all by calling a nearby Waffle House and placing an order over the phone. Hannah Hill answered the phone on the other line. The pastor remembers Hannah being so kind over the phone.
Now, Hannah Hill the pregnant waitress received what she thought was a sizable tip from Bishop Eusebio Phelps whom she caters to when working a shift at a Waffle House branch in Stockbridge. However, to Hannah’s amazement, the compassionate pastor not only offered the young lady a $40 tip but much more!
“She was so nice over the telephone, and when I got there, I paid for my food and I told her to keep the change. And then when I looked at her, I asked if she was pregnant — she said yes, so, at that time, I was just really urged to give her the rest of the money that I had in my wallet, which was around $40,” Bishop Phelps recalled.
“I gave her the $40, and I told her that I just wanted to be able to bless her so that she could buy something for the baby,” Particularly after finding out the name Hannah planned to give her unborn baby. Phelps explained that the young waitress and her unborn child continued to weigh on his mind.
Hill was eight and a half months pregnant and informed Phelps that her son would be named Samual. Which just so happened to be the name of Phelps’ son, who died in Atlanta seven years prior. This revelation struck a particularly bittersweet chord with Phelps, with the anniversary of his son’s death approaching.
Hannah was already very grateful for Phelps’ kindness, but the pastor felt driven to do more, so he went home and without Hannah’s knowledge, he and his wife came up with a plan.
“Well, we lost our son Samuel seven years ago in Atlanta,” Phelps explained. “It’s coming up on the anniversary. I went home, I told my wife what happened. … My wife and I were talking. I was like ‘Listen, I wanna raise $1,000 to give to Hannah so she can buy whatever she needs for the baby.”
Hill wouldn’t even be aware of what the man had done until she got a call alerting her that she had to head over to the Waffle House right away.
Hannah then arrived at the Waffle House where she was greeted by Phelps and other customers who were ready to present her with another surprise — a check for more than $12,000, which the pastor had raised for her. After receiving a phone call from her mother-in-law, telling her to get down to the restaurant right away.
Phelps threw her a “surprise baby shower.”
Phelps took to Facebook to tell his friends and followers about his run-in with Hill. He stated his intention to raise $1,000 for her. Phelps had exceeded his expectations by the time he awoke the next morning. The generous pastor’s post generated more than $12,000 in donations from the community.
“I had a lot going on, and I don’t really pray that often. I’m not necessarily religious, I wasn’t raised in the church, don’t go to church a lot, haven’t cracked open a Bible in forever. But lately, I have been praying. Makes me wanna get back in church,” referring to the unexpected blessing, the pregnant waitress admitted.
A spokesperson for Waffle House who was also moved by the gesture said:
“We are so appreciative of the kind gesture made by Bishop Phelps and all of the others who contributed on behalf of our Associate, Hannah Hill, their acts of generosity are a testament to the fact that kindness and hospitality are two of the greatest gifts that can be given to others. On behalf of Waffle House, we sincerely want to thank all of you.”
“I’m so grateful and that’s all I can say,” saying that she plans to use the money to improve her life for her and her growing family. And intends to get a new vehicle as well as a new place to live with her child’s father, the grateful Hannah said, “I’m so grateful and appreciative to everybody, God is good all the time.”
“You gotta show the love of God to people you come into contact with, and it was her kindness — she was so kind and so pleasant, she’s just a real sweetheart. And, that touched my heart. And, I feel like the Lord has really allowed our paths to cross.” Phelps with his kindness said.
Watch the video report below for more details:
Sources: Taphaps, Godtv, Southernliving
