Charlotte Diggs Moon went home to be with the Lord on Christmas Eve in 1912. Her parents were devoted Baptists. One person wrote, “A spirited and outspoken girl, Lottie was indifferent to her Christian upbringing until her early teens. She underwent a spiritual awakening after a series of revival meetings on the college campus. John Broadus, one of the founders of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, led the revival meeting in 1858 where Moon experienced this awakening.”
“Lottie Moon—the namesake of Southern Baptists’ international missions offering—has become a legend. But in her time, Lottie was anything but an untouchable hero. In fact, she was like today’s missionaries. She labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus.”
Lottie Moon’s heart was for the Chinese people. She devoted her life to spreading the Gospel in China. God used Lottie to cast a vision for mission giving, allowing missionaries to serve overseas doing ministry, not raising money. That model continues to influence actions of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to this day.
Our Lottie Moon Offering goal is $25,000. Our dollars support mission efforts of thousands of missionaries appointed by International Mission Board. Missionaries, and I’m confident of this statement, are praying that local American Southern Baptist churches will be prayerful and generous this Christmas. Our giving allows them to stay on the mission field and carry out God’s call on their lives. Therefore, our giving makes a difference.
What can you do this year to participate in the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering?
1. Give a generous offering. I challenge you to give your largest gift ever to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering this year. Sacrificial giving is the kind of giving God models and expects.
2. Pray for God’s servants. I encourage you to pray for missionaries and countries by name. I realize that many missionaries can’t allow their names to be published due to security reasons. However, you can still pray for the nations.
3. Read about Lottie Moon’s life. I hope you’ll Google Lottie Moon’s name and read stories about her life. You can also visit imb.org and find details about Lottie’s life and ministry.
4. Volunteer to serve overseas. I appeal for you to volunteer for an international mission project. Serving overseas is life changing. I realize that many people can’t travel and serve overseas. Therefore, you can financially help another believer serve Jesus in a foreign country.
5. Send a missionary a personal note. I promise you that a personal note to a missionary (and to his or her family) will encourage God’s servant. You can contact us in the Church Office for names to contact.
I’m thankful to see that our mission giving is on the increase. In three years, you’ve given with sacrifice. Bradfordville, you’re a church that prays, goes, sends, and gives. Our passion for the Great Commission is alive and well.
I hope you’ll read the newsletter each week and notice our progress in giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and exceeding our goal.
Getting to Know God’s Servant,
Pastor Ronny
Isaiah 56:7