What is the Lottie Moon Christmas Missions Offering?
Each year about this time we prepare for the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. It is collected by believers around the world to support international missions. Over 100 years ago, in 1918, it was named by the Woman’s Missionary Union in honor of the missionary to China who died on the mission field as she urged churches to give sacrificially.
We, as Southern Baptists, have been giving to missions as part of our 175-year history of reaching the nations with the gospel. The local church in a small town in middle America can make a global impact. Alone, that church could not provide the support needed for thousands of missionaries around the world, but together with thousands of other churches across America, they make a huge impact! By giving to the Cooperative Giving program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, those churches are able to provide support that we cannot do alone, that is, send 3,585 missionaries around the world to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ. Last year that meant over 500,000 people heard the gospel, 89,325 accepted Jesus as Savior, and almost 48,000 were baptized. Over 12,000 new churches were started around the world. That is global impact!
The Lottie Moon Christmas offering is unique from other mission offerings in that 100% of gifts provide for missionaries all over the world. It is a valuable part of Southern Baptists and vital to reaching the vision of a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:9).
The International Mission Board has a slogan: Every church. Every nation. That means every church, regardless of size or resources, has a role to play in reaching every nation. Your generosity through praying and giving is the lifeblood of Southern Baptist Missions. The goal for the 2020 Lottie Moon Christmas offering is $175 million. If just 25% of Southern Baptists gave $100 to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering, we could raise nearly $400 million. The goal for our church is $20,000. What can you do to help make that impact?